OPEN CALL: Windgate Arts Residency Program in Wood (WARP) 2027 & 2028
Now accepting applications through January 4, 2027
The Windgate Arts Residency Program in Wood (WARP) is an integral part of the Museum for Art in Wood’s mission and history, and is possible through the transformative support of the Windgate Foundation. The residency is an annual two-month program that takes place from early June to early August. Each cohort of resident fellows consists of several artists, one student artist, a documentary artist, and a scholar. The residents live and work in a collaborative environment and the residency culminates in a group exhibition of their work, opening the first Friday of August, at the Museum.
The program is designed as a collegial experience and encourages an open exchange of creative and technical innovations. Residents are able to pursue both individual and collaborative work that is explorative and experimental. The documentary artist fellow will document the residents’ experience using the medium of their choice. As with the other residents, exploration and experimentation are encouraged and the documentary artist fellow is free to pursue artistic as well as documentary projects. The scholar/educator joins the group for one-week mid-residency to explore personal research, engage in open discussions; and conduct interviews with the residents about their backgrounds and experimentation during the residency. The intention for this exchange is to stimulate scholarly dialogue amongst the residents as well as provide the basis for a written reflection, often included in the exhibition material.
Residents receive a weekly stipend; reimbursed round-trip transportation to Philadelphia; and, housing, supplies, and travel in the region. A modest allowance for special materials and supplementary workshops is also awarded. Residents are often successful at obtaining donations or sponsorships to support their expenses and this outsourced funding is encouraged (but not a criteria for selection to the program). Residents also participate in several Museum-sponsored educational events. The events vary from Open Studio Day—a day of artist lectures and studio visitation for the public—to a collaborative art-making conference with local and international artists, as well as regional trips to visit artists, collectors, and museums. WARP concludes with the presentation of the artists’ work in a multi-disciplinary exhibition that features each fellow’s experience and growth by including objects produced before and during the program. Three-dimensional work is accompanied by videos, photography, and essays documenting the residency experience. Residents will have opportunities to share their professional and personal WARP experiences at a public gallery talk during the exhibition’s opening.
For more information on the application process or resident fellowships, please visit: https://museumforartinwood.org/windgate-international-residency/
Applicants may indicate preference for 2027, 2028, or either year. All residency categories are open:
Artist Fellow
Student Artist Fellow
Documentary Artist Fellow
Scholar
IMPORTANT DATES
Application available: November 11, 2026
Information Session (Zoom): December 4, 2026 @12:00PM EST
Application due date: 11:59PM EST on January 4, 2027
Jury notification: mid-February 2027
WARP Wood Residency sessions: June 7 – August 6, 2027 / June 5 – August 4, 2028
Residency exhibitions: August 6 – October 22, 2027 / August 4 – October 20, 2028
An information session will be held via Zoom on Friday, December 4, 2026 at 12:00PM EST. In this hour-long webinar, Museum for Art in Wood staff will provide an overview of the program, chat with a recent WARP Wood Fellow, and answer questions from prospective applicants. Register for this event HERE.
FAQ FOR APPLICANTS
Q: Can I apply for the 2028 session next year?
A: No. WARP is juried every other year, two years at a time. The next opportunity to apply for WARP will be for the 2029 and 2030 sessions.
Q: I can’t do 2027 but can participate in 2028. What should I do?
A: No problem, just indicate your preference on your application. Your availability in one year vs. the other will not harm your application in any way.
Q: Should I apply for the Student Fellowship or Artist Fellowship?
A: At the time of applying, applicants who graduated from an academic program up to a year from the date of application, or are currently enrolled in a program, are eligible to apply for the Student Fellowship. Student Fellows receive the same benefits as Artist Fellows.
Q: Do I need to attend the entire residency? Or can I arrive late/depart early?
A: While we understand that lives are complicated and many circumstances are beyond control—and we want to accommodate as much variance as possible—we discourage prolonged or frequent departures from the program. The organic, spontaneous, and focused character of this unique residency is dependent in part on the presence of fellows; absences harm the group experience and should be kept to a minimum.