Wildacres Residency Program — Fellowship

Wildacres Retreat hosts about 70 artists each year in three self-catering cabins in Little Switzerland, North Carolina. The program gives writers, visual artists, musicians, performers, and artists in other disciplines dedicated time to begin or continue a creative project.

Most residencies run from Monday afternoon to Sunday morning between April and October, with a small and not guaranteed number of two-week stays. Cabins have landlines but limited internet access, while WiFi is available in the retreat’s main buildings.

Benefits & funding

The residency and cabin accommodation are provided at no charge.
Residents may prepare food in their cabin or eat free meals in the dining hall when it is open.
Applicants pay a non-refundable $30 application fee; residents cover transportation, project supplies, and equipment.
One cabin is ADA compliant, and another can accommodate two people collaborating on one project.

Eligibility

The program accepts projects across all artistic disciplines.
The published materials state no nationality, degree, age, gender, or experience requirement.
Two collaborators may apply together, but each must submit a separate application, résumé, and work samples.
Past Wildacres residents are asked to wait two years from their residency year before applying again.
Spouses, partners, guests, and pets may not accompany residents; trained service dogs are allowed with prior notice and documentation.

Can you apply?

Open to all applicants

No nationality, residency, education, or experience limits are listed.

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Application process

1
Complete the online Wildacres Artist-in-Residence Application.
2
Provide a résumé or CV, a short personal and professional introduction, a project description of no more than 100 words, and a project-phase answer of no more than 50 words.
3
Submit discipline-specific samples: writers may send up to 25 pages, visual artists up to 10 images, and musicians or theater and film applicants may submit the formats listed on the form.
4
Submit the complete application and supporting documents, then pay the $30 fee through the program page by midnight EST on October 15, 2026.
5
Wildacres expects to make decisions by mid-January 2027 and begin contacting candidates in early February.

Program timeline

August 1, 2026
Applications open for the 2027 season.
Complete applications, supporting documents, and the fee are due by midnight EST.
October 15, 2026
Residency decisions are expected.
Mid-January 2027
Wildacres expects to begin contacting candidates.
Early February 2027
Residencies take place.
April–October 2027