About the Open Call

The International Summer Program is an exceptional residency that brings 20 artists together for four weeks at The Watermill Center. Participants are invited to develop new works alongside emerging artists and established creative professionals from various countries and disciplines. They exchange ideas, share practices, attend workshops, and collaborate on projects in a communal and experimental environment that encourages them to push the boundaries of contemporary creative practice. The program culminates in a festival of works developed during the residency, alongside works by renowned artists across dance, visual arts, theater, music, and performance art. During the program, artists are immersed in an extensive collection of resources, including The Watermill Center Collection, the Library of Inspiration, and ten acres of landscaped grounds and sculpture gardens. The 2026 Program will be from July 5 – August 1, 2026. Participants work on their own creative projects and/or the projects of fellow artists. They also attend workshops, lectures, movement sessions, and exhibitions. They have access to The Watermill Center Collection and the Library of Inspiration, which includes an extensive archive. After breakfast, all participants and staff meet to review the schedule and prepare for the daily activities. Lunch and dinner are enjoyed all together. The time in between meals is used for project development, collaborating with others, participating in workshops, etc. Artists spend the full day onsite, returning home after dinner. Participants are expected to help maintain their environment, cleaning up after themselves and helping others. Each day begins roughly around 9:45 AM with the morning meeting and ends around 9:30 PM after dinner. All participants stay in double- or triple-occupancy rooms in the on-site Residence building or in nearby rental houses. Vehicles are provided for transport to and from The Center within the Hamptons area. A trained chef prepares lunch and dinner and a continental breakfast is provided. On Sunday, participants are given a modest per diem. All artists are asked to submit a project proposal with their application. Some project proposals will be selected for presentation during the festival. Outside of the festival, there will also be opportunities to share in-progress works and ideas with the local community and fellow artists through public and educational programs.

What is Offered

The tuition for each International Summer Program artist is provided in full by the Byrd Hoffman Water Mill Foundation, covering housing, food, local transportation, materials needed for work in the program, and the facility’s operating cost. The Watermill Center provides a modest stipend to help offset travel costs and personal expenses.

Requirements

The program is open to national and international artists 18+ years of age. A variety of disciplines are accepted, including, but not limited to: visual arts, media/new genre, performance, architecture, film/video, literature, theater, dance, interdisciplinary arts, and music composition. Working knowledge of English is helpful for international artists, as an interpreter will not be provided. Accepted artists are required to be on-site for the duration of the program (July 5 – August 1, 2026). Participants are expected to help maintain their environment. All applicants must submit a project proposal with their application.

How to Apply

Applications are accepted through the online portal, SlideRoom, at https://watermillcenter.slideroom.com. SlideRoom will lead applicants through the required questions, attachments, and media uploads. There is a $12 USD fee per application required by SlideRoom, payable on their website. For technical questions, email support@slideroom.com. For program or application process questions, refer to the FAQ or email applications@watermillcenter.org. Late applications are not accepted.