Hello and thank you for your interest in In Cahoots Residency! We look forward to reviewing your application for a residency in 2026. All applicants use the same entry form, including visual artists and writers, whether you're applying for a Regular (full-pay) or Supported (partially or fully funded) residency.

Applications close June 2, 2025 at 11:59pm Mountain Time (10:59pm Pacific Time)

In Cahoots Residency provides housing and studio space to both emerging and professional artists with a focus on artists books, letterpress, printmaking, writing and collaboration. While we do occasionally host artists working in other mediums such as painting, photography, and mixed media, our studios specifically support printmakers, letterpress printers, book artists, and writers, so applications in these mediums are given priority.

The residency hosts from 3 to 5 artists at a time for sessions ranging from one to three weeks long. Residents are provided housing: 3 full guest houses (with kitchens and full bathrooms), and 2 summer sleeping cottages (with a shared kitchen and full bathroom). Residents have 24-hour access to the shared visual art studios or the individual writing studio. Residents do their own cooking. For those without a car, rides to the grocery store/supply store and weekly group field trips (to places such as downtown Petaluma or the Pacific coast) are provided free of charge.

Accepted artists pay a residency fee to attend. Prices can be found on our website. Financial support is available to help defray this cost. This application is for both Regular (full-pay) and Supported (fully funded, or partially funded) applications. Your answers to the application questions will indicate your interest in a Supported Residency.

In Cahoots Residency is designed for people who have prior experience in art and/or writing. A portfolio of 8-10 images of artwork (or 1- 3 writing samples, a total of 10 pages or less) is required for the application. You must be 18 years or older to apply. With a focus on community and inclusion, we welcome adult artists of all ethnicities, religions, ages, physical abilities, genders, sexual orientations, financial status, and educational backgrounds. For artists who choose to apply as a collaborative team, each artist should complete a separate entry form with all required information, and indicate the other collaborator's name.

Supported Residency Details: 

Ten fully or partially funded residencies are available in each application round. Applicants who are not awarded a Supported Residency will automatically be considered for a Regular (full pay) residency. Only one entry form is required.

The Fully and Partially Supported Residencies are designed for artists for whom this residency experience would otherwise be out of reach financially. A fully Supported Residency covers the entire residency fee, a partially Supported Residency covers a part of the residency fee. Travel, specific materials, or food are not covered with a Supported Residency. We welcome applications from all artists with financial need, with special consideration for emerging artists/ writers with less than 10 years of experience in the field, artists/ writers of color, recent students, those who are returning to art/ writing after another career, and adjunct teachers.

Applications are accepted twice a year, with deadlines on June 2 and October 1. Applications open 5 weeks before each deadline.
June 2 deadline: for residencies taking place from January to May of 2026. Application period is April 23 - June 2, 2025. Please note the application closes at 11:59pm Mountain Time on June 2 (that's 10:59pm Pacific Time). 

There is a $25 application fee, payable upon completion of the form.

Notification of acceptance/denial will be sent out by August 4, 2025.

Notes on deposit and payments: If accepted, a 200 dollar holding deposit is due, along with your contract, within a month of acceptance to hold your dates. If you choose to cancel or reschedule your residency session, this deposit will be forfeited. Upon arrival at In Cahoots Residency, this deposit will act as your security deposit and will be returned to you 30 days after the end of your residency stay, minus any damages. Your residency fee will be due 60 days before your residency start date.

Notes on Spouses and Dogs: During regular sessions, we do allow spouses and dogs to attend with artist residents. However, it must first be approved by In Cahoots Residency director (additional fees apply, limit one dog per artist, does not include studio use for spouse unless they apply separately.) 

Our spouse fee is $150/week and our dog fee is $100 cleaning fee/session.

Artists who want to avoid sessions with dogs should notify the director as well.

Notes on Children: At this time, we are not able to accommodate additional family members.

Notes on COVID-19: During the Covid-19 pandemic, we have continued to host residencies with individual housing, and social distancing in the studios when necessary. If the pandemic continues into 2026, or reoccurs and you are unable to attend due to pandemic-related concerns, please let us know as soon as possible. We will work with you to reschedule your session for a later date. The deposit and residency fee will be credited once towards a rescheduled session within one year of your original residency session dates.
 

Thank you so much for applying to In Cahoots Residency! We will notify you via email of acceptance/denial by August 4, 2025.

Application Requirements

For Visual Artists:

• 8-10 images of artwork
• Resume/CV
• answers to application questions about creative practice and proposed project

For Writers:

• 1- 3 writing samples, a total of 10 pages or less
• Resume/CV
• answers to application questions about creative practice and proposed project

For those applying for a Supported Residency (in addition to the requirements above)

• 3 References
• A description of financial need

Eligibility Criteria

• You must be 18 or older to apply
• You must have prior experience in art and/or writing