Greenhouse Residency at Mendocino Art Center 2026/27 From Mendocino Art Center

Located where redwoods meet the Pacific ocean on coastal Pomo land, this four week winter residency (3 sessions) offers artists fertile ground to intuit, research, test, dance, cook, write, forage, film, paint, sculpt, breathe and dig deep into our present moment. 

This residency is designed for artists whose work engages conversations about food and climate justice in some capacity. 

These themes are loose and can relate to many different types of work.  All artistic mediums are encouraged to apply including but not limited to, visual artists, writers, filmmakers, ecologists, activists, chefs, gardeners, foragers, and educators looking for space to work on a project or be in a creative community are also welcome and encouraged to apply.  

The structure of the residency will be self-directed and up to the participants on how they would like to spend their time. 

A community calendar board will be used as a central hub for residency participants to post and organize events, critiques, workshops, meals, and more. While community engagement isn’t necessary for participation in the residency, we hope that the residency attracts participants that are excited about being in community and collaboration.


Sessions

Session 1: Tuesday, December 14 - Sunday, January 10

Session 2: Tuesday, January 12 - Sunday, February 15

Session 3: Tuesday, February 16 - Sunday, March 14

Studio space

Residents will each be assigned semi-private space in a shared studio. Our studios are better outfitted for some mediums than others, but we will do our best to accommodate the needs of all residents.  Outside of assigned studio space, our communal ceramic and Jewelry studios are available with 24 hour access.


A cohort of peers

Residents will live in close proximity to each other, and are encouraged to build community in their time here. Residents will also have access to a shared kitchen space for communal meals.

Private apartment

Each resident will have their own furnished studio apartment, outfitted with a queen bed, seating, kitchen, and bathroom.


Food + Gatherings

Each session will include scheduled and spontaneous meals, workshops, and gatherings for residents, as well as other opportunities to build community.


Open studio

At the end of the residency, residents are invited to host an open studio sharing their work, research, or residency experience with the community.


Solidarity Statement

As a program dedicating itself to artists whose truths are often eclipsed by the mainstream, whose foils include constructs other than whiteness, and whose stories are actively being written and difficult to tell, we know that standing in solidarity looks differently for many. Often times, embodying solidarity means showing up imperfectly. Solidarity requires a practice of attunement—learning to listen, with a willingness to learn, and pivot when necessary. MAC is committed to making room for the practice of learning and growing. Growth is never linear and requires reorientation towards humility. As artists, we are in a time of reckoning, we want to continue the urgency of sharing nuanced and challenging stories about connection and equity. Art and healing are crucial  in relationships, in community building, and in systemic reform. Learning to be in relation to one another, a community, a movement, an incremental or massive shift can be excruciatingly painful for many. There have been many movements, people, legacies, and sacrifices that have led us to this moment we are living in. It is our hope, as we continue to grow, we weave together an insurmountable expansive web with those committed to a more just and equitable future for all.


Here is a help document in case you should have trouble applying through Artwork Archive:
https://help.artworkarchive.com/en/articles/10246083-how-to-apply-to-a-call-on-artwork-archive-using-a-submit-only-account 

We invite applicants to propose a project to be their focus for the length of their residency. 

These projects can be in any medium, or no medium at all—just a chance to rest or time in community can be your “project.” The time at the residency can be used working on a preexisting project or experimenting with new works, ideas, or research. It can also be a time to form meaningful new collaborations both with artists participants or the greater community of Mendocino.

Must be at least 21 years of age.

Children and family members welcomed with advanced notice.

Pets will be considered on a case by case basis with prior approval.  A pet cleaning fee will be discussed.

Artists Statement (500 words or less)

Project Proposal (500 words or less)

CV

Session Preference (Please indicate if you are interested in more then one session, indicating, First Choice, Second choice, Third choice, unavailable) 

To support the cost of the residency, we request sliding scale contributions from $500-$2500 per resident. We will have a limited number of spots below $2000, depending on fundraising. Please indicate your ability to contribute in your application.  Residents will be expected to pay the full amount stated in their application before the start of the session.  Please select the amount you wish to pay. We have limited amounts of full scholarships available, if you wish to be considered for the full scholarship please note this in your application along with the amount you are able to contribute if you are not selected for the scholarship.