Montello Foundation is a foundation dedicated to support artists who foster
our understanding of nature, its fragility and our need to protect it.

The application deadline for the summer 2025
residency season from May 3rd to November 1st
is January 19th, 2025

To be notified of our upcoming opportunities,
please sign up for our newsletter on the contact page.

The artist retreat at the Montello Foundation is meant to be a retreat from the urban environment. It will provide a new perspective for residents’ work and give residents space and time for undisturbed experimentation and reflection for two weeks.

• Eligibility:

We are accepting national and international applications.

• Fee:

There is no fee for artists to stay at the retreat, but artists are responsible for their travel expenses and for their meals.

• Duration of Residency:

A residency is always for two weeks.

• Notification of Acceptance:

The notifications regarding the summer 2025 applications will go out by the beginning of March 2025.

• Selection of work:
The panel will look at your work with these guidelines:
- First, the quality of the work.
- Then, the relevance to the idea of the Montello Foundation: is it work which increases our understanding of nature, its fragility and our need to protect it?
- And also at the artist's commitment to get the word out. Is the artist working on shows in non-profit spaces? Does the artist organizes him- or herself events/happenings/exhibitions?

Also please keep in mind that we are not looking work for an exhibition, we are looking artists with a strong voice, so if you had a long career, please show also older work and not just your latest, though you might be the most excited about it now.

• Application Form:
please fill out the application form and save it with your last and first name
and _app as a pdf, for example: Smith_Jane_app.pdf
The 2025 season is from May 3rd until November 1st.

Here you specify on the application sheet your preferred time and when you would be available.

• Fee:
please go to the donate page and transfer $20. Thank you!

• Artist statement:
please provide us with a 500 word maximum artist statement, saved with your last
and first name and _statement as a pdf, for example: Smith_Jane_statement.pdf

First, briefly describe your art practice. Then, if it is not obvious, tell the jury what they are looking at or listening to. We encourage the residents to explore and listen, but if you have a specific project in mind, please tell us about it.

• Bio:
please provide us with a one page bio or CV, saved with your last and first name
and _bio as a pdf, for example: Smith_Jane_bio.pdf

• Digital Images:
please send up to 8 digital images using the following specifications:
File name: labeled with your last and first name, for example:
Smith_Jane01.jpg, Smith_Jane02.jpg, Smith_Jane03.jpg
Dimensions: 2000 pixels x 2000 pixels (about)
Resolution: 72 dpi (medium resolution)
File size: No larger than 2.0 MB (each image)
File format: .jpg

It is not ok to send a pdf portfolio, the images have to be individual files.

• Video Work:
please provide a link in the Image Check List and indicate the lenght of the clip in the dimension part and whether it is an excerpt of a longer work.

For sections of longer videos, please give a brief summary of the entire video on your Statement page.

If your video contains music, the composer and performer(s) must be credited.

• Writers, Composers and Performing Artists:
due to the fact that we are running a fairly small program, we will have only one panel to judge the submissions and the members of the panel will be mainly visual artists and curators. Which doesn't mean you shouldn't apply. It just means that you will have to convince them with your art form. So instead of the images, writers please submit 2 shorter samples and 2 longer ones; performers please submit videos; composers please provide links to samples and list them on the Image Check List.

• Check List:
please fill out the image check list and save it with your last and first name
and _list as a pdf, for example: Smith_Jane_list.pdf

• Send:
please email all the files to info@montellofoundation.org.

You should get a confirmation email, please let us know if you don't.

Collaborators:
you can certainly apply as collaborators, but keep in mind that the retreat provides only one bed with bedding. There is an air matress as well, but please bring your own bedding. Have a look at the floorplan on the Building page to understand the layout. Please fill then out one application form but provide a bio for each member or the bio for the collective and mark the collaborator(s) box. The images and statement should be just one.

Family Members/Pets:
We won't be checking whether you bring family members or partners, but we strongly encourage you to have the retreat as a solitary experience.
If you do bring family, please be advised that the desert environment might be hard on small children and the maximum number of occupants at any given time is 4.
And please bring your own blankets for your hairy friends.

Financial Support:
unfortunately we are not able to provide any financial support at this time, however we would be happy to assist you with materials for your own fundraising.

Questions:
please email us at info@montellofoundation.org

“My plans of driving around the area to find photographs were completely thwarted as I had no need, everything was already there at the cabin doorstep. Through the isolation and daily routine of walking, meditating, and sky gazing, my level of attention became exquisite. Every wisp of cloud that passed was important and infinite. ” 

- Tracy L Chandler, resident 2024