2026 Interdisciplinary Residency - Oak Spring Garden Foundation (Due May 31)
2026 Interdisciplinary Residency - Oak Spring Garden Foundation
Deadline: May 31st, 2025
A Five-Week or Two-Week Residency Program
We offer 5-week or 2-week sessions of our Interdisciplinary Residency. The 2-week Interdisciplinary Residency program is designed for parents, caregivers, or others for whom a 5-week Residency is not possible. We encourage those who are able to apply to the 5-week Interdisciplinary Residency to do so.
Purpose
The goal of this program is to provide individuals with the time and space to pursue their own creative projects alongside other Residents who may be examining plants, landscapes, gardens, and the natural world from different perspectives. Artists, conservation practitioners, researchers, scholars, scientists, and/or writers are encouraged to apply to our Interdisciplinary Residency Program. This is our flagship Residency program that was started in 2021. Now, in 2025, we have hosted over 90 Interdisciplinary Residents, and we plan to award 40 Interdisciplinary Residencies annually. We hope our Residents will develop meaningful relationships around shared creative interests, and find abundant inspiration while at OSGF.
Interdisciplinarity is a key value of OSGF, and this Residency provides ample opportunities for Residents to explore our various resources. Beyond the time devoted to their projects, an Interdisciplinary Resident’s typical day at Oak Spring might include a walk to enjoy the landscape or birds; an appointment to visit the Oak Spring Library; and/or a morning spent volunteering at the BCCF or in the formal garden. These optional activities provide Residents time to learn from, and interact with our staff. None of these kinds of activities are required, and we understand that many Residents might want to spend most of their time in their writing or studio space. This program supports varying Residents, needs, and strikes a balance of socialization, and independent work time.
Residents are not required to make work that addresses our site specifically, but they should work on projects related to OSGF’s mission. We often find that Residents who use their time for research and inspiration are most satisfied with this Residency experience.
What We Provide
The first week of the Residency will include required tours of the formal garden, landscape, and library. This orientation period is important to introducing Residents to our site, resources and staff. After this, Residents will be provided about 3 meals per week, and these are a very means of building community among Residents, OSGF staff, and other visitors who might be on-site. OSGF’s Chef Jason creates artistic, delicious meals, that are inspired and crafted using the fresh produce grown on-site at the BCCF. Residents are required to join all provided meals, and will take turns helping clean the dishes and space afterwards. Beyond the weekly meals, we trust our Residents to use their time as they best see fit, and there will generally be a few optional weekly activities or field trips for Residents to participate in. The final week of the Residency, Residents are asked (but not required) to participate in a Residency Showcase. The Residency Showcase is an informal opportunity for staff and other program participants who might be on-site to visit with the Residents and learn about what they have worked on during their time at Oak Spring.
Residents are housed in nicely appointed shared accommodations. Each Resident will have a private bedroom and bathroom, and share a living space and kitchen with 1 - 3 other Residents. Visual artists will have 24/7 access to a studio within 0.75 miles of their accommodations, and other Residents will have a designated writing space in their accommodations.
Award
Residents selected for a 5-week session receive a $2,000 individual grant, and Residents selected for a 2-week session receive an $800 individual grant. Residents will be asked to arrange transportation to Dulles International Airport or Union Station, and OSGF will provide ground transportation to our site in Upperville, VA.
Residents who complete this program will be able to apply to our annual Perennial Residency Program.