artist residencies at Fort Worden

ProgramResidenciesArtist Residencies

ABOUT CENTRUM RESIDENCIES

SPRING 2024 Session

Since 1980, the Centrum Artists-In-Residence program has welcomed hundreds of writers, artists and creative thinkers to immerse themselves in the historic charm and natural beauty of Fort Worden in Port Townsend, Washington. The campus has sweeping views of the Olympic and Cascade Mountain ranges, miles of wandering beach and forest trails, and a peppering of World War I–era batteries and bunkers.

Creative professionals from all disciplines and backgrounds can take advantage of charming cabins, studio spaces, and a rich array of resources. Residents can expect semi-rustic experiences in comfortable cabins or apartments. Visual artists have their choice of a few studios of different sizes, including use of the printmaking studio at Corvidae Press for experienced printmakers. Our campus includes several organizations with whom a resident can arrange to connect such as: Rainshadow recording studio, Madrona MindBody Institute, the Port Townsend School of Woodworking, Copper Canyon Press, and Northwind Art.

Above all, artists cite their residency as a unique opportunity to focus on their practice outside of many of the pressures of work, school, or expectation-based constraints.

Spencer Garland attending Centrum art residency

Applications for 2025 Session

Opens April 15 - June 30, 2024
Coming Soon

Artist Residency Facts

  • 1-4 week residencies available, some include: free housing, studio and stipend
  • NEW Residencies for 2024! In the Making, Curator & Arts Worker
  • Access 400+ acres of forest, beach and historic Fort Worden State Park
  • Program established in 1980

Art Residency at Centrum

What is a Residency?
A period of time dedicated to rest, rejuvenation, experimentation, and/or production of new work for artists, writers, performers, musicians, scholars, and creative professionals of all kinds. Residencies take many forms and have a range of conditions and components to them.

What is a Centrum Residency Like?
Depending on the program, our residencies look a few different ways, but all take place in historic, rustic, former military housing units on the campus of the Fort Worden State Park. Situated among public trails, Northwest wildlife, and scenic views, the environment is one that provides lots of opportunity for solitude and connection to nature. Our residencies are well suited to people who are fairly independent with their needs, flexible and patient with the nuances of older buildings, okay with cooking for themselves, and able to be alone for good chunks of time in between social opportunities. If this describes you, we encourage you to keep exploring our programs!

What are you looking for in a residency? Which program is right for you?
Perhaps you are recovering from an intense period of production and need to dramatically slow down. Perhaps you really need a workspace for a big project you’re launching soon. Maybe you want to just try something new? Maybe there’s something about our location that is calling you?
While our residencies place an emphasis on solo time, we also strongly believe in cultivating community and connecting residents with the local region. Some of our programs provide more support for this than others. We know that some of our residents enjoy the quiet solitude of the campus and that some rely more on social engagement and the insights of other creative workers. We have different programs for this spectrum of needs:

• (New!) In the Making residencies
• (New!) Curator & Arts Worker Residency
• Emerging Artist & Writers Residency
• Self-Directed residencies

The 2024 residency season and waitlist have already been determined and scheduled. Applications for residencies in 2025 will be open from April 15 - June 30, 2024.  Applications are taken via Submittable and are reviewed and selected by a panel of reviewers representing our alumni and a diversity of backgrounds and modalities. Applicants need only apply once to be considered for multiple residency programs. Decisions about 2025 residencies will be made and applicants informed by September 30, 2024.

Accommodations & Studios
Charming and semi-rustic cabins and apartments contain private bedrooms and shared kitchens. Each two-three bedroom unit has a living room/dining room space, a fully equipped kitchen, and full bathroom. Artists are housed according to availability and individual working habits, preferences, and needs. Aside from self-identified groups, residents are given private lodging.

WiFi is limited and not guaranteed as part of residencies. Most studio spaces have good WiFi, while most cabins and apartments do not, due to the historic nature of the fort’s infrastructure. We’re actively working to fix this in the coming years. The Residency Lounge has excellent WiFi and can be reserved as needed.

Studio spaces are in separate buildings and come in several shapes and sizes. Some spaces have access to sinks and wall space. Currently there are no studio spaces with ventilation, so the use of oil or toxic materials is discouraged. The program manager works with artists on a case-by-case basis to determine the best location for various projects and mediums. Depending on the residency program, additional fees may apply for studio spaces. All technical equipment or supplies must be provided by the resident.

Can I…
Bring a partner, my family, or a collaborator? Yes, we allow partners, children, and collaborators and just ask that this is disclosed ahead of time. We expect and trust residents to ensure that anyone they bring on the residency will follow the same policies asked of the residents.
Bring a pet? Aside from registered service animals (not emotional support) we cannot accommodate pets at this time.

Meals
Meals are not provided in Centrum residencies, but all apartments and cabins are all equipped with full kitchens and a basic inventory of dishware, pots and pans, coffee makers, and cooking utensils. Fort Worden and Port Townsend offer up an array of dining experiences and there is easy access to grocery stores and local produce. 

At Fort Worden, food service is found at:
Fort Worden Commons – breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Reveille Cafe – breakfast and lunch, coffee, pastries, and dessert
Taps at the Guardhouse – regional spirits, artisanal bites
Cablehouse Canteen – tacos, burgers etc. on the beach 

How to get here
Port Townsend is two hours from SeaTac airport on a good day. For travel directions to and around Port Townsend, please see our Contact Us/Directions page.

Having a car is very helpful for exploring the Peninsula and having independent access to grocery and supply stores. That said, for residents without access to a car, there are public transit and private shuttle/taxi options that are available to all. 

Other notes:
• The campus is about a mile from downtown shops, grocery stores, and entertainment.
• Centrum works in partnership with several organizations including Corvidae Press, Northwind Art, Madrona Mindbody Institute, the Jefferson Historical Society, and the Port Townsend School of Woodworking, among others. Any projects involving these organizations will need to be coordinated directly and are subject to the individual availability of the organizations. We will help make introductions!

Receiving mail & packages
You may have letters sent to your name c/o Centrum at PO Box 1158, Port Townsend, WA 98368. The postal service does not deliver to our door, so we ask that you don’t ship parcels and boxes via the United States Postal Service (USPS). Package delivery services delivers directly to our office, and you may send supplies for your residency via UPS, FEDEX, DHL. Please use our physical address for all parcel deliveries:

Your name
c/o Centrum, Fort Worden
223 Battery Way
Port Townsend WA 98368

What to Bring
Along with your art supplies, laptop, and anything else that makes you feel at home, don’t forget your own shampoo, toothbrush, and toothpaste. Layered clothing is strongly recommended; the climate in Port Townsend can be warm, cold, and windy, all in the same day! Sturdy shoes for hiking the trails at Fort Worden are encouraged.

Will I be lonely?
While all our residency programs have varying degrees of community support, we find that some people thrive in isolated cabins, and some people struggle with daily distance from interaction. If daily social interaction is important to you, we recommend:
*Consider bringing a collaborator or partner. Yes, it’s allowed! We just need to know ahead of time.
*If applicable to your practice, opt for applying for The Emerging Artist Residency which has more opportunities and support than the Self-Directed Residencies.
*Attending our weekly coffee check-ins and self-organizing with others in residence can also help foster community while here.

Will I feel safe?
Residents have been thriving in this environment for almost fifty years, and the utmost care is taken to make sure it is safe. Some things to know:
Port Townsend presents as a predominantly white community, and we are actively working with our community to ensure safe spaces for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. We are continuing to build resources for communal support with our BIPOC residents and we are happy to have conversations around specific needs or concerns.

Fort Worden is semi-rural and up close with wildlife. You will see deer everyday. Very rarely, but occasionally, there are cougar sightings. We stay on top of pest control and just ask residents to be mindful of storing food and closing windows/doors.

The buildings are old. We work hard to keep them warm and safe from the outside elements, but they are prone to creaking and occasional “quirks” as well as small pests. We regularly monitor, clean, and take preventive measures, but is also part of life in old buildings on the park.

Park Rangers and security staff maintain a consistent presence.

In the late fall and winter months, the park is usually quiet and empty, while the late spring/summer months are very populated with a range of campers, conference-goers, weddings, or other gatherings that take place in non-Centrum spaces.

More Details
Download our handbook here to preview the grounds, lodging, studio spaces, and answer more of your frequently asked questions.

Find more answers - Centrum FAQs

Residency Programs

Self-Directed Residencies are largely solitary, with an optional weekly coffee meet-up with other residents. These happen January-June, September, and November-December. This program is fee-based, with fee-waived scholarships available.

• Cost: $450/week for lodging plus $50-100/week for studio
• Stipend/Honorarium: None, but a limited number of Scholarships for waived fees are available.
Time of year: September and November-June.
Length: 1-4 weeks

The Emerging Artist Residency provides stipends, multiple resident gatherings, visiting artists & curators, and an open studio/public reading. This residency is aimed at visual and interdisciplinary artists in the Pacific Northwest who are towards the beginning of their creative paths and can benefit from the time to focus and receive support from a community of peers and specialists in their fields. This residency is always in October.

Cost: No fee charged for this program.
Stipend/Honorarium: $1500
Time of year: October
Length: 4 weeks

The Curator & Arts Worker Residency provides stipends, gatherings, and moments of facilitated conversation around key issues in the arts community. This residency is for independent, gallery, or organization-based professionals who curate a spectrum of artist experiences. For 2024, this residency is invitation-based.

Cost: No fee charged for this program.
Stipend/Honorarium: $1200
Time of year: June
Length: 1 week

(New for 2024!) In the Making residencies have public-facing components that could be a workshop, a temporary installation, a performance, or another type of community engagement at some point during the residency. Stipends and funds for these vary and are project-specific. These happen throughout the year. If you have an idea for In the Making, indicate so on your application with a brief description, and if selected, we’ll follow up to plan it in more detail.

Cost: There is no fee charged for this residency.
Stipend/Honorarium: Dependent on scope of project and funding.
Time of year: Varies and depends on project. Typically between September-June.
Length: 1-4 weeks.

Photo of Kalimah Abioto

Kalimah Abioto

Artist

Kalimah Abioto, aka Dr. Woodchopper is a filmmaker, writer, storyteller, performer and afro-ecologist. She hails from Memphis, TN and her work can be seen at kalimahabiotot.com

Photo of Roldy Ablao

Roldy Ablao

Curatorial Resident

Photo of Catalina Cantú

Catalina Cantú

Curatorial Resident

Catalina Cantú (Xicana) is of Indigenous Mexican/Madeiran heritage born in San Francisco, California. Before moving to Washington, Cantú lived on the border in Brownsville, Texas, where the Cantú family has lived since it was México. Her immigrant maternal grandparents came to California from Madeira, an island colonized by the Portuguese, west of North Africa. Cantú is a multi-genre writer, interdisciplinary artist, social justice activist, Jack Straw Fellow, and Alum of VONA/Voices, and The Mineral School.…

Photo of Brittney Frantece

Brittney Frantece

Curatorial Resident

Brittney Frantece is a writer, artist, educator, curator, and Ph.D. candidate at University of Washington (UW). Her work engages concepts of speculation, horror, and magic. She engages Black literary and visual arts to find new ways of thinking, being, and knowledge productions Black imaginations offer. She has conducted workshops and courses for UW’s English and American Ethnic Studies departments, The Northwest School, and the Henry Art Gallery.…

Photo of Kari Karsten

Kari Karsten

Curatorial Resident

A member of the Seneca nation, Kari holds an MA in Museology from the University of Washington and a BS in Communications and Rhetorical Studies with a minor in visual culture from Syracuse University. She is currently the gallery manager for the Columbia City Art Gallery. Her previous experiences have included work at Seattle Art Museum, Seneca-Iroquois National Museum, Mount Rainier Curatorial Department, ArtRage Gallery, and the Albright-Knox Art Gallery.…

Photo of Hannah Krafcik

Hannah Krafcik

Artist

Hannah Krafcik is a Portland-based interdisciplinary neuroqueer artist and writer whose work emerges from ongoing reflections on social patterning and censorship, (over)stimulation, perseveration, and intuition. Their practices include dance and new media. They often create performances and teach in collaboration with artistic partner, Emily Jones.

Photo of Roin Morigeau

Roin Morigeau

Artist

Roin Morigeau is a stʕámiyaʔ (Two-Spirit) interdisciplinary artist using mixed-media such as drawing, painting, installation, and beadwork to explore the dichotomy between matriarchal and patriarchal space. Living with physical limitations and chronic pain from a spinal injury, Roin centers their art practice as a form of protest and healing. Roin is Bitterroot Salish Flathead Nation/ Northern European and lives in unceded Spokane territories where they were raised.

Creative Events

More Creative Programs

Centrum offers a variety of creative programs for artists of all ages,
experience the creative spirit.

Events

Studium Generale Talk
Apr 4, 2024 4:00pmCommunity
Art Opening: Jessica Plumb INNER SPACE
Apr 5, 2024 6:00pmArt, Community, Free, Open Studio
Art Exhibition: Jessica Plumb INNER SPACE
Apr 8, 2024Art, Community, Free, Open Studio
Ukulele Festival Workshop
Apr 11, 2024Music, Ukulele, Workshop

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