Sea Breeze Artist Residency
for writers and visual artists
Mission
We established the Sea Breeze Artist Residency because we truly believe that art and art-making are essential to making our world a better place. We provide emerging and established artists and writers with a welcoming and inspiring environment. Each resident has the time to focus on their work, during the quieter shoulder season on the island.
The Residency on Block Island
Located on a small island off the coast of Rhode Island, the residency takes place within a unique community that has a rich history in supporting the arts and nature conservation. Each resident will have their own private guestroom at The Sea Breeze, one of the loveliest small Inns on the island, during the off-season. The Sea Breeze has been a family-run business for over 40 years. Your hosts provide a delicious chef-prepared breakfast each morning, and a bike to get around the island.
At the end of each session, residents share their work with the community.
Our next session will be HELD in MAY of 2025
-stay tuned for More details-
We will be accepting applications from both visual artists and writers soon. Please check back for dates, or email us if interested.
The applications for residency are judged solely on the quality of the applicant’s submission, and are reviewed by a panel of jurors.
There is a fee of $35, required to process the applications. Payment is via credit card/PayPal.
Writers
Writers may apply in the following fields: poetry, fiction, nonfiction, playwriting, translation and graphic novels.
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Work sample. Please submit your work sample in manuscript format, double-spaced, in 12 point font, at a maximum of 25 pages. This can be work in progress, published pieces, excerpts, or a selection of short works. You can add one page explaining the contexts for the work you feel are important. Work samples completed within the past four years are required.
Artist’s Statement. On a single page, in 12 point font, tell us about your work and what you plan to focus on while in residence at Sea Breeze. We hope to get an understanding of who you are as a writer, your creative process, and how the residency can positively impact your own writing practice.
Biography. On one page in 12 point font, in narrative form, please tell us about your relevant educational background, professional experience, and your accomplishments to date. Please include a link to your website, if you have one.
Artists
Visual artists may apply in the following fields: drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, mixed media, and cross-disciplinary arts.
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Images. Submit up to 10 jpegs of individual works. Please identify each image by title, year, medium, and dimensions. Work samples completed within the last 4 years are required.
Artist’s Statement. On a single page, in 12 point font, tell us about your work, and what you plan to focus on while in residence at Sea Breeze. We hope to get a firm understanding of who you are as an artist, your creative process, and how the residency can positively impact your work.
Biography. On a single page, in 12 point font, tell us about your relevant educational background, professional experience, and a summary of your accomplishments to date. Please include a link to your website and Instagram account, etc., as applicable.
Visual Artist’s Guestroom and Workspace
For the visual artist residency, you will have your own private guestroom and bathroom, plus a studio workspace. Breakfast is delivered to your guest room every morning. From there, it is just a short walk to the studio which is on the property. The studio has a private entrance with lovely views overlooking the wildflower meadow and ocean. The studio is a 14x14 foot room, with a 3x6 foot work table and two large wall spaces. There is no sink area in the studio. We provide a hose and bucket.
Writer’s Guestroom and Workspace
For the writer residency, you will have your own private guestroom. The guestroom has high cathedral ceilings, lots of windows, pretty garden views, and a private entrance with porch. Breakfast is delivered to your guest room every morning. Your room includes one queen bed and a table with chair for writing. We do not have wifi available in the guestroom. You can use your hotspot in the guestroom, or there is the option to work at our local Library, which has free wifi.
FAQs
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The year-round ferry leaves from Pt. Judith, R.I. The closest Amtrak station is Kingston, RI. Taxi or Uber can be arranged from Kingston to Pt Judith. Passenger-only ferry tickets do not need to be booked in advance. There is parking available near the ferry (fees do apply).
Ferry schedules: https://www.blockislandferry.com/point-judith/
Daily flights to the island leave from Westerly, RI. Weather-permitting, 12 minute flight. Free parking at airport. Luggage is limited to 50lbs per person.
Flight schedules:http://blockislandsairline.com/
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There is a $35 application fee via PayPal. The residency is free to attend. We provide a travel stipend of $125 to help with travel expenses. The majority of your meals will be provided, and there is a $250 stipend to help cover meals out.
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Weather can be unpredictable during the off-season, and often is different than the mainland. We are located right on the coast, and winds can be strong at our location. Bring plenty of warm clothes for layering. We recommend you check the weather report before your stay, and bring comfortable waterproof shoes.
Please plan to bring all of your writing and art supplies needed during your residency. If needed, please bring a hotspot for wifi. The island has very limited resources.
We provide all of the following as part of our service to our guests : linens, towels, beach towels, irons, hairdryers, bath amenities (soap, shampoo, conditioner). Daily housecleaning provided.
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The Sea Breeze residency includes the majority of your meals. Each morning, a delicious chef-prepared breakfast is delivered to your room. We then prepare a light lunch for you to pick up, at your leisure. There is also a $250 stipend available, to use to help pay for meals out. There are no cooking facilities available. We are conveniently located close to the main town of Old Harbor, where you will find shops, the grocery store, and restaurants a short walk away.
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The average temperature is between the mid 40’s to mid 60’s F during the off season. If windy, the air feels colder. Typically the island runs 5-10 degrees cooler than the mainland and New England area.
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A car is not necessary on the island. Block Island is small, 7 miles long and 3 miles wide. We are conveniently located within a 10 minute walk to the main town, Old Harbor, the ferry, restaurants, and shops. We provide a beach cruiser bike to use during your stay, which is a great way to explore the island. Taxis are also available. If you want to bring your car, please note that all cars require advance reservations on the ferry, and these book up quickly, even off-season.
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Yes, cell phones work fine. Service can be spotty on the island at times. We do not have WiFi at our location. The best free WiFi service is at The Island Free Library, a short 10 minute walk from Sea Breeze. https://islandfreelibrary.org/
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The residency guestroom is for a single guest. We cannot accommodate any pets.
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We understand that circumstances may change. If you need to cancel your residency, we require a 30 day notice from the start of the session. This would give us enough time to reach out to someone else. Thanks for your understanding.
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Yes ! We accept donations of any amount, to help us cover the costs of the residency. As a donor to the program, we will list your name on the website. Donations may be made by check or PayPal. Please see below for more details on how to make a donation.
Meet the Team
Andrea Moynier
Partner and General Manager of The Sea Breeze Inn, Co-founder of The Sea Breeze Artist Residency
contact@seabreezeblockisland.com
401.466.2275
Sue Muskat
Director and Co-founder of The Sea Breeze Artist Residency seabreezeartistresidency@gmail.com
413.404.6060
Thank you to our donors
Terri Chegwidden, Nate Casto, Austin Thomas, David Sanders, Marsha Norman, Sue Brown Black
HELP US WITH A DonatION
Your donation will assist us in providing this unique opportunity for artists to work without interruption in a supportive environment. Click the link below to donate now. By supporting the Sea Breeze Artist Residency, you are part of the creative process, and help make the world a better place.
You can also make a donation to: The Block Island Arts Council.
BIAC is a non-profit community building organization, connecting artists on the island. Visit them here @BIAC