Who can apply for a MacDowell Fellowship and what does the residency provide?

Updated

MacDowell awards Fellowships to emerging and established artists working across seven disciplines, and the residency gives them time, space, and a multidisciplinary community at its campus in Peterborough, New Hampshire. Applications are not open year-round: the site states the application is currently closed, the next deadline is February 10 for the Fall 2027 Winter 2028 residency season, and the application opens in mid-January. If you are an artist planning ahead, that mid-January opening is the window to prepare for.

Who is eligible

MacDowell describes itself as the nation's first artist residency program and says it supports "visionary artists working across seven disciplines." Two points from the site matter most for eligibility:

  • Career stage: both emerging and established artists are supported. The organization's stated mission is to provide transformative support to artists of all backgrounds and disciplines.
  • Discipline: work must fall within the seven disciplines MacDowell names. The site does not list them individually on the page reviewed, so confirm your discipline on the Apply section before building an application around it.

The site does not publish age limits, citizenship requirements, or fee details on the page reviewed. Treat those as open questions to check directly rather than assumptions in either direction.

What the residency provides

The core offer is described in MacDowell's own language: for artists, MacDowell is "synonymous with sanctuary," a space "where artists come, work, connect, and feel supported." In practical terms, the residency provides:

  • Time and space to work on your own creative project, away from normal obligations.
  • Community: diverse, multidisciplinary talent living and working alongside each other to exchange ideas.
  • A historic campus setting in Peterborough, New Hampshire, in the woods of southern New Hampshire.

The site's account of Head Chef Erik Johansen illustrates how the practical side is handled: artists arrive carrying "unfinished work, long flights, interrupted sleep, ideas still taking shape," and the kitchen team thinks carefully about easing that transition into focus. That is a useful signal that daily needs like meals are part of the residency experience, though the page does not detail studio types, stipends, or length of stay.

Application timing and steps

The page gives a clear sequence for the next cycle:

  1. Wait for the portal to open. The application opens in mid-January.
  2. Submit by the deadline. February 10 is the deadline for the Fall 2027 Winter 2028 residency season.
  3. Track decisions through MacDowell's news. Fellowship awards are announced publicly; the site's latest news covers the Fall 2026 Winter 2027 cohort, whose artists arrive between September 2026 and February 2027.

Because the current application is closed, the practical task right now is preparation: identify your discipline, assemble work samples, and plan to submit soon after the mid-January opening rather than near the deadline.

How to judge whether it fits you

Use these conditions to decide:

If you are… Consider
An artist with a project that needs uninterrupted time A strong fit — time and space are the stated core of the residency
Seeking cross-disciplinary exchange A strong fit — the program deliberately mixes disciplines
Early in your career Eligible — emerging artists are explicitly supported
Unsure your practice matches the seven disciplines Check the Apply section before investing in an application
Needing a specific stipend, studio type, or residency length Verify directly; the page reviewed does not specify these

Common sticking points

  • Missing the window. The gap between the mid-January opening and the February 10 deadline is short. Prepare materials in advance.
  • Assuming year-round applications. The site explicitly says the application is currently closed.
  • Confusing the news cycle with the application cycle. Fellowship announcements for Fall 2026 Winter 2027 refer to artists already selected; they are not an open call.

For the most current requirements, start from the Apply page at macdowell.org and confirm discipline list, materials, and any fees there.