Dog Trot Mixed Media Residency September 5-19, 2025
The September 2025 Dog Trot Mixed Media Residency is a two week residency for artists and writers who have forged their own creative path, have never pursued an academic career, or feel as if they have no platform that will amplify their voice.
Nook of the Woods Retreat Center, nestled in the Brushy Mountains of North Carolina, provides 40 acres of streams and woodlands with several different habitats and work spaces to foster creation.
There are desks in all the private rooms, as well as work space in the common area. There is a large studio on the property that can comfortably host up to four artists at a time. Several outbuildings on the property with fewer amenities than the studio may be used as private workspaces. For sculptors and woodworkers, the wood/metal shop may be utilized with prior approval.
All participants are asked to bring their own supplies and necessities for creation. There are a limited number of easels, as well as craft supplies of various types.
Scenes from the October 2024 Residency
Applying:
Application accepted until June 27
Residency Dates: September 5-19
Notification: July 6
Eligibility:
The residency is open to painters, sculptors, fiber artists, mixed media creatives, writers of all kinds, and those who cannot be categorized.
Application Fee-$20-Your application fee ensures that we can continue to keep costs as low as possible for chosen residents.
Some Details About the Residency
Up to six residents will be chosen to participate based on the quality of submissions. The fee for room and board is between $250 – $400 + 7% sales tax, depending on your choice of lodging.
Three vegetarian (and occasional fish) meals a day will be provided, as well as coffee, tea, and snacks.
Artists who attend The Dog Trot residency should expect to provide one finished work to be published by Outlandish Press as part of the Dog Trot Review. Beyond that, the time is yours to work as you please.
The Residency will be facilitated by Zenaida Smith who will offer informal workshops and exercises throughout.
We seek to provide a platform and creative community for those who do not readily possess either. If you do not have or are not a candidate for an MFA, we want to host you. If you have never published before, we want to publish you. If your work is undefinable or experimental, you will be in good company. We understand how difficult it is to find both time and space to work unfettered on a craft that is not your primary source of income.
Our goal is to provide writers with well-deserved time to experiment and create in a space that is inspirational and interesting. We are not externally funded and work hard to keep pricing low to afford as many writers/artists as possible the chance to attend.
Meet Your Facilitator
Zenaida Smith is a poet from Cleveland, Ohio. She has been involved in many creative community endeavors over the past decade, and has facilitated more poetry open mics than can be accurately counted. She is an editor for Outlandish Press, a small press specializing in printed matter that is unusual and amusing.
