PROGRAM

For nearly eight decades, Skowhegan has offered artists the opportunity to engage within an experimental framework based on the idea of sharing knowledge and skills within and among artists.

2025 Summer Program: June 7 – August 9, 2025
The application period for the 2025 Summer Program is now closed.

Program Overview

During the nine-week Program, artists working across all disciplines have the opportunity to live as a community of peers on Skowhegan’s 350-acre campus in rural Maine. Participants dedicate time to their studio practices while engaging in a collective learning process through a variety of skill-sharing and theoretical workshops, group and individual studio visits, performances, lectures, and reading groups.

Based on a transversal open structure, Skowhegan creates a space where participants collaboratively design the program's contents alongside an international and distinguished group of residents and visiting artists who serve as faculty. In a continuously work-in-progress environment, which prioritizes process and exchange, each individual’s practice contributes to the collective experience, discussing what "making" means to artists. 

  • Skowhegan is a School in the sense that it provides an open pedagogical structure in which knowledge and skills are conveyed in a critical, learning-centered manner. However, there are no formal courses or expectations regarding outcomes and deliverables. Rather, over the course of the nine-week program, Resident artists, visiting artists, staff and participants share their artistic practices and interests proposing a blend of theory and practice, discourse and production. The conversations that take place during daily convivial time contribute significantly to each participant's development. In this way, the School provides the backbone for participants to push the boundaries of their practices and to benefit from a unique community of fellow artists. 

    Skowhegan is also a Residency, hosting 60-65 participants each year, who live and work side-by-side on our rural campus. We emphasize how mutual care can be extended as another artistic practice, requiring daily rehearsals to navigate the possibilities, but also challenges, inherent to communal living.

  • All artists are welcome to apply.  Experimentation, intellectual curiosity, and the ability to collaborate and interact with peers are the main requirements.

    Though Skowhegan retains its historic name as School of Painting & Sculpture, artists working in every media are encouraged to apply. Participants come to Skowhegan from all over the world and from various backgrounds and experience levels. There are no educational prerequisites to participate, but all participants must be 21 years of age by the start of the Program.

  • The Program includes individual and group studio visits led by our resident and visiting faculty artists, together with a series of experimental workshops and lectures that take place throughout the nine-week program. Skowhegan’s participants are free to manage their time through their studio practice and to propose all kinds of activities, projects and events.

    Because Skowhegan’s community of faculty and participants is new each year, the experience and program itself is continuously reinvented. Skowhegan stands out as a moment when artists are given absolute freedom in determining their path in the studio without a demanding structure in place. If selected, we encourage you to become an active member of the community of practitioners.

    Each participant must commit to the Program for the full nine-week session. Absences from the Program to fulfill other professional commitments are not permitted. Skowhegan is a rare opportunity to delve deeply into your practice, to encounter and give generous feedback, to accept and offer challenges. The best experiences are those that are completely open and responsive to the community of artists on campus, and the landscape in which Skowhegan is located.

  • At Skowhegan we live as a community while supporting the individual needs of participants, faculty and staff. Participants are provided lodging, daily meals, as well as studios and workspaces on our 350-acre campus. Participants are invited to structure their time independently, but we gather as a community for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Faculty lectures and other programs are frequently organized in the evenings. 

    The facilities comprise more than 80 buildings with a library, different shops for fabrication (including metal, wood, ceramics), fresco shop, media lab, performance space, dining hall, a community space for leisure time and activities, studios and dorms. The facilities support artists working in multidisciplinary practices, and the residences are modest and designed to provide a pleasant, convivial experience; buildings are connected by unpaved roads and natural paths; when applying, please keep in mind that it is a campus in the middle of nature.

  • COVID vaccinations are required for all participants, faculty and staff members.

Campus

Participants live on campus for the full duration of the nine-week Program. Studios are open 24 hours a day.

Accommodations (lower campus)

Participants live in shared quarters in  cottages set on a large lake, with shared bathrooms. Participants may live in a single room or with a roommate; Skowhegan is not able to guarantee a private room for every participant. The cottages have common areas with fireplaces or wood-burning stoves. There are no cooking facilities in participant living quarters, and all meals and snacks are provided by the Dining Hall. Participants furnish their own blankets, sheets and towels. 

Studios

Studios are located amidst woods and rolling pastures, just a short walk from the lake, and are open 24 hours a day. Each studio is approximately 10 feet by 13 feet in size. While each studio is private, all are located in communal buildings. Many of these buildings date back to the campus’s previous life as a farm but have been updated over time. The studios can accommodate a variety of work and accessibility needs.

Technical Facilities

There is a large wood and metal shop with basic ceramic facilities, as well as two studio manager to assist with equipment & tools. 

Skowhegan has a Media Lab with computers equipped with all necessary software for video, sound, and image editing. The Media Lab also offers basic photo, video, and sound recording equipment for checkout, along with a sound-conditioned,  light-proof room for recordings. 

A Performance Space can be used in a multidisciplinary way, especially for rehearsals and movement-base events and workshops. It is an open barn with a large porch and a safe floor for movement. There is A/V equipment including some theatrical lighting, sound, and projection. 

Please note, Internet access is not fully totally reliable on campus and is limited to the Barn, Media Lab, and the Library buildings.

Fresco Workshop

Skowhegan offers the rare opportunity to learn and practice buon fresco technique. In the context of Skowhegan's program, fresco offers an opportunity to explore a rich and ancient process that can inspire and accommodate a broad range of contemporary ideas while having a communal experience. 

Library

The Robert Lehman Library is the space to host group readings and theoretical workshops. The collection contains over 15,000 art books, catalogs, bound magazines, and the Skowhegan Lecture Archive, which consists of over 600 recordings of lectures given by Skowhegan Resident and Visiting Artists since 1952. These recordings comprise a unique art historical resource. The Library also houses a small collection of film and video art. Participants have access to this collection and are encouraged to organize special viewings in groups or individually. The Library is open 24 hours a day.

Outdoors spaces

The campus has many different natural spaces, forests, pastures and lakefront to experiment with art interventions and collective projects.

Structure

Performances, reading groups, discussions, and community and off-campus projects initiated by participants, faculty, and staff comprise an important part of the Skowhegan experience as each member of the school responds to the community and environment surrounding them.

FAQ

  • The 2025 Application deadline is November 15, 2024 at 11:59PM EST (UTC -5:00). We advise applicants to work on the online application well in advance of this date, Please do not wait until the last moment to submit. Incomplete applications will not be accepted for any reason including website failure

  • Yes, there is an application fee due when you submit your application. The one time application fee amount is determined by the date that you apply. Please refer to the application fee timetable for application fee rates.

  • No. Unfortunately, we are not able to waive the application fee.

    It is one of our priorities as an organization to make the experience possible for any artist, regardless of their financial situation through financial aid awarded at the time of acceptance.

    However, we do rely on the application fee to cover the substantial costs involved with processing and reviewing each application.

    The application fee is tiered by date of application and is much cheaper for those who apply early.

  • The application fee must be paid using Skowhegan’s Stripe payment system which takes most major credit cards. If you are experiencing difficulty using Stripe, call Skowhegan at +1 (646) 681-6426 or email help@skowheganart.org. You must contact us at least 24 hours before each application fee increase or deadline to request assistance in using an alternative payment method for the application fee.

  • All artists are welcome to apply. Skowhegan is particularly interested in emerging artists with a professional studio practice. Experimentation, intellectual curiosity, and the ability to collaborate and interact with peers are the main requirements. Academic credentials and/or previous institutional training in art are not a prerequisite and are not considered in the admissions process.

  • Artists must be at least 21 years of age by the start of the program (June 7, 2025). There is no maximum age limitation.

  • Skowhegan is one of the oldest and most prestigious art-intensive programs in the US and it is structured as an open learning environment. It is important to note, however, that Skowhegan is not an accredited academic institution.

  • Skowhegan cannot assist with the application for a Visa or cover the associated expenses, but we can provide a letter of admission upon request. Skowhegan is not an accredited academic institution and cannot participate in student visa processes.

  • Skowhegan doesn’t provide financial assistance for travel expenses within the US. However, if you are an international applicant living outside the US, you are eligible for financial aid and grants toward travel expenses. 

    Please note that artists who are accepted in 2025 who are traveling to Maine internationally may be required to meet country-specific regulations provided by the US government or your home country.

  • A basic working knowledge of English is preferred.

  • You may only submit one application per annual cycle; artists who submit multiple applications in the same cycle will not be considered for admission. Artists may only attend Skowhegan once.

  • The category choice you make is used exclusively for administrative purposes and it is important to note that there is no right or wrong category for you to select. Skowhegan recognizes that most artists work in an inter-disciplined manner and with conceptually driven forms that integrate two-dimensional, three-dimensional, and time-based media. Please choose whichever category you feel best aligns with your practice.

  • Yes. Skowhegan allows collaborative teams to apply. Collaborative teams must apply using one application to represent the entire team. Please note that only 2 members of a collaborative team can attend the Program in a given year.

  • Identify individuals who can speak to your commitment and openness as an artist and your ability to work well in a communal setting. We might contact them if you get selected for the final interview. Skowhegan does not accept letters of recommendation.

  • The application process is simple and exclusively based on the work done until the date. It is necessary for you to submit images or videos that can provide a comprehensive understanding of your practice. Whenever possible, avoid repeating the same work several times. In addition, we encourage you to provide a short but thoughtful explanation of the work you are submitting in the "notes" field. Information is always helpful in the selection process, particularly if you are applying with performances, sound or video, since the selection committee is unable to view the entire project.

    Pay attention to the quality of your images by not shrinking the image file itself, rather than changing the pixel dimensions of the image. Even if you think this doesn't apply to you, you should still carefully read the image specifications outlined in Step 3 of the application. If you must use a cell phone for documentation please make sure that you are doing so in a well-lit area. Skowhegan is a very competitive program, so think thoughtfully and dedicate time to selecting and submitting your application.

  • After you have submitted your application you will receive an automatic email acknowledging our receipt of your application. 

    Please be sure to check your spam folder and make sure you set your email settings to accept help@skowheganart.org as a safe address. Mail generated from our website is often blocked by spam filters (this is particularly true for those who use Hotmail, AOL, and Earthlink). 

    If you did not receive a confirmation email, please contact the office at help@skowheganart.org to confirm receipt of your application.

  • You will receive email notification in February. We do not respond to inquiries about application status prior to this notification. Please do not call or email the office to inquire about your acceptance status.

    Due to the high volume of applications, we are unable to provide feedback if you are not selected. 

  • Our selection process is based on the ethics of consensus among a broad range of artists. All applications are reviewed by a large group of practitioners, composed of members of Skowhegan’s Board of Governors (all practicing artists), former and current faculty members, and invited alumni.  All are distinguished artists. Applicants are presented to the selection committee anonymously.

    Selected finalists will be interviewed. Each year, a cohort of 60-65 individuals participate in the Program.

Application & Admissions

Tuition & Financial Aid

  • The actual cost of tuition is $6,000 USD. However, Skowhegan’s application process is need-blind; socioeconomic status is not considered. This means that we can provide scholarships to ALL artists who require assistance to participate in the Program. We will work with all accepted participants to ensure they can attend. Prospective applicants should not be deterred by the cost of tuition by any means. 

  • In order to receive a scholarship  you must complete the financial aid form found in the general application. There is no opportunity to submit this form at a later date, or make any possible changes if you are selected.

  • Only artists who have completed the financial assistance section of the online application will be considered for financial aid. You must submit this information at the time of application. Skowhegan can provide scholarships to ALL artists who require assistance to participate in the Program.

  • The Matching Fellowship is only for US-based artists who have studied in the US.

    Applications for all financial aid opportunities, including the Matching Fellowship, can be found in Step 4 of the Skowhegan Application. To qualify for a Matching Fellowship, applicants must complete Sections A, B, and D of Step 4 of the Skowhegan Application. If you gain admission into our program and have completed the financial aid portion of the application, we will contact your school on your behalf regarding the match.

    If you know that your school does not participate in our matching program, we still advise you to complete Sections A, B and D of Step 4. In Section D, put in the contact information of someone at your school who might be a good candidate for us to reach out to to advocate for participation on your behalf.

  • The Matching Fellowship is only for US-based artists that have studied in the US.

    Yes, you must complete the entire financial assistance section of the online application to receive any of the Named or Matching Fellowships. Many schools are unable to participate in the Named or Matching Fellowship or cannot match more than one student accepted into the Skowhegan program. We advise you to fill out the financial aid section of the application just as you would if you do not expect to receive a Named or Matching Fellowship. 

Program

  • All artists are welcome. While we still keep the founding name “Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture,” we understand art in a multidisciplinary way.

  • No. In fact, participants are discouraged from coming with a preconceived agenda.

  • No. Participants are expected to be in residence at Skowhegan for the duration of the nine weeks; trips or other absences are not permitted. 

  • If selected, it is not possible to defer your participation for another year (extraordinary circumstances may be considered on an individual basis). Furthermore, the application fee cannot be refunded for any reason including application withdrawal.

Resident Life

  • Living quarters are shared in converted cottages set on a large lake, with shared bathrooms. Some participants have roommates. The cottages have common areas with fireplaces or wood-burning stoves. There are no cooking facilities in participant living quarters, but all meals and snacks are provided by the Dining Hall. 

    Participants are expected to furnish their own blankets, sheets and towels.

  • Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served at set times every day at Skowhegan. Meals are one of the collective activities from the program that provide additional opportunities for encounters and conviviality. Food is primarily sourced from local farmers, which strengthens our relationship with the surrounding communities while respecting the environment.  

    We can also accommodate most dietary restrictions and allergies.

  • As a goal, Skowhegan strives to accommodate all artists who are accepted. While all the buildings on campus are accessible, not all of the paths and spaces between them are fully accessible, which may pose a challenge. The campus is located in the midst of a natural setting, which may present significant challenges for individuals with mobility or accessibility needs. The rough terrain includes uneven ground, gravel paths, and hilly landscapes that can be difficult to navigate. For specific concerns regarding residential and studio accessibility, please contact help@skowheganart.org.

  • Even though the surroundings are beautiful and enjoyable, it is extremely important to remember that we are in the midst of nature. Buildings are connected by unpaved roads and natural paths. The studios, communal areas, and dorms do not have air conditioning or climate control, so they can be hot or cold during the summer months. The climate in New England is also humid, especially during the summer months.  If you are not interested in living in a rural environment with all its possibilities and challenges, please consider carefully whether Skowhegan is the right program for you.

  • Despite our understanding that you would like to share the Skowhegan experience with your loved ones, we do not allow family members or friends on campus.

  • Participant pets are not allowed on campus.

Application Website Troubleshooting

  • Many issues that applicants encounter can be solved by logging out of the application and then back in.

    If you encounter any technical difficulties, you can email your questions to the Skowhegan Help Desk help@skowheganart.org, or you may call +1 (646) 681-6426 between the hours of Monday–Friday, 10:00 a.m–4:00 p.m. EST (UTC -5:00).

    Should you encounter difficulty submitting your application after office hours, we cannot accept your inability to contact the office as a valid excuse for a late application. Note that on most days where there is an application deadline, staff will be monitoring help@skowheganart.org even after normal business hours.

  • If you have trouble uploading your images, please review the step-by-step explanation for formatting your work for the application website.

    Instructions can be found at the following link: Formatting Your Work for the Skowhegan Application Website. This page will also include a downloadable PDF as well.

  • All text associated with an individual image file should be entered BEFORE you click "finish upload".

    For a step-by-step explanation on how to enter text for your work, please review the instructions found at the following link: Formatting Your Work for the Skowhegan Application Website.

  • All video work must be submitted using Vimeo or YouTube links. Basic Vimeo and YouTube accounts are free, you do not need to purchase a Vimeo or YouTube account in order to apply to Skowhegan. Please see the step by step explanation in the application instructions which can also be found HERE.

    Uploading videos to vimeo and youtube can be a slow process. Make sure to leave yourself enough time. If you are unable to upload and submit your videos to Skowhegan by the application deadline, your application will not be considered for admission. As a reminder, please make sure you do not remove your video until you receive your admissions decision from us in the Spring.

  • No exceptions will be made in regards to fee increase deadlines or the application deadline. Issues with the website server due to traffic volume at the time of deadlines, as well as technical problems with the application or Skowhegan’s payment system will not be considered valid reasons to miss deadlines.

    We encourage all applicants to submit their application at least one day before any hard deadline to give adequate time for questions or concerns.

  • To quickly receive a refund, immediately contact the Skowhegan Help Desk at help@skowheganart.org and we will immediately refund the extra payment(s). This is the quickest way to get your money back.

Don’t see the answer to your question here? would you like to receive news about future applications? You can contact us at:

Email: help@skowheganart.org
or by phone: +1 (646) 681-6426

Hours: 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m EST (UTC -5:00); Monday–Friday.