2025 Birds & Muses Residency 1 (Generative, Early Stages)
Ends on
Hewnoaks — Birds & Muses
July 11 - 18, 2025
GENERATIVE (Early Stages)
This first of two, week-long collaborative residencies between Hewnoaks and Birds & Muses invites women-identified, femme, trans and nonbinary artists of literary projects in early stages of development to take part in daily group sessions to inspire their writing, individualized conferences to further identify and advance their nascent projects, and protected time to write.
The Generative Residency offers up to 12 writers a foundational curriculum in literary craft and process unique to Birds & Muses teaching: a non-academic and decidedly more artistic, intuitive, and emotionally/sensorily based approach to literary artistry than is typically taught. Each day’s topical conversation and assigned short readings will include generative exercises designed to open up the possibilities of each writer’s project, or help them recognize areas of passion and curiosity that could lead to bigger projects. Each writer will have an individual conference with Kate to discuss their project and needs going forward.
Please note that while offering unencumbered time, sanctuary, and mentorship for artistic exploration, this residency is not a pampered retreat but a focused environment where writers will devote themselves to intensive creative growth – of their projects and of themselves as writers.
Bringing together any group requires care – especially assembling a group of strangers doing the deep, vulnerable work that art demands. This application is designed to allow us to learn a bit about you and your work so that we can be sure we can support you in your artistic process individually and as part of a dynamic, shared experience.
KEY DATES
- March 24: Application opens.
- March 24 - May 8: Applications reviewed and invitations extended on a rolling basis. Once notified, accepted applicants will have 1 week to confirm attendance by paying the full fee.
- May 1: Deadline for applications.
- May 8: Final accepted applicants notified.
- July 11: Arrivals (2-5pm).
- July 18: Departures by noon.
INFORMATION ABOUT HEWNOAKS:
Participants will live in small, rustic cabins equipped with basic kitchens, bathrooms and bedrooms. Food for prepare-your-own breakfasts and lunches will be provided, and dinners will be prepared by residency staff.
The property is about a 90 minute drive from Portland, and residents are responsible for their own transportation to Hewnoaks.
While WiFi is available in the main lodge, it does not extend to the artist cabins themselves, and cell service is virtually nonexistent throughout the property.
Our historic property is not ADA-compliant, and has steep hills and unpaved paths; participants with limited mobility may have difficulty navigating the property. If you have questions or concerns about this, please email program staff at info@hewnoaks.org.
PLEASE read the information on our website to ensure that what we have to offer and what you hope to do are aligned properly: https://hewnoaks.org/workshops/birds-muses/