Now Accepting Residency Applications in Key West, FL

The Studios offers a residency program for emerging and established artists and writers designed to encourage creative, intellectual and personal growth. The program grants nearly 35 artists each year the time and space to imagine new artistic work, engage in valuable dialogue and explore island connections. The Studios’ residency program is community-based and built upon the hope that visiting artists will take inspiration from Key West’s rich artistic past and present, and will engage with — and be inspired by — the remarkable people and culture that surrounds them.

Key West’s official motto, “One Human Family” reflects our commitment to living together as caring, sharing neighbors dedicated to making our home as close to paradise as we can. To that end, we encourage artists of all races, nationalities, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities to apply.

Applications are evaluated by selection committees comprised of working artists and professionals in the applicants’ respective fields of discipline under the five categories: Visual Arts, Literary Arts, Media Arts, Musical Arts, and Performing Arts. Acceptance to The Studios’ residency program is based on the merit of past work and the potential for creative, intellectual and personal growth. Year-to-year, the acceptance rate averages at 12-13%. 

Collaborative groups are accepted, up to 3-4 members. If the collaborative team is within the same discipline and will require only one live/work space, that they share to do their work, then they may apply with one application. Make this distinction clear on the application, and it would be helpful to the jury if the team mentions how and what of each individual input becomes a collaborative work. While collaborative groups are accepted, overnight visitors/guests at the residences are not allowed. The Studios asks that applying artists submit supplementary materials to provide more information on their residency proposal (a guide to submissions is available at tskw.org), as well as propose a special project as a component of the residency. This could be in the form of a workshop, artist talk, public reading, etc. and would be offered at The Studios of Key West in exchange for the residency, if awarded one.

Residencies are almost a month, and run from the 16th of the month through the 14th of the next. You’ll find that the Key West community is very welcoming to new people (especially creative ones!) – and there is never a shortage of things to do. Your time is yours to do with as you choose, of course, and we respect that you’ll need plenty of time to dream, reflect and create. To that end, we only ask that you plan to participate in one event while you are here: our monthly On the Deck Residency Potluck. Depending on the time of year, a group of about 20-40 friends and community members gather together for an informal potluck and a chance to meet our residency artists. Each of the residency artists takes few minutes to introduce themselves and talk about their work or what they’re working on in Key West, sometimes opening their studios. It's casual, so whatever you're comfortable with sharing is great.