Application Guidelines

Please read this page closely before applying on-line (or through the mail) - this is where you will find detailed information about what we require in your application.  

Applications for our Summer Residency program are judged on the basis of artistic merit by juries of accomplished writers and visual artists. We encourage artists in every stage of their career regardless of education or experience to apply. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, age, sex, religious belief, marital status, sexual orientation, or national origin.

New York State writers and artists are invited to apply for our 2013 summer residency program in the following categories:

• Poetry
• Fiction (incl. novels, novellas, short fiction, short story)
• Painting/Sculpture/Visual Art * 
• Photography (digital or film)

All applicants must be at least twenty-one (21) years of age. The summer residency program is open to legal residents of New York State (all counties). Applicants should seriously consider whether the communal environment of the colony suits their temperaments and work habits. The Foundation requires that those selected for residencies firmly commit to spending four weeks at the colony.

Artists who wish to apply to more than one artistic category must make complete and separate applications for each category.

Summer residencies are awarded on artistic merit, based on the evaluation of our juries which are comprised of distinguished professionals in each field. Those who are awarded Fellowships will be notified by telephone as early as possible. All applicants will be notified via email or phone of final decisions by April 1, 2013.

On-line application instructions. 

Please be prepared with the following information and documents before beginning the on-line application process:

• A one-page resumé (yes, just one page)
• An artist's or writer's statement (no more than a page) 
• A .zip file portfolio of work samples for your discipline - read Work Sample Requirements below carefully!
• A file list (for visual artist and photography applicants)
• Contact information for TWO (2) professional references who are familiar with your work and your potential to be a positive member of our small community of residents
• A brief, 300 - 500 word "statement of intent" describing how you would spend your month at Saltonstall if awarded a residency
• PayPal or credit card information for the application fee of $25 (note: you will be directed to a PayPal checkout page, however you do not need to create a PayPal account if you don't have one. You can pay with a credit card.)

Work Sample Requirements:

Examples of your creative work are the most important part of your application. 

Poets: Please upload a document of no more than fifteen (15) pages, with no more than one (1) poem per page. (In other words, a single poem can be longer than one page, but please do not include two poems on the same single page.)

Fiction writers: Please upload a document of no more than thirty (30) double-spaced pages (250-300 words per page), which may consist of a short story, novella, etc. or an excerpt from a longer work.

Visual artists and photographers: Please upload a .zip file portfolio containing up to 10 samples of your work at 72 dpi & 1000 pixels in the largest direction. Images can be JPEG, GIF, or TIFF files. Please make every effort to keep your total .zip file between 2-5mb total. 

Please include your full name in the file name. (For ex: Image1_TracyJones) Please also upload a file list that includes the title, date, medium, and dimensions of each piece you are submitting. 

Hard-copy application instructions:

** Please call Saltonstall's office at (607) 539-3146 if you need a paper application **

Here is a checklist of the items you'll need when applying:

• Application Form - THREE (3) copies
• A one-page artistic resumé - THREE (3) copies
• A one-page Artist's Statement - THREE (3) copies
• Work samples for your discipline - THREE (3) identical copies ~ read Work Sample Requirements  below carefully!!
• Check for the application fee of $25, pay to the order of Saltonstall Foundation for the Arts
• Contact information for TWO (2) professional references who are familiar with your work and your potential to be a positive member of our small community of residents 
• Optional: ONE (1) self-addressed stamped postcard for receipt notification

* Please note: if you are mailing your application material for the "Painting/Sculpture/Visual Art" category, four (4) complete sets of material are required due to the larger number of jurors. (i.e. four copies of the application form, your resume and artist's statement, and four copies of your work samples.)

Work Sample Requirements:
Examples of your creative work are the most important part of your application. Send only the required work samples and supporting materials requested without extra binders, folders, brochures, publications, or publicity materials. None of your materials will be returned.

Manuscript material must be typescript, legible, properly collated, and stapled in the top left corner only. The applicant's name and the page number should appear in the upper right hand corner of each page. Do not submit manuscripts in folders, binders, published books or periodicals. Photocopied excerpts from books or periodicals, in published form, will not be accepted.

Fiction writers: Please send three (3) identical copies of a manuscript no more than thirty (30) double-spaced pages (250-300 words per page), which may consist of a short story, novella, etc. or an excerpt from a longer work.

Poets: Please send three (3) identical copies of no more than fifteen (15) pages, with no more than one (1) poem per page. (Poems can be longer than one page, but please do not type two poems on the same page.)

Visual artists and photographers: Please submit 7 - 12 samples of your work, saved as JPEG or TIFF files up to 5 MB each at the highest possible resolution, on each of four (4) CDs or DVDs. Please label all discs with your name. Be sure to include four (4) printed copies of a file list that includes the title, date, medium, dimensions and file name of each piece you are submitting. Be sure each of the disks is readable on both MAC and PC, and contains all of your intended submissions.

Jurors:  We carefully check that jurors do not have close personal or professional connections to the applicants. Our jury panels change each year.

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