Program Overview

The Sequim Arts Artist Residency brings visual artists to the Olympic Peninsula for an intensive four-week period of creative production and community engagement. Established in 2014 with support from the National Endowment for the Arts, the residency has hosted more than 40 artists from across the United States and abroad.

The program is designed for artists at any career stage who want dedicated time to develop a body of work, explore new directions, or respond to the distinctive landscape and light of the Sequim-Dungeness region. We're particularly interested in applicants whose practice would benefit from the specific qualities of this place: the rain shadow climate, the proximity to the Strait of Juan de Fuca, the mountain-to-sea geography, and the active gallery community.

What's Included

  • Studio space. A private, light-filled workspace in downtown Sequim with access to basic equipment (easels, tables, sink, storage). The studio is available 24 hours a day for the duration of the residency.
  • Stipend. A $1,500 stipend to offset living expenses, materials, and travel costs.
  • Housing assistance. We maintain relationships with local hosts who offer reduced-rate accommodations to resident artists. Housing is not provided directly but is coordinated as part of the residency package.
  • Community engagement. Each resident gives a public talk or demonstration during their stay, participates in one First Friday Art Walk, and contributes one work to Sequim Arts' permanent community collection.
  • Professional exposure. Resident artists are featured on our website, in our newsletter, and through local media. The residency concludes with a solo exhibition at a participating downtown gallery.

Residency Sessions

We offer two residency sessions per year:

  • Spring Session: April through May. Ideal for artists drawn to the Olympic Peninsula's springtime explosion of wildflowers, migrating birds, and long evenings of golden light.
  • Fall Session: October through November. The autumn palette on the Olympic Peninsula is exceptional, and the quieter off-season allows for deep, uninterrupted studio work.

Each session accommodates two artists simultaneously. Studios are separate, but residents have the option to collaborate, share meals, and exchange feedback informally.

Eligibility

The residency is open to visual artists working in any medium, including painting, sculpture, ceramics, photography, printmaking, fiber arts, and mixed media. We welcome applications from:

  • Emerging and mid-career artists
  • Artists at any educational level (MFA not required)
  • U.S.-based and international applicants
  • Artists who have not previously held a residency as well as those with residency experience

We do not accept applications from writers, musicians, or performing artists. Those disciplines are served by other excellent residency programs in the region, including Centrum in Port Townsend.

Application Process

  1. Statement of intent. A one-page description of what you'd work on during the residency and why the Olympic Peninsula environment is relevant to your practice (500 words maximum).
  2. Portfolio. Ten images of recent work with brief descriptions. Include dimensions, medium, and year completed.
  3. Resume or CV. A current art resume or curriculum vitae.
  4. Reference. One professional reference (gallery director, curator, professor, or fellow artist). Include name, relationship, and contact information.

Submit materials as a single PDF to [email protected] with the subject line "Residency Application - [Your Name] - [Session: Spring or Fall]."

Application Deadlines

  • Spring session: Applications due January 15
  • Fall session: Applications due July 15

Applicants are notified of decisions within six weeks of the deadline. A review panel of local artists, curators, and Sequim Arts board members evaluates applications based on artistic merit, thoughtfulness of the proposed project, and potential for productive community engagement.

Past Residents

Since 2014, the residency has hosted painters, ceramic artists, photographers, and mixed-media artists from states including Washington, Oregon, California, New York, Vermont, and New Mexico, as well as international fellows from Canada, Japan, and Germany. Several past residents have maintained ongoing relationships with Sequim galleries and return regularly for the Plein Air Festival.

Support the Residency

The Artist Residency is funded through a combination of NEA grants, sponsor contributions, and individual donations. If you'd like to support the program through financial contribution, in-kind services (housing, materials, meals), or by serving as a host, please contact us.