Oak Spring Garden Foundation Interdisciplinary Residency
The goal is to support individuals who pursue excellence and are willing to live and interact with other program participants with different or similar backgrounds to themselves. Through their residencies, they are building a network of individuals who know the importance of humankind’s relationship to the natural world.
The flagship programme is a 2- or 5-week Interdisciplinary Residency. However, they also offer a Botanical Artist in Residence Program; and an Alumni Residency.
The goal of the interdisciplinary residency program is to provide individuals with the time and space to pursue their own creative projects alongside other Residents who may be examining plants, landscapes, gardens, and the natural world from different perspectives. Artists, conservation practitioners, researchers, scholars, scientists, and/or writers are encouraged to apply to the Interdisciplinary Residency Program. This is their flagship Residency program that was started in 2021. Now, in 2023, they have hosted over 50 Interdisciplinary Residents, and they plan to award 40 Interdisciplinary Residencies annually. They hope the Residents will develop meaningful relationships around shared creative interests, and find abundant inspiration while at OSGF.
Interdisciplinarity is a key value of OSGF, and this Residency provides ample opportunities for Residents to explore our various resources. Beyond the time devoted to their projects, an Interdisciplinary Resident’s typical day at Oak Spring might include a walk to enjoy the landscape or birds; an appointment to visit the Oak Spring Library; and/or a morning spent volunteering at the BCCF or in the formal garden. These optional activities provide Residents time to learn from and interact with staff.
The residents of the Botanical Artist programme will attend introductory tours during their first week on-site with other botanical artists, and Interdisciplinary Residents. This will include tours of the formal garden, landscape, and library. After this introduction, they are free to work independently on their projects, explore the 700-acre sustainably managed landscape, and make appointments to visit the library during office hours (Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 4:00 pm). Botanical artists will also be asked to attend about 3-weekly meals with the 2-week Interdisciplinary Residents, who will also be on-site. The meals are a good opportunity to socialize and learn about what other residents are working on.
None of the activities is required, and they understand that many Residents might want to spend most of their time in their writing or studio space. This program supports varying Residents, needs, and strikes a balance of socialization, and independent work time.
Residents are not required to make work that addresses our site specifically, but they should work on projects related to OSGF’s mission. They often find that Residents who use their time for research and inspiration are most satisfied with this Residency experience.
Visual artists are provided a studio space, and all other residents will have a designated writing area in or adjacent to their bedroom.
Residents live on-site in shared accommodations, where they have a private bathroom and bedroom, and share a kitchen and living room. The accommodations are fully furnished and include furniture, dishware and other cooking equipment to prepare meals, linens and towels, and basic cleaning supplies. The accommodations are former tenant homes built in the mid-20th century that have been renovated within the last five years. The accommodations are all two-story houses with stairs, and the washing and drying machines are typically located downstairs in the basement. Please note that they do not have ADA-accessible accommodations available for residents. Due to the large nature of the site, residents without a vehicle should expect to walk 0.75 miles to and from their studio spaces, and about 0.75 miles to and from the communal dining space. Residents are housed about 1.5 miles from the Oak Spring Garden Library and Formal Garden.
5-week Session I: Monday, March 11, 2024 – Sunday, April 14, 2024
5-week Session II: Monday, May 20, 2024 – Sunday, June 23, 2024
5-week Session III: Monday, August 12, 2024 – Sunday, September 15, 2024
5-week Session IV: Monday, September 30, 2024 – Sunday, November 3, 2024
2-week Session I: Sunday, April 21, 2024 - Sunday, May 5, 2024
2-week Session II: Sunday, July 7, 2024 - Sunday, July 21, 2024
The Oak Spring estate comprises 700 acres set in the Virginia hunt country and flanked by the Bull Run and Blue Ridge Mountains. OSGF is actively stewarding the land, already protected by Paul and Bunny Mellon as part of a conservation easement, to one day exemplify sustainable land management practices and provide ample opportunities for horticulture, arboriculture and sustainable agriculture.
Within its 700 acres, Oak Spring comprises several important wetland areas, old and new-growth forest, and hundreds of acres of restored native meadows, creating a haven for native flora and fauna located just 50 miles from one of the largest metropolitan areas in the country. Managing Oak Spring’s wealth of biodiversity - some species which are endangered or in serious decline - is an important part of our mission, and we work with many local environmental organizations to research, protect, and educate others about the thousands of plant and animal species that call Oak Spring home.