Organizer Information

Alchemy Art Center is a non-profit community art space located on San Juan Island, Washington (USA). Founded in 2018, it provides affordable access to studio facilities in ceramics, printmaking, and darkroom photography. Their campus is woodland-based, communal, and deeply rooted in community interaction. Through their residency program, they foster both creation and engagement, supporting artists who want to both make work and contribute to the local San Juan Island community.

Title & Description

Alchemy Art Center Artist-in-Residence (AIR) Program

The AIR program at Alchemy Art Center offers a seasonal residency on San Juan Island, immersing artists in a rustic woodland environment where they can deeply focus on their practice while engaging with the local community. There are two main residency tracks:

  1. Teaching & Special Projects Residency (spring): Artists contribute to Alchemy’s infrastructure or teach adult-level classes, helping with studio tasks or special builds.
  2. Artists in Community Residency (summer): Residents run community workshops, mentor youth, lead free park programs, and more, functioning as active members in island life.

All accepted artists are expected to do 15 hours of “work-exchange” per week, largely focused on community engagement (teaching, mentoring, studio upkeep). At the same time, they have full access to Alchemy’s studios—printmaking, fiber, ceramics, photography—to experiment, make, and possibly try out new mediums. Toward the end of their stay, AIRs may present a final exhibition in Alchemy’s geodesic dome gallery and even give an artist talk in partnership with the San Juan Islands Museum of Art.

Categories

  • Visual Art
  • Ceramics
  • Printmaking
  • Fiber Art / Textile
  • Analog Photography

Eligibility

  • Artists of any nationality may apply. According to Artwork Archive, the residency is open broadly.
  • Applicants should work in (or be interested in) ceramics, printmaking, fiber art, or darkroom photography, though experimentation is encouraged.
  • For the Teaching & Special Projects track, applicants should have experience teaching or working on art-infrastructure type projects.
  • For the Community Residency, the applicant needs to be comfortable leading workshops, mentorial activities, or working with youth.
  • Residents must be okay living in shared, rustic accommodations: communal kitchen/bathroom, small cabins, semi-outdoor life.

Program Benefits & Awards

  • Stipend: Residents receive a modest living stipend of US$300/month.
  • Commission / Exhibition: AIR artists may exhibit their work in Alchemy’s dome gallery at the end of the residency.
  • Professional Exposure: Opportunity for an artist talk in partnership with the San Juan Islands Museum of Art.
  • Studio Access: Full access to Alchemy’s studios (ceramics, print, fiber, photography) throughout the residency.
  • Community Engagement: A chance to teach or lead workshops, mentor youth, and connect with islanders—a meaningful way to give back and grow as an artist.
  • Living Accommodation: Rustic cabins on a woodland campus, close to other artists, fostering a tight-knit creative community.

Application Fee

There is an application fee of US$15 to apply.

Application Requirements

While the Alchemy site’s “Become an AIR” page doesn’t list every single detail, the associated call (via Artist Trust) implies typical residency application materials. Based on that and standard practice, you’ll likely need:

  • Artist CV/bio, highlighting relevant experience (especially in their focus media)
  • Portfolio: images/documentation of past work (especially ceramics, print, fiber, photography)
  • Statement of Intent / Proposal: what you plan to do during residency; how you envision contributing to Alchemy’s community or running workshops.
  • References: sometimes residencies ask for 1–2 references (though not explicitly stated on their public page).
  • Other contact info: where you’re based, phone/email, and possibly how you would manage living in their shared housing.

How to Apply

Online Application

Key Dates

  • Application Deadline: 8 December 2025
  • Notification Date: early 2026
  • 2026 Residency Periods:
    • Teaching & Special Projects Residency: May 1 – May 25, 2026
    • Artists in Community Residency, Summer 1: May 29 – July 15, 2026
    • Artists in Community Residency, Summer 2: July 18 – August 31, 2026

Location

San Juan Island, Washington, United States

Additional Details

  • Living conditions are rustic: resident cabins are “small, woodland shelters” with electricity but spotty Wi-Fi.
  • Artists need to be okay sharing a communal kitchen/bathroom with ~8 others.
  • A vehicle is helpful: Alchemy notes that public transport is limited, and the site is ~5 miles out.
  • The artist-in-residence program is deeply community-oriented: besides making work, artists are expected to teach, engage, and build relationships on the island.
  • Alchemy is expanding: they’re building out a new campus (“Alchemy Art Farm”) in a former lavender farm, which may open future residency opportunities.
  • For accessibility: cabins are basic and “camp-like” — not necessarily fully accessible; those with access needs should contact Alchemy.

Website Link: https://alchemyartcenter.com/become-an-air

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