What Is MacDowell?

MacDowell is a leading American contemporary arts organization and the nation's first artist residency program. It provides residencies (called Fellowships) to emerging and established artists working across seven disciplines, bringing diverse, multidisciplinary talent together on a historic campus in Peterborough, New Hampshire, to exchange ideas and pursue creative work. It has operated for over a century as a sanctuary for artistic exploration and achievement.

What MacDowell Offers

The core of MacDowell's work is the residency: time and space on its New Hampshire campus for artists to focus on their practice, connect with peers from other fields, and feel supported while they work. The organization describes itself as synonymous with sanctuary for artists, and its stated mission is to provide transformative support to artists of all backgrounds and disciplines.

Residencies are awarded through a competitive application process rather than booked directly, so the practical path to attending is to apply during an open application window.

Who It's For

MacDowell supports both emerging and established artists. Its Fellowships cover seven disciplines, and the program deliberately mixes artists from different fields so they can exchange ideas during their stay. If you are an artist looking for dedicated working time alongside a multidisciplinary community, this is the kind of program to consider; if you need a venue rental or a public exhibition space, a residency application is not the right channel.

How to Apply

Applications run on a seasonal cycle with fixed deadlines, and the portal is not always open.

1. Check the application status. As of the site's current notice, the application is closed.
2. Note the next deadline. The next application deadline is February 10, for the Fall 2027 Winter 2028 residency season.
3. Wait for the window. The application opens in mid-January, ahead of that February 10 deadline.
4. Prepare before mid-January. Use the gap to assemble your work samples and project description so you can submit once the portal opens.

Expected result: a submitted application considered for the Fall 2027 Winter 2028 season. Common pitfall: arriving at the site after the February 10 deadline, when the portal will already be closed again until the next cycle.

Beyond the Residency

MacDowell also runs public-facing events and fundraising activities that support the residency program:

• MacDowell National Benefit — an annual celebration with dinner, drinks, a paddle raise, and performances and testimonials from Fellows. The October 19 edition at Gotham Hall honors Sade Lythcott (CEO, National Black Theatre) and Tina Roth Eisenberg (founder and CEO, CreativeMornings), with remarks by Amy Sherald and Ruth Ann Harnisch.
• Medal Day — held on Sunday, June 28 in 2026.
• Donations — the organization relies on its community to maintain the space where artists come to work and connect.

Recent news includes the awarding of Fall 2026 Winter 2027 Fellowships to artists across seven disciplines, who arrive on campus between September 2026 and February 2027, and the announcement of writer and MacDowell Fellow Hernan Diaz as Chair of the Board of Directors, succeeding Nell Painter.

Quick Reference

The site does not publish residency fees or eligibility details beyond the above, so confirm costs and discipline-specific requirements directly with MacDowell before the mid-January opening.