Deadlines for Lifelines: Sanctuaries

Friends, it is time you considered doing a residency. Beautiful people around the world open their estates to artists like you, so that you can create in peace. All provide lodging and many serve nightly, home-cooked, communal meals. Some pay their artists weekly stipends of $100 or more; others charge $15 to $50 a day (although scholarships are generally available). Still others are completely free (albeit highly competitive). Some writers (myself included) write whole books by hopping from one artist colony to the next. This is known as being a “colony whore,” and is something worth aspiring for. (Check out this interview for more details.)

One especially fabulous residency is currently seeking applications: the Kimmel Harding Nelson for the Arts of Nebraska City, Nebraska, a small town on the bank of the Missouri River. Writers are offered a cozy den with miles of shelf space; visual artists have studios measuring up to 425 square feet; and composers have access to a Yamaha upright piano, two Dynaudio Acoustics BM5A monitors, and a Mackie 4-channel  compact mixer. All are housed in a sweet brick dwelling designed by prairie architect Burkett Graf. Up to five artists are invited at a time for residencies ranging from two to eight weeks. No meals are included, but you will receive a $100 stipend each week, plus opportunities to hold readings and artist talks for the community. A vineyard is within easy biking distance, as is Arbor Day Farm. I spent two months there in the summer of 2007, and had a glorious time discovering thunderstorms, Willa Cather, apple cider, and Friday Night Fish Fries. The deadline is March 1 for residencies from July through December, so hop to it!

One Comment

  1. Thank you Stephanie for this information and for this blog. It’s a gift to writers.

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