Artist- and Scholar-in-Residence Program
The mission of the Center for Sustainable Stewardship’s (CSS) Artist and Scholar-in-Residence Program is to serve artists and scholars by providing them with a transformative residency experience and continued post-residency support. The CSS campus is located on 1000 acres of pristine forest near Franklin, Tennessee. The Center Lodge serves as the base of operations and has 3 bedrooms available for short term rental. Residents may also live in other nearby lodgings. All will have access to studio/work spaces and will receive stipends to support living expenses and creation of new work during their residency.
Eligibility
Applicants must be at least twenty-one years old. Artists/scholars currently enrolled in a degree-seeking program are not eligible. Applicants of all backgrounds and at any stage of their career are eligible to apply. A background check is to be done prior to residency.
Collaborative Groups
CSS invites collaborative teams of up to nine people to apply. All team members intending to take part in the residency will need to complete the below application information. An additional team application will be required. Collaborative groups will share work spaces and may be expected to share living spaces.
Applicants with interests in the following disciplines are encouraged to apply:
Agricultural and rural development
Architecture/interior design
Culinary sciences
Dance/theater
Earth and Life sciences (ecology, forestry, hydrology, geology)
Literature (poetry, fiction, nonfiction, screenwriting, and journalism)
Macroeconomics (investment in rural communities and watersheds)
Music/Visual Arts
Regenerative Farming
Renewable/ Sustainable Energy
Stewardship of land/watersheds
Tradition preservation/native american practices
Wildlife preservation and management
Diversity Statement
CSS does not discriminate on the basis of race, age, religion, national origin, citizenship status, marital status, sexual orientation or veteran status.
Future Residency Sessions
Sept 25 - Nov 3 2023 (6 weeks)
Jan 8 - Jan 22 2024 (2 weeks)
Others by arrangement
Responsibilities
Work areas and residence areas must be kept clean and smoking or vaping are not allowed indoors. Resident scholars are expected to participate in a weekly lunch with community. Artists and Scholars will be expected to share progress in a form suitable to their category.
Application Timeline and Qualifications
Applications will be accepted and reviewed on a monthly basis. Please complete the Form below.
References
Applicants are required to submit two references. Please provide the name, contact information, and a very brief description of the nature of your professional relationship for each reference. CSS contacts references only if the application advances.
Application Fee
$20 non-refundable application fee
Venmo to @cssfamily
Artists/Scholars-in-Residence, once approved by CSS, may reside in the Center Lodge for some or all of their stay. Each artist/scholar must agree to the house rules below:
House rules for Artists in Residence:
Our rules are designed to provide for the safety of all our guests, to maximize your freedom while not compromising the experience of other guests, ensure the sustainability of our services, and provide access to the unique common areas of our amazing valley to all our guests at affordable prices. Breaking the house rules is not nice and may cost you money, so please read them over and agree to them before arriving. We encourage your feedback to improve the Rules.
1) All artists/scholars in residence (A/SIR) who are staying at the Center Lodge must pay a fully refundable security deposit to help assure that the place is left as found.
2) A government-issued photo ID of all A/SIRs must be presented prior to check-in.
3) Only A/SIRs may be on premises if CSS staff is not present. Exceptions only with documented permission of CSS. If the A/SIR has permission for an event, a guest list is required for events including, any attendants or vendors assisting with the event. Any person not on the approved guest list (i..e, registered guests) will be considered *trespassing* and may be prosecuted, so please do not invite them on premises without the management’s knowledge and permission (i.e., advance registration). External surveillance monitor(s) help safeguard our guests and ensure compliance with our house rules. If unregistered guests are on premises the A/SIR may be asked to leave without compensation.
4) CSS insists on a safe environment; vehicle passes are required. Children of all ages visit and live here. It is important that all adults and their vehicles are known and identifiable. Visiting vehicles must have a parking pass displayed on windshield or rearview mirror when on our premises. The names of all guests and visitors must be presented to CSS before they are allowed on premises. All cars on premises must have a parking pass or they may be towed.
5) Keep the place clean. A/SIR and their registered Guests are responsible for cleaning grills and ovens if they are made greasy/dirty. Excess trash, messes requiring extra cleaning, or not leaving furniture/carpets in their places may result in a portion of a security deposit being withheld. Don’t place any trash outside (making it accessible to hungry critters).
6) Prohibited: Unsafe or disrespectful behavior. Pets (including walking pets outdoors on leashes as we are a nature sanctuary, please respect our ground-nesting birds and other wildlife). Smoking except where designated. Firearms or other weapons, use of fireplaces or outside fire pits without permission, Candles, confetti and underage drinking of alcohol.
Parties / Events: All parties and events must be approved in advance by management. An additional fee and cash security deposit is required. Definition of Event is when approved non-Lodging guests or vendors are on premises. Music audible from outside of houses must end by 11:00. When more than 20 persons are present at a lodging or venue, a staff attendant ($30/hr) must be hired for the duration of the Event and during setup and takedown. Vendors must be approved before being allowed on site. Event insurance may be required if alcohol is served.
TRASH.
We are honored to be Stewards of the beautiful Big East Fork Valley and expect our guests to help protect it. We therefore require that you DON'T DUMP ON US. There is no free trash collection in the valley, so please reduce the volume and quality of trash that you leave behind. If you have more than a few bags, save money by paying an approved local vendor to remove your bagged trash.
Don’t place trash outside of bins making it accessible to hungry critters. Raccoons are very capable of ripping up bags.
If you leave un-bagged trash in the house or trash cans, or use trash bags greater than 15 gallons you will forfeit your trash deposit. If you choose not contract with a local trash hauler and leave your bagged trash in the outside trash receptacles, your trash deposit refund will reduced by $5 per 13 - 15 gallon bag. If you have more than a few bags of trash, you can save $$$ by calling an approved local trash hauler.
Kitchen: Sinks drain to our beloved septic tanks. Do NOT pour grease or animal fat down our drains, but pour into glass containers left under sink. Let us know if you have more oil than will fit. Wipe used skillets/griddles with disposable paper towels to remove grease/fat before washing them.
Recycle: Separate metal and glass. Fold cardboard boxes so they are flat. Please keep volume of your trash low. We have to transport non- compostables to the county landfill at your expense. Please be kind to the earth and to our staff. :)
Compost: Place organic matter suitable for composting in the black buckets provided. We encourage our guests to collect non-toxic organic waste so it can be composted to soil and be used in our gardens.
Re-use: You can help by not bringing excess packaging materials which must be disposed of. Please be Stewards of Big East Fork Valley by taking as much of your trash with you can when you leave. You are encouraged to leave usable food and drink behind for the valley stewards.
Your stay at the CSS Center Lodge does not include access to other areas of the Big East Fork Watershed Wilderness Area or permission to hike private trail systems. Contact the Center for Sustainable Stewards to arrange for access to the Lake Gratitude Nature Sanctuary and Watershed Trails. Please let us know whether you would like to visit the Animals at the Farm so a steward can give you “the tour” CSS also has bikes and boats reserved for members. A 1 month intro membership is $20.
Maintenance: Please let us know as soon as possible if something is broken, unsafe, or may be improved in any way. The staff and volunteers of CSS want your stay to be as enjoyable and inspiring as we can make it!