Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts offers residency sessions that provide artists working in clay with uninterrupted time to focus on their practices in our state-of-the-art ceramics studio. During a session, up to sixteen artists form a creative community as they live and work together on campus. Participants enjoy 24-hour studio access and comfortable on-campus accommodations in single or double occupancy rooms.
Watershed’s residency model prioritizes the development of creative community. Artists work alongside one another in our open-concept studio while forging lasting personal and professional connections.
Each two-week Summer Residency session has a theme and a core group of artists who anchor the session. Additional artists join the session through our application process, often drawn by an interest in the session theme. Watershed provides housing and all meals with food sourced from local organic farms.
2024 session themes focus on embodied making and site-specific work, finding inspiration in the natural world, the possibilities of clay and digital technology, red clay's versatility, and building creative networks among queer artists and among artists with backgrounds in the community college system.
Residency Eligibility
Residency Experience Summary
Application Information
Any artist who is comfortable working independently in a ceramics studio may apply to join a residency. Watershed is committed to creating an equitable and welcoming space for all to explore creative practice.
Summer Residency pricing for a two-week session:
- Residency fee: $1350
- Housing & meals: $700-$1600, depending on housing selection.
Scholarship awards and work-exchange positions help artists cover the costs of a residency at Watershed. To apply, artists can indicate that they would like consideration for support in their general application. Applications are reviewed annually by a panel of practicing ceramic artists. Reviewers consider applicants’ dedication to their practice, appropriate fit for the session theme (as applicable), evidence of artistic merit, and, for applicants who are newer to clay, the degree of promise demonstrated by their work and submitted statements.
Summer Residency Scholarship Awards:
- Full scholarship awards cover all residency fees, housing in a double occupancy room, and a $100 materials and kiln firing stipend.
- Any artist is welcome to apply for a scholarship award. In addition to general awards, Watershed also offers full awards specifically for artists of color/BIPOC artists, emerging artists, and international and/or multicultural artists.
- Partial scholarships range from $1000-$1300 and cover residency tuition and fees.