How do I apply for a residency?
We announce open calls for Self as Universe: Mending Our Collective Ecosystems, Replenish Residencies, and ByWater Institute Scholarly Retreats annually in December/January with deadlines in March/April. We do not accept proposals outside of the open call period. To stay up-to-date with open call announcements, join our mailing list.

Are you open to the public?
To protect the uninterrupted work time of our residents, A Studio in the Woods is open to the public by invitation or appointment only. We have a very small staff and are not always able to accommodate requests for private visits. We encourage those interested in visiting to attend one of our on-site events or FORESTival.

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While we strive to create a residency environment that is accessible and welcoming to all, the following information is to make you abundantly aware of the experience you will have here. The woods may not be your cup of tea, please reflect upon the following conditions before you take time to apply: 

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Location 

A Studio in the Woods, located on the banks of the Mississippi River within the city limits of New Orleans, is situated in a bottomland hardwood forest that was clear-cut in the late 1700s to make way for a sugar cane plantation. Fallow since the 1920’s, it is now managed by our Environmental Curator and is one of the few remaining tracts of forest in the area. Learn more about the land here.

Is it IN the woods? Will I encounter bugs, wildlife?

Our residency is set on 7.66 acres of bottomland hardwood forest, that along with humidity and critters creates conditions some are not comfortable with. This is your reminder that our location really is in the woods. This privilege comes with an acceptance of environmental factors. We guarantee you will find insects and evidence of lizards (poop) in all our buildings and rooms. It is good to remember that we are all guests in this forest, we maintain a respectful co-existence with the wildlife and insects who call the forest home.
All our buildings are treated for pests and climate controlled for comfort and safety as well as weekly cleaning services provided by Tulane. Additionally, each spring Formosan termites swarm in New Orleans, something to be aware of if scheduling a residency for the late spring months.

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Where is this? Is there public transit?
We are located on the West Bank of the Mississippi River, within Orleans Parish, on the outskirts of New Orleans. While we are technically in the city of New Orleans, we are in a semi-rural area and there is no public transportation. A car is not required but is very useful – we are about 9 miles from the closest grocery/pharmacy and 15 miles from the urban center. Uber/Lyft do come to us but fees quickly add up. If you will not have a vehicle, staff can purchase groceries and project supplies for you once a week. The neighborhood we are located in, Lower Coast Algiers, is more affluent and conservative than most of the city. However, there are a wide variety of folks living and working in the area. Some of our neighbors include Audubon Species Survival Center, River Queen Greens, Sugar Roots Farm, Chùa Bô Dê Buddhist Temple, and Wat Wimuttayaram Buddhist Temple.

Can I change my dates after they’re set?
Once residency dates are set it is very difficult for us to change them. We understand that life can be unpredictable and will work with you to reschedule your residency if necessary, but cannot guarantee availability at that point. If you need to truncate your residency for any reason, your stipend may be prorated accordingly.

Who else will be there?
We can host up to three residents at a time. At times, you may be the only person on-site, at others, you will be sharing the kitchen and common areas with two other residents as well as staff. Staff rotates being in the office, but someone will be available 9-5 Monday-Friday and we are reachable by phone after hours for emergencies. We additionally host a Steward-in-Residence who lives on site and serves as the after hours support. Once a week, Tulane housekeeping comes to clean and Tulane facility workers may also stop by to make repairs from time to time. Studio periodically may host facility rentals, artist dinners, and other  residents may hold small gatherings, however, these will be limited to minimize disruption to all those staying on site. Learn more about Staff here: http://www.astudiointhewoods.org/about/staff-board/

Can I have guests?

You are welcome to invite guests for small gatherings, meetings, studio visits, meals or project support. Significant others are permitted short overnight stays with advance notice, any overnight guest will be required to sign a Hold Harmless Agreement. Larger gatherings may be permitted but also require advance notice. Residents are responsible for communicating all safety policies and community agreements with their guests.

Can I bring my child?
Unfortunately, we are not able to have children stay overnight in the facility. If you are a parent and have further questions about how a residency might work for your situation please contact Cammie Hill-Prewitt at info@astudiointhewoods.org.

Can I bring my pet?
We are only able to host Service Animals as regulated by the ADA. This does not include Emotional Support or Therapy Animals. If you need to bring a regulated Service Animal, please let us know when scheduling your residency. Other residents may have allergies and phobias and we want to do our best to ensure everyone is at ease while in residence.

What kind of space will I have?
Each resident has a private bedroom, bathroom, and studio. The living room, kitchen, and all outdoor spaces are shared by all residents. See Living Experience for photos and more information: http://www.astudiointhewoods.org/living-experience/

What equipment is available?
Our studios are minimally furnished with desks/work tables, shelves and chairs. You should plan on bringing all supplies and specific equipment you will need with you. We do have a sewing machine, and a variety of basic hand tools available. Bedrooms are fully furnished with sheets, towels, etc. and the kitchen is fully stocked with pantry staples and appliances. If you have specific questions about studio or other facility needs please contact Lauren Shivers Barron at lbarron@tulane.edu.

Do you cook for me?
Residents are responsible for preparing their own meals.

Are the facilities accessible?
We are committed to accessibility and have hosted both program attendees and artist residents with disabilities and have made the necessary modifications to our existing facilities to accommodate them. Please contact Lauren Shivers Barron at lbarron@tulane.edu if you have questions about accessibility.

Is there internet?
Yes, and it’s pretty reliable too!

Is there laundry?
Yes, residents are responsible for doing their own laundry including sheets and towels as desired during their stay.

What happens if there’s a hurricane?
Unfortunately, because of the nature of the forest and the number of large trees present, A Studio in the Woods is not a safe place to shelter in place for a hurricane. If a hurricane is approaching during your residency, staff will monitor it closely and keep you updated. In the event that a storm is on track to hit New Orleans, you may be required to evacuate for your safety. Hurricane season begins June 1 and ends November 30. If you have further questions, please read Weather Awareness, detailing our storm kit and weather warnings/protocol/power outages.

What about COVID-19?
As a program of Tulane, we adhere to the policies set out by the University. These policies are constantly evolving in compliance with guidelines set by the Louisiana Department of Health, the City of New Orleans and the CDC. For the care of everyone involved with our program as well as the greater New Orleans community, we STRONGLY recommend that you be vaccinated before coming to A Studio in the Woods, especially if traveling here from another community. We will continue to respond to the pandemic as best practices shift and this may affect your residency.

Where can I learn more about the history of the land?
The earth beneath A Studio in the Woods is young – built up over the past 5000 years from the alluvial soil carried by the Mississippi River. Early Native Peoples of this land were the Washa and Chawasha tribes; later communities in the area included the Houma, Chitimacha, Biloxi, Choctaw, Bayagoula, Quinipissa, Atakapa-Ishak, Caddo, Tunica, Natchez, Tchoupitoulas, Tangipahoa and others. The city we now call New Orleans has been a site of exchange and commerce for more than 1000 years and was known as Bulbancha – “the place of other languages” in Choctaw. Later this land was claimed by colonizers and cleared to varying degrees for agriculture, first in the 1700s for indigo and then in the 1800s for sugar cane. By 1860, there were up to 94 forcibly enslaved African and Afro-Indigenous people living and laboring on this plantation. The land has been recovering from this violence and lain fallow since the early 1900s. The founders of A Studio in the Woods purchased this 7.66 acres of bottomland hardwood forest in 1969 and sought to share it as a powerful source of creative inspiration and education. They stewarded the land for almost 50 years and donated it to Tulane University in 2004. As we work towards becoming a more just and equitable organization, we ground our process in honoring and engaging with these histories. With the help of resident artists and scholars, we are still uncovering and trying to understand the history of this land and invite you to read more about it here: http://www.astudiointhewoods.org/land-history/

Still have questions? Email us at info@astudiointhewoods.org