Artist Residencies:
General Information
Fees
There is no cost to the artist for the residency, other than the $20 application fee. Artists are responsible for materials and transportation.
Eligibility
Residencies are available to artists at all stages of their careers, working in a variety of mediums, including writers of fiction and non-fiction, poets, playwrights, filmmakers, video artists, painters, mixed-media artists, sculptors, performers and others from the U.S. and abroad. While photographers and musicians are also more than welcome (we’ve hosted several residents in both categories), photographers should be aware that we do not have dark room facilities, and musicians should know that we don’t have sound-proof studios or pianos on the premises. Hall Farm does not provide interpreters or other translation services, however non-English speaking artists are welcome to apply. Couples are discouraged from applying, however may do so under separate cover. Pets are generally accepted, but need to be discussed with directors. Guide dogs are always acceptable.
Length of Residency
Length of residency varies by individual artist depending upon space availability and artists’ requirements and schedule. Residency season is divided into two sessions - applicants are asked to choose a period of time of up to four (4) weeks within a session.
Location
Hall Farm is located 4-1/2 miles north of rural Townshend, Vermont (population 1,149). The closest city, Brattleboro, is a 30-minute car ride away on lightly traveled country roads. In the vicinity of Townshend Village you will find a post office, ATM machines, a pharmacy, and a small but well stocked grocery store that also sells daily newspapers from Boston and New York. Brattleboro (population 8,289) has a larger selection of cafes, restaurants, bookstores, art galleries, movie theaters, a bowling alley, and so on.
Studios
Artists are assigned studio space based on projects described in the residency application, therefore visual artists in particular should be explicit about their needs. We do not have a wet darkroom on the premises, however photographers have used their time at Hall Farm for editing, cataloguing, shooting, and digital imaging using electronic equipment which they supply. We welcome musicians and performers, but do not have a dedicated music or performance space (i.e. no piano, sound insulation, stage, or dance floor). Similarly, sculptors are welcome to apply, but we do not have a sculpture studio with a wheel or kiln.
Writers are generally assigned to the Farm House Studios or The Winona Studio, however may be assigned to The South Studio or Pond Studio when there are a greater number of writers in residence. They are also welcomed to work in the Library Loft in The Barn.
All studios are accessible 24 hours a day and are equipped with writing tables, lamps, and chairs.
Housing
Up to five residents are housed in their own rooms in the 1830s Farmhouse, which is equipped with two modern bathrooms. Sheets, towels, blankets and pillows are provided (though many residents also bring along their own favorite pillows). Smoking is not permitted in the Farm House, nor in any of our buildings. Accommodations are not available for guests, however there are a number of inns nearby should the resident wish to receive visitors. Given the small size of our community, Hall Farm does not employ a professional maintenance staff. We ask that you take responsibility for the well-being and cleanliness of your bedroom, studio, and shared bathroom.
Meals
Meals are served in The Barn and are open to resident artists only. Breakfast and lunch are casual affairs. These meals, as well as snacks, are self-serve and available in our open kitchen at any time you desire. Dinner is prepared by our resident chef, and is typically served in the vicinity of 7:30 or 8:00 p.m. This gathering is an opportunity for the Hall Farm community to enjoy good food and company in a more traditional yet relaxed setting. We are happy to accommodate any special dietary needs and desires.
Community and Setting
Though located on 221-acres, Hall Farm is an intimate retreat space. At any given time there are 4-6 artists in residence working in different mediums. Our residents cherish the quiet environment made possible by other artists who value this opportunity to work without distraction. With this in mind, there are no studio visits or other interruptions without invitation. Though a collegial environment, most artists come to Hall Farm comfortable with the prospect of spending the lion’s share of the daytime hours on their own.
Hall Farm is far from road noise or other distractions of urban life, where the loudest sounds come from the many frogs who count Hall Pond as their home. Wild turkey, deer, and the occasional moose wander through, while hummingbirds, starlings, and cardinals regularly visit our herb garden and fields of wildflowers. No formal social activities are scheduled for artists - or wildlife — during the residency season.
Recreation
There are ample opportunities for recreation on the farm itself, including hiking trails and a spring-fed pond for swimming, drifting on a float, or rowing in a kayak. Nearby Jamaica State Park and Townshend Dam Park provide additional opportunities for hiking and swimming. Canoes can be rented near Brattleboro for exploring the West and Connecticut Rivers. Bicycle riding in Vermont, known as the Green Mountain State, can be challenging and rewarding, especially if you are training for the Prix de France. The closest health clubs are 30 minutes away in Brattleboro, where you can use fitness equipment for a daily fee.
There are also books and CD’s to borrow from The Barn Library, though we ask that you use headphones when listening to music. Also nearby are numerous antique dealers, as well as a popular and well-attended auction every Saturday one-mile south of Townshend Village.
Weather
Southern Vermont is beautiful throughout our residency season, with mostly warm days and crisp nights here in the foothills of the Green Mountains. Temperatures are typically 6-8 degrees cooler on our hilltop setting than 30 minutes away in Brattleboro. Neither The Farm House nor any of the studios are heated. Air conditioning is naturally supplied by the sunset. The visual arts studios are amply ventilated by design.
Supplies
Residents are responsible for providing any supplies they might need, including computer printers if they intend to use one. There is a well stocked art supply store 30 minutes away by car in Brattleboro, as well as an office store for computer supplies and the like. Someone from Hall Farm goes to town on most days and can bring back simple supplies if you do not have transportation or prefer to not interrupt your work.
We highly recommend that computer users bring surge protectors for their equipment and unplug all electronics when not in use. Brief but powerful summer storms can blow through with little or no warning.
Wardrobe and Laundry
Temperatures can range wildly in Vermont, even in mid-summer, from 90-degree days to 40-degree nights, though most days are mild and don’t reach those extremes. T-shirts and shorts or jeans are common attire. You will also want a heavy sweater or fleece jacket when the temperature drops, sturdy shoes for hiking or rainy days, a swimsuit, and a hat. Some residents also bring water slippers for walking past the soft shoreline into the deeper waters of Hall Pond.
A washer and dryer are available. There are no dry cleaners in Townshend.
Hall Farm receives daily letter delivery via the U.S. Postal Service. Packages sent by mail must be picked up at the post office in Townshend. Federal Express and U.P.S. deliver directly to the doors of Hall Farm.
Telephone/Internet
Residents are welcome to use calling cards to access long distance calls via the office phone before 9 a.m. and after 5 p.m. 24 hour broadband wireless internet access is also available. Cell phone signals, which work as close by as Brattleboro, do not reach Hall Farm. Yet.
Medical Needs
There are no medical facilities on Hall Farm. Grace Cottage Hospital, a small medical center in Townshend, operates a 24-hour emergency room as well as a pharmacy open Monday through Saturday. Emergency dental services can also be arranged for in Townshend. More extensive health care services and support are available in Brattleboro.