Blue Mountain Center runs a residency at Blue Mountain Lake in the Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York for writers, artists, composers, filmmakers and activists working for social justice.
Each season has three month-long sessions, and an Admissions Committee of authors and artists chooses the residents. The 2027 application opens on December 1, 2026, with a February 1, 2027 deadline.
Benefits & funding
- No residency fee; the Center provides room and board.
- Residents arrange and pay for their own travel; staff can help coordinate carpools.
- Extra support for those facing financial need or structural barriers; past recipients received about $400–600.
- Residents commit to the full month; there is no Wi-Fi and cell phones are banned in common spaces.
Eligibility
- Established creative and nonfiction writers, visual artists not needing special facilities, composers, filmmakers, audio storytellers and social-justice activists.
- Open to applicants of any nationality or citizenship status.
- Graduate students may apply; undergraduates are rarely accepted and are advised to apply after graduating.
- Past residents may attend at most two of every four years; first-time applicants get preference.
- An invitation does not extend to spouses, who must apply separately.
- Accepted residents must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19; a medical exemption is discussed with staff.
Application process
- 1Prepare a 1–2 page bio, a 1–2 page work plan, a short statement on community living with people from diverse backgrounds, and a work sample for your category.
- 2Submit on Submittable between December 1, 2026 and February 1, 2027, with a $25 processing fee.
- 3No references are requested.
Program timeline
Applications open.
December 1, 2026
Application deadline.
February 1, 2027
Decisions sent.
By April 2, 2027
June 11 – September 24, 2027
Sessions June 11–July 9, July 16–August 13, August 27–September 24.