Snowfort Creative Residency

Tucked above a small-town bookstore on the edge of the Adirondack wilderness, the Snowfort Creative Residency offers writers and artists a space to work deeply while staying connected to their families. There’s no rigid schedule—come for a few days or a couple weeks—just the freedom to shape each day in a way that nourishes both creative work and family life.

The Apartment

Accommodations & Features

Room and Board

• Lodging in a comfortable (not luxurious) two-bedroom, one-bath apartment accommodating four, possibly five people.
• Sleeping arrangements include a queen bed, a full bed (which can be swapped for bunk beds), and a pull-out loveseat.
• A fully equipped kitchen (note: no dishwasher).
• A selection of food from local farms, tailored to the resident’s dietary preferences—though note that not all meals will be covered.
• A newly-built deck sitting area.
• Local amenities include things like the beach, public library, coffee shop, restaurants, and The Mill (a nearby, world-class music venue and gallery). There is a small hospital in Elizabethtown, less than 15 minutes away by car.

Space for Your Work

• A quiet, dedicated workspace separate from the apartment, with a thematically curated shelf of books to inspire your project.
• An initial meeting to discuss residency goals.
• Each resident will be paired with a small cohort of engaged Snowfort community members—writers, artists, educators, and creatives—to share work-in-progress, receive feedback, and build connections. Midway through the residency, there is a casual dinner to reflect, exchange ideas, and enjoy time together. The residency concludes with a check-in with the cohort to celebrate progress and next steps.
• An opportunity to share their project with the public, such as a reading/talk, exhibition, or other event at Snowfort.

Other Considerations

• While residents and their partners or joint-caregivers are responsible for the care of dependents during the residency, we’re happy to share suggestions for local support where possible.
• There will also be access to Snowfort’s children’s play area, and attendees (including teenage children) will have the opportunity to volunteer at the bookstore if they wish—offering a chance for hands-on experience and community involvement.
• We do not provide a stipend or cover travel expenses, but we aim to keep your costs minimal while you’re here. We ask that residents treat the space with care, respect the time set aside for creative work, and, before leaving, contribute a book, a note, or another small memento for our growing archive.

For Artists

While we welcome artists in various disciplines, please note that we currently do not provide specialized studio spaces or equipment, such as ceramics studios, darkrooms, or easels. However, we offer a quiet and inspiring environment for conceptual and digital work, writing, planning, and creative exploration. Artists are encouraged to bring their own materials and adapt to the available workspace.

Cost & Financial Support

• The cost of a one-week residency is $200 – $500. We offer this pay-what-you-can model to ensure accessibility for families at different financial levels. We do not require you to declare your contribution on the application.
• If you can pay more than $500, we’ll thank you! Your additional payment will offset the cost of the sliding scale.
• Snowfort plans to sponsor one fully-funded residency per season, prioritizing families who may not have access to traditional funding sources.
• We are also currently seeking funding opportunities, sponsorships, and grants to help offset costs and expand access to more residents.
• Applicants are encouraged to seek outside funding through grants or artist support programs, and when possible we will provide guidance on potential funding options.

Eligibility & Expectations

• Open to writers and artists (at any stage in their career) who have dependents and might otherwise find it difficult to attend traditional residencies.
• Individual writers and artists without families are also welcome to apply.
• Residents are welcome to bring their child(ren), along with a partner or caregiver to help with childcare during their stay—there’s no shortage of adventures to be had in the Adirondacks. That said, the residency is designed to be flexible: some residents may choose to come alone for a shorter stay while leaving family at home, if that arrangement better suits their needs.
• We understand that dependents are not always children—partners, adult family members, or others may also be part of your caregiving responsibilities. We welcome these relationships and aim to create space for them. Please note, however, that the apartment is on the second floor and not fully accessible, which may affect your planning.
• Pets are not encouraged but may be allowed on a case-by-case basis, assuming they’re safe, well-behaved, and relatively quiet.
• While not required, you should have a vehicle in order to take advantage of all that the Adirondacks offer. There is ample parking.
• The residency is focused on providing a productive but welcoming environment that balances creative work and family time.

Who We Are

Snowfort aims to foster an active creative community rooted in the life of the bookstore and the work of Publishing Genius, the independent press based here. We draw together readers, writers, artists and artisans for conversation and exchange. The residency offers visiting artists a connection to this evolving network through informal conversation, bookstore life, public events, and cohort gatherings. We see the residency as a way to help shape this community, as visiting artists bring new energy, ideas, and perspectives.

Suitable applicants will be contacted by email to arrange a short interview.

We know that applying for a residency can be burdensome, so if you’d rather just book a stay, the apartment is also available on Airbnb.