Alchemy Art Center hosts a seasonal artist residency program on San Juan Island, WA for artists working in the mediums of ceramics, printmaking, fiber art, or darkroom photography.

2025 Program Dates:

• Spring Cohort:
  4/15/2025 - 5/25/2025
   
• Eary Summer Cohort: 
  5/29/2025 - 7/27/2025
   
• Late Summer Cohort: 
  7/31/2025 - 9/15/2025

AIRS can stay for a full term or, depending on availability, come for a partial term. Minimum residency is term is 3 weeks.

Alchemy’s AIR program is a unique opportunity to live in an immersive arts community on San Juan Island, connect with the wider SJI community via teaching and outreach activities, and have focused time to create art in an environment that supports collaboration, cross-pollination, and innovation. Artists-in-Residence are encouraged to work in all of Alchemy’s focus areas (regardless of their area of expertise), and experiment with mediums they may not have tried before.

All AIR opportunities include a work exchange of 12-15 hours per week, a substantial component of which is community engagement. This can mean teaching adult level classes, leading free workshops in the park, mentoring small groups of young people, or simply interacting with Alchemy’s many studio members and visitors. Ideal candidates are people who enjoy people, and who are energized and inspired by collaborative interactions.

Professional opportunities available to AIRs can include a final exhibition in the dome space at Alchemy, an artist talk at the San Juan Islands Museum of Art, and a shared vendor booth at the San Juan Island Farmers Market. Artists who are newer to teaching are also encouraged to gain experience by leading free all-ages workshops in our community.

Alchemy hosts three different types of artist residencies, with different opportunities and expectations, changing with the seasons. 

Teaching Artist Residency (Spring)

4/15/2025 - 5/25/2025
The Teaching Artist Residency is a shoulder-season residency for artists who specialize in one of our primary studio practices: ceramics, printmaking, fiber arts, or darkroom photography. Scheduled during Alchemy’s quieter months in the springtime, this opportunity is perfect for artists who are looking for more time and space to focus on their work.

Ideal applicants for this residency have an established studio practice and are experienced in teaching adult-level classes in their medium of choice. Applicants must also be comfortable living semi-outdoors in the cooler shoulder season weather of the Pacific Northwest.

Ideal candidates for our teaching residency are:

• Artists seeking to focus on their work in ceramics, printmaking, fiber arts, or darkroom photography
• Artists who can share their skills by teaching in our studio spaces.

Teaching AIR Work Exchange:
Teaching AIRs contribute 12 hours per week in the form of teaching, studio managing, special projects, youth mentorship. This residency option has the lowest work-exchange requirement, giving artists more time and space to focus on their art. There is currently no stipend for this residency.

Artists in Community Artist Residency (Summer)

5/29/2025 - 7/27/2025 or 7/31/2025 - 9/15/2025
Our Artists in Community program occurs during the summer months, when Alchemy is most active in the San Juan Island community. Artists-in-Residence joining us during this time are an integral part of our summer programming, leading free workshops in the park, mentoring youth groups, working with our local summer camp, and more. This is an opportunity for artists looking to connect with the broader island community, share their skills, work collaboratively, and create art in a dynamic and supportive environment.

Ideal candidates for our artists in community residency are: 

• Familiar with ceramics, printmaking or photography, or other relevant art techniques
• Can create and run art workshops and activities for people of all ages
• Are comfortable leading large groups
• Have experience working with children
• Are outgoing, and feel energized and inspired by working with others
• Are adaptable, and willing to work in changing environments

Artists in Community Work Exchange:
The work exchange for Artists in Community AIRs is 15 hours per week and includes running art activities in the community, studio maintenance, and other program support. A personal living stipend of $300 per month is included in this program.

Special Projects Artist Residency (Spring or Summer)

4/15/2025 - 5/25/2025, 5/29/2025 - 7/27/2025, or 7/31/2025 - 9/15/2025
This residency is for artists who are interested in developing a special project that will remain at Alchemy after they leave. Past projects have included an intricate stained glass window (Maya Djiji) installed in our welcome kiosk, construction of a cement geodesic dome (Casey Reagan), support with a woodburning kiln build (Sulli Yost and Joel Diepenbrock), and more. Projects could be geared more towards infrastructure or decorative elements. 

Ideal candidates for our special projects residency are: 

• Artists who are interested in working on special projects in support of AAC’s infrastructure, studio facilities, etc.
• Artists with knowledge and experience in the materials they will be using to create their project
• Familiar with ceramics, printmaking, or photography
• Flexible, self-motivated, and good at managing their time
• Have the ability to teach within our studio setting

Special Projects AIR Work Exchange:
The work exchange for Special Projects AIRs is 15 hours per week. They will primarily focus on their special project, but may also teach, help with studio maintenance, and work with youth mentees. A personal living expense stipend of $300 per month is included in this program.

Application Requirements

Applicants must answer all required application questions, provide work samples, a CV/resume, and references. Our application deadline is 12/1/2024. Late applications will not be accepted.

Eligibility Criteria

This residency opportunity is open to all artists working in our mediums of focus.

Applicants must be:

• Comfortable living semi-outdoors, and sharing communal bathroom and kitchen space with up to 8 other people.
• Over 21 years of age
• Work in the mediums of ceramics, printmaking, darkroom photography, or fiber art
• Able to complete the 15 hr weekly work exchange