Organizer Information
The Jentel Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting creative practitioners through uninterrupted time, space, and resources for artistic development. Established to foster artistic excellence across disciplines, Jentel has become one of the most respected residency programs in the United States. Located in the rural landscape of Wyoming near the Bighorn Mountains, the residency provides artists, writers, and composers with a quiet environment designed to encourage concentration, experimentation, and creative growth.
The organization welcomes both emerging and established creatives who demonstrate commitment to their practice and a distinctive artistic voice. Through its residency programs, Jentel aims to support meaningful artistic production by removing many of the distractions and financial pressures that often limit creative work.
Title & Description
Jentel Artist Residency Program
The Jentel Artist Residency Program offers artists, writers, and composers the opportunity to spend dedicated time developing their creative practice in a supportive residential environment in Wyoming, United States. The residency is designed for focused and serious creatives who seek uninterrupted time to advance ongoing projects, experiment with new ideas, or complete significant bodies of work.
Situated in the foothills of the Bighorn Mountains, approximately 20 miles southeast of Sheridan, Wyoming, the residency provides participants with private living accommodations and dedicated studio space. Residents become part of an interdisciplinary community that encourages creative exchange while preserving the solitude necessary for deep artistic concentration.
Jentel welcomes applicants from a wide range of creative backgrounds. Visual artists working in any medium, writers specializing in fiction, creative nonfiction, or poetry, and composers working in all musical genres are encouraged to apply. The program supports both established professionals with records of publication, exhibition, or performance, as well as emerging creatives who have developed a strong personal vision and commitment to their practice.
The residency offers multiple sessions throughout the year, allowing selected participants to immerse themselves in their work within Wyoming’s unique natural environment. By providing housing, studio facilities, and financial support, Jentel enables residents to focus entirely on their creative projects during their stay.
Categories
- Visual Arts
- Writing
- Fiction
- Creative Nonfiction
- Poetry
- Literature
- Music Composition
- Sound Art
- Interdisciplinary Arts
- Artist Residency
Eligibility
- Must be at least 25 years of age.
- Must be a resident of the United States.
- U.S. citizenship is not required.
- Open to visual artists working in all media.
- Open to writers working in fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry.
- Open to composers working in all genres of music.
- Emerging and established creatives are eligible.
- Applicants enrolled full-time (9 credit hours or more) in a degree program during the proposed residency period are not eligible.
- Postdoctoral fellows are eligible to apply.
- Wyoming residents may apply through a specialized Wyoming Resident Creative application pathway.
Jentel welcomes applicants from all backgrounds and does not discriminate based on age, race, gender, disability, religion, marital status, sexual orientation, or national origin.
Program Benefits & Awards
- Private bedroom accommodations.
- Shared residential facilities, including a kitchen and common living areas.
- Dedicated private studio space.
- Access to a peaceful rural environment conducive to creative work.
- Opportunity to join an interdisciplinary community of artists, writers, and composers.
- Professional development through focused creative time.
- Financial support through a residency stipend.
- $300 stipend
- Distributed weekly throughout the residency period.
- Intended to offset food and living expenses during the residency.
Additional Benefits
- No residency tuition fees beyond the application fee.
- Access to studio and work facilities.
- Time for research, experimentation, and project development.
- Supportive environment for artistic production.
Application Fee
- Applicants must pay a $30 non-refundable application fee
- Selected residents must submit a $100 reservation deposit due within two weeks of notification.
Application Requirements
- Completed application form.
- Personal information.
- Resume or CV.
- Work samples.
- Artistic statement or project information.
- Additional discipline-specific materials requested through the application portal.
Requirements may vary depending on the selected application category.
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 15 September 2026
- Residency Period: January 15 – May 7
Location
Near Sheridan, Wyoming, United States
Additional Details
- Residents must bring their own art materials, equipment, and laptops.
- Pets are not permitted.
- Accommodation is not available for family members or children.
- Visitor accommodations can be found in Sheridan, Wyoming.
- Review panels rotate regularly and include professionals from literary, visual arts, and music fields.
- A limited number of participants may be invited through Jentel partnership programs without submitting a standard application.
- The residency emphasizes focused creative work rather than public exhibitions or final presentations.
- The program supports artistic development at various career stages, from emerging practitioners to established professionals.