Bainbridge Residency
A four-day residency on Bainbridge Island, WA, for those who can’t take as much time away. Four writers/artists at a time.
Held at the Bloedel Bunkhouse, our Bainbridge Residency is a four-day, three-night residency. It was first offered in 2019, about a year after Seventh Wave went bicoastal. This residency is perfect for the artist or writer who can’t take off much time from work, life, family, or other obligations, but could still use a boost of energy wherever they’re at in their creative process. Situated a short ferry ride from Seattle, WA, the Bloedel Bunkhouse will warp your sense of time. And because this residency takes place in the heart of winter — February — it also provides all the warmth and creative kindling your work might require. Set on two acres of dense forest, the property itself offers a clearing of silence and space amid tall evergreens, often accompanied by the pitter-patter of rain that is so unique to the Pacific Northwest. This residency is especially great for a writer or artist who is working on a shorter piece, and who could use a few other creative souls to exchange ideas, visions, and thoughts about it.
Applications
Applications for the Bainbridge Residency, held in February, typically open the previous September.
Eligibility
This is only open to past contributors, digital residents, and staff. Once we have published you, or have worked with you in a digital residency cohort, you are eligible to apply.
Costs
It is free to apply and free to attend. The only cost is your travel and transportation to and from Bainbridge Island, WA. We also ask all residents to bring a side dish to cook during the weekend (you will cover the cost of the groceries, but we can shop for you), as our residencies are all about what everyone brings to the table, both (literally and figuratively. We have found this community cooking aspect to be a special way for folks to share their favorite food, snacks, and/or culture with others.
About the space
We call the space for our Bainbridge Residency the Bloedel “Bunkhouse” for a reason. The downstairs features two sets of bunk beds for our residents (though, for those with any sleep issues, there are possible alternate options). It might sound a bit untraditional — bunking up with three strangers — but with only three nights and four days in this space, we’ve seen our residents taking advantage of the early mornings, as well as the later evenings, to really sink into their work, and so the bedroom itself really does become a space just for sleeping purposes. Upstairs on the main level is a sprawling home made of glass and wood, and we often find our residents seeking out the elevated reading nook or abundant chairs and couches to read and write. There is a spacious library with a wall of floor-to-ceiling bookshelves and several offices in case working behind closed doors is more your speed. Similar to the Crystal Cottage in Rhinebeck, the Bloedel Bunkhouse has windows for days, which flood the entire home with natural light and unobstructed views of the surrounding forest.
FAQ
No question is too small; below are a few questions we often get asked about our in-person residencies.
What is a writing residency, and what makes Seventh Wave’s different?
There are many kinds of artist and writing residencies and retreats. The main commonality across most residencies is that they provide some amount of uninterrupted time for a writer or artist to work on a piece or project. Some are catered more toward solitude — where a writer might have their own studio to work in — whereas others may involve more social infrastructures and collaborative spaces. Some may include built-in mentorship, whereas others are simply meant for you to generate as much as you know you need. We call our in-person residencies “quiet collaborations,” as there are no studios, just shared spaces. Conversation and exchange are key to our experiences.
CloseCan anyone apply to an in-person residency?
No. Presently, our in-person residencies are reserved for Seventh Wave alum, meaning that only folks we have published or worked with in some capacity are eligible to apply, which helps us strengthen the ties within our community.
CloseAre your in-person residencies separate from your publications (the magazine and community anthologies)?
Yes. Once you get published in our magazine or a community anthology, or partake in our digital residency program, you are eligible to apply for our in-person residencies. Our residencies are for you to work on your work and connect with other creatives. We do not publish work produced at our in-person residencies.
CloseWhat does it cost to attend an in-person residency?
Presently, there is no application fee and, if accepted, no cost to attend our in-person residencies. The only cost is in securing your transportation to and from the residency, which could include flights, taxis and trains, rental cars, or ferries, depending on where you’re coming from. We also ask that each resident cook a meal or provide a side dish for everyone (details depend upon which residency you are attending), and you are responsible for paying for those groceries. See more on our individual residency pages.
Close