Organizer Information
Sundress Academy for the Arts (SAFTA) is a Tennessee-based literary residency program that provides writers and artists with dedicated time, space, and resources to develop their creative projects. Located on a 45-acre working farm near Knoxville, SAFTA fosters a quiet, productive environment while being close to an active urban arts community. The program supports diversity in the literary field, emphasizing anti-racist practices and equitable access for underrepresented writers.
Title & Description
Spring 2026 Residencies
SAFTA offers short-term writing residencies for artists across all genres, including poetry, fiction, nonfiction, playwriting, screenwriting, journalism, and academic writing. Residents are provided with time and space to focus on their creative work in a rural retreat setting. The program encourages a balance between productive solitude in the farm’s wooded surroundings and engagement with Knoxville’s vibrant arts community.
Categories
- Literature
- Creative Writing
- Poetry, Fiction, Nonfiction, Playwriting, Screenwriting, Journalism, Academic Writing
Eligibility
- Open internationally, with priority for writers of color and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) applicants through fellowship opportunities.
- Writers must be able to travel to the residency location in Tennessee.
- All levels of writers, from emerging to established, are encouraged to apply.
Program Benefits & Awards
- Access to SAFTA farmhouse or Writers Coop for the residency duration.
- Room and board, including communal kitchen, living space, private cabin options, and wireless internet.
- Fellowship opportunities with full or partial funding:
- Black & Indigenous Writers Fellowship (1 full fellowship)
- Writers of Color Fellowships (1 full, 1 half fellowship)
- SmokeLong Quarterly Fellowship for a Trans Writer (1 full fellowship)
- Financial support for food, travel, childcare, or other needs for BIPOC residents (up to 2 grants per residency period).
- Reparations payment model for equitable access: discounted residency weeks for BIPOC writers.
Application Fee
- $350/week standard fee for farmhouse residencies, $175/week for Writers Coop.
- Application fee waived for BIPOC writers and fellowship applicants demonstrating financial need.
Application Requirements
- Completed application form.
- Writing samples in the applicant’s chosen genre.
- Personal statement and/or project description.
- Optional: financial need statement if applying for fee waiver.
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 1 February 2026
- Residency Period: May 10 – August 15, 2026
Location
SAFTA Farmhouse, Tennessee, United States
Additional Details
- The farm offers opportunities for hiking, birdwatching, and foraging.
- Residencies support quiet, uninterrupted creative work with communal and private options.
- Commitment to anti-racist practices and diversity in literature.