Soaring Gardens Artist Retreat
Create in Tranquility! Soaring Gardens Artists Retreat in the country outside of Laceyville, PA offers visual artists, writers, composers & musicians 3-week residencies between May & Sept. We have 2 resident/studio buildings accommodating a max. of 6 artists. No fees, no demands, simply spacious studios, pleasant rooms, nature and time. Applicants from historically marginalized communities are particularly encouraged to apply.
We encourage both group and individual applications. With the exception of one communal dinner per week, residents shop and cook for themselves. The communal dinners can be tailored to meet individual residents food requirements.
Apply on line: soaringgardens.com. Deadline March 10.
1705 State Rt 3003
Laceyville, PA 18623
United States
Residency Program Information
Residency Program Summary
Application Information
The application period is from February 1st to March 31st. Applicants are notified by email about their status in mid April. Residencies are available from mid-May to the end of September.
Actively working visual artists, writers, instrumentalists, and composers with at least two years’ experience since graduation may apply. Residencies are for three weeks. (If scheduling permits, two- week residencies will be considered.) There is no application fee and no fee to attend. Applicants from historically marginalized communities are particularly encouraged to apply.
We encourage group applications (a combination of artistic disciplines is fine), although applications from individual artists are also welcome. When you apply as part of a group, you may pursue individual projects, collaborative projects, and/or both. Each application is reviewed separately, and the judges reserve the right to select or reject individual members of a group.
A limited number of $500 need-based grants are available. If a grant will significantly affect your ability to attend, please fill out the Grants section on the application page. Applying for a grant will not affect your eligibility for a residency.
Soaring Gardens is in a rural location without public transportation.
A limited number of $500 need-based grants are available. Grant-applicants from historically marginalized communities are particularly encouraged. If a grant will significantly affect your ability to attend, please fill out the Grants section on the application page. Applying for a grant will not affect your eligibility for a residency.
Accessibility
Housing & Accomodation
On the twenty-three-acre property is a spacious farmhouse and studio building. The farmhouse has a bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, dining area, and two living rooms on the main floor and three bedrooms, a study, and a bathroom upstairs. In the basement, there is a laundry room with a washer and dryer. Thirty feet from the house is a separate studio building with two 750-square-foot studios on separate levels. Depending on the nature of the residents’ work, the farmhouse can accommodate three artists. (If residents are willing to share the studio spaces, it can house as many as five.)
The farmhouse was built in 1850 by Frank Gay, who made his fortune in the California gold rush. The farmhouse and studio are surrounded by extensive flower gardens, which inspired Ora Lerman to name her property “Soaring Gardens.” The central focus of the garden is a “grand allée,” modeled after Monet’s garden in Giverny, where, supported by a grant from Reader’s Digest, Lerman was a resident in 1989. Nearby is a decorative pond. From the house and studios you can see the northern end of the Appalachian Mountains, which are one hour’s drive away.
Studio & Facilities
Next to the House, there is a separate studio building with two 750-square-foot studios on separate levels. Depending on the nature of the residents’ work, the Studio can accommodate as many as five artists.
The Church has an upstairs which is divided into two spaces: one is 14 x 28 feet and the other is 14 x 26 feet, both with high ceilings. They can be used as either working or living spaces, whichever suits the residents. The church works best for two artists who are comfortable sharing the space together.