MacDowell, the artist residency in Peterborough, New Hampshire that’s hosted working artists since 1907, has applications open for its Spring/Summer 2027 fellowship cycle, closing September 10, 2026. That’s just under four weeks of runway from today — worth flagging now for anyone assembling a proposal and work samples.
What a fellowship actually includes
A MacDowell Fellowship is a residency, not a cash grant: accepted artists get free studio space and living accommodations on the colony’s grounds for a stay that can run several weeks, with no application fee and no cost to attend. On top of that, MacDowell offers need-based stipends and travel reimbursement grants for fellows who need financial support to take the time away from paid work — a detail that matters for artists who’d otherwise have to weigh a residency against lost income.
Seven disciplines, genuinely interdisciplinary
Applications are accepted across architecture, film/video, interdisciplinary arts, literature, music composition, theatre, and visual arts — a wider net than most single-medium residencies, and one that’s historically made MacDowell a landing spot for artists whose work doesn’t sit cleanly in one category. The organization states the sole selection criterion is “artistic excellence,” with panels reviewing professional achievements, current work samples, and a proposal for what the applicant intends to accomplish during the residency.
Open internationally
MacDowell “encourages applications from artists of all backgrounds and all countries,” though conversational English proficiency is recommended since interpretation services aren’t provided on-site. For a residency this established — MacDowell fellows have included five decades’ worth of Pulitzer, MacArthur, and Pritzker winners — the open eligibility and zero-cost structure make it one of the more accessible entries on an artist’s residency list, even if the selection bar is real.