Emerging or established composers working in any genre are welcome to apply
July 26, 2018 – Peterborough, N.H. – The MacDowell Colony has renewed its partnership with the Spain-USA Foundation to extend two composer residencies of up to two months at one of the nation’s leading contemporary arts organizations. The next application deadline is January 15, 2019.
Emerging or established composers working in any genre are welcome to apply. A MacDowell Fellowship includes exclusive use of a private studio, three meals a day, living accommodations, and the benefits of working in an inspiring multidisciplinary community of fellow artists from around the world.
“At a time when international turmoil and divisive politics seem to dominate both the news cycle and public discourse, it’s refreshing to be one of the programs that encourages international dialogue and the free exchange of ideas between cultures,” said Executive Director Cheryl A. Young. "At MacDowell, we are striving to bring artists together across all kinds of boundaries, not just between artistic disciplines, because we believe art makes the world a better place. A better understanding of our commonalities and our differences seeps into the artworks being made here and makes it out into the wider world.”
Located on 450 woodland acres, the Colony welcomes more than 300 architects, composers, filmmakers, interdisciplinary artists, theatre artists, visual artists, and writers each year.
Earlier this year, composers Javier Moreno Sanchez and Octavio Vazquez became the first Fellows under the program. Previously, several artists from Spain had taken advantage of MacDowell residencies, including XI Venice Biennale representative for Spain Luis Urcola, architect and designer Sergio Lopez Pineiro, and Spanish and Cuban filmmaker Jessica Rodriguez.
The Spain-USA Foundation support provides assistance with travel expenses and a $500 stipend for two artists: up to $1500 for international travel for one artist between Spain and the United States and up to $500 for domestic travel for one U.S.-based Spanish artist. In addition, the recipient may be invited to stopover in Washington, D.C. to perform at the Spanish Embassy, if circumstances allow.
MacDowell’s highly competitive fellowships carry an average value of $10,000. The MacDowell Colony is providing full fellowships to the accepted candidates during the 2019 Summer season for residencies of 2 weeks to two months occurring any time from June 1, 2019 through September 30, 2019.
If you are interested in this opportunity, please apply using MacDowell’s standard application, which can be accessed at macdowellcolony.org/apply. The application deadline is January 15, 2019.
Please note that while this partnership is directed at composers, MacDowell encourages applications from all disciplines. Artists of other disciplines may wish to apply at a future date and without financial assistance from the SPAIN-USA Foundation. Additionally, if a composer is offered a residency but not selected as one of the two composer fellows being supported by this partnership, that artist will be responsible for the cost of their own travel expenses. Artists who have been accepted to the residency program and demonstrate financial need may be eligible for a travel grant through MacDowell’s own financial aid program.
For inquiries regarding the application process, please contact the MacDowell Colony admissions department at admissions@macdowellcolony.org or 603-924-3886 ext. 113.
Contemporary for 111 years:
Composer Edward MacDowell and pianist Marian MacDowell, his wife, founded The MacDowell Colony in 1907 to nurture the arts by offering creative individuals of the highest talent an inspiring environment in which to produce enduring works of the imagination. Each year, MacDowell welcomes more than 300 architects, composers, filmmakers, interdisciplinary artists, theatre artists, visual artists, and writers from across the United States and around the globe. More than 14,500 residencies have been awarded in the last 111 years. Recipients have included Ayad Akhtar, James Baldwin, Ta-Nehisi Coates, Ellen Driscoll, Louise Erdrich, Osvaldo Golijov, Cathy Park Hong, Dee Rees, Colson Whitehead, and Julia Wolfe. Pulitzer Prize-winning author Michael Chabon is the chairman of MacDowell’s board of directors.
SPAIN-USA Foundation:
Established in 1999, the Spain-USA Foundation (SUSAF), a District of Columbia non-profit, seeks to promote, support, and develop a broad array of Spanish cultural, scientific, and educational activities in the United States with the goal of furthering greater cooperation and dialogue between Spain and the United States.
For more info: Jonathan Gourlay, communications, jgourlay@macdowellcolony.org, 603-924-3886, ext.114
