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:

• In the Making residencies
• Curator & Arts Worker Residency
• Emerging Artist & Writers Residency
• Self-Directed residencies
• Local Artist Studio Space Residency

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 2025, this residency is invitation-based.

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

This program in nomination based.

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. We do grocery runs for folks without cars.

At Fort Worden, food service is found at:
Fort Worden Commons – breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Reveille Cafe – breakfast and lunch, coffee, pastries, and dessert
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 (only) 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 you:
*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 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