FAQs

VCCA encourages applications to Mt. San Angelo from artists representing the widest possible range of perspectives. Emerging and established artists may apply in the following disciplines: poetry, fiction, nonfiction, playwriting and screenwriting, performance, film and video, drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, installation art, music composition, and cross-disciplinary art. Applicants who are enrolled in undergraduate, graduate, or doctoral programs are eligible to apply, although projects that involve pure academic scholarship are not accepted.

Only Fellows who have previously had a residency at Mt. San Angelo are eligible to apply for a residency at le Moulin à Nef or the international exchange program.

While artists may request residencies of up to six weeks; the average stay is 20 days. There is no minimum length of residency. We are flexible in our scheduling practices and schedule based on the individual artist’s needs.

VCCA is supported through the partnership of the artists it serves and the donors who are committed to advancing creative work. We depend on all accepted applicants to help offset the cost of their residencies to the best of their ability.

The cost of a VCCA residency is $225 per artist/per day which includes an individual studio, private bedroom, private bath, and three meals each day. We ask you to contribute a minimum payment of $75 per day (less than half the cost of the residency) and welcome a per diem payment up to the full daily cost of $225 per day if you are able.

Artists are accepted to VCCA based on the quality of their work and not on their ability to pay. We distribute a generous amount of financial aid every year. If you are accepted and cannot pay at least $75 per day, VCCA will work with you in good faith to be sure you can come.

VCCA uses SlideRoom for its online application process. Requirements include completion of the application form, current work samples, a project description, and a non-refundable $30 application fee*.

Effective February 1, 2022, VCCA no longer requires applicants to attain letters of recommendation.

* If the application fee presents a significant barrier to application, please write to vcca@vcca.com at least five days before the deadline to request an application fee waiver.

Please apply in only one discipline that most closely relates to the project you are proposing to work on at VCCA supplemented by the work samples you will submit. If you have questions, you may contact Artist Services to discuss which discipline is the best fit for your application.

Yes. VCCA accepts applicants based on the quality of their work. Professional training and achievement are not required.

Detailed work sample requirements are listed for each discipline on the SlideRoom application. Please refer to SlideRoom’s media requirements for acceptable digital formats. Work samples are required every three years for returning Fellows.

VCCA uses a peer review process. Your application is reviewed by a panel of peers working in the genre in which you are applying. The major basis for admission is quality and promise of your work. Artists Services staff will review your application for completeness.

Panel members rotate on a four-year cycle with staggered terms for each member.

As of June 2022, artists may be in residence at Mt. San Angelo only once every two years; returning Fellows must wait to reapply accordingly. The first question on the application for Mt. San Angelo residencies clarifies whether or not you are eligible to reapply for that period. Returning Fellows may apply to international programs any time.

The Mt. San Angelo residency program has three application deadlines per year. Applicants are notified of admission status within three months after the applicable deadline.

Winter period: Residencies from January 1 to April 30
Deadline: May 15
Notification: sent by August 31

Summer period: Residencies from May 1 to August 31
Deadline: September 15
Notification: sent by December 31

Fall period: Residencies from September 1 to December 31
Deadline: January 15
Notification: sent by April 30

Yes. Collaborators should apply individually, each submitting a complete application, with the understanding that one person may be accepted and the other may not. Please note on your application if you are willing to attend a residency if the person you are applying with is not accepted. Each person accepted for a residency will be offered a separate workspace unless otherwise requested.

Yes. Couples working on their own creative projects should apply individually and request parallel residencies, with the understanding that one person may be accepted and the other may not. Please note on your application if you are willing to attend a residency if the person you are applying with is not accepted. Each person accepted for a residency will be offered a separate workspace unless otherwise requested.

Couples working on collaborative projects may apply as collaborators (see the question above). If both are accepted, each will be offered a studio.  If the schedule allows, couples may be scheduled in a double room.

Yes. You are welcome to apply whenever you need a residency. If the regular application deadline has passed, you may apply using a Late Application form. Please contact Artists Services to access that form.

Yes. VCCA maintains an active waiting list of applicants who applied at the deadline but were not scheduled. If you are offered a place on the waiting list, be sure to send your dates of availability to Artists Services.

VCCA also has a “short notice waiting list” for VCCA Fellows who may be interested in residencies that come available through cancellations made on short notice. To be considered for a short notice opening, contact Artist Services.

No. Residencies may not be deferred beyond the scheduling period for which you were accepted. Unless alternative dates can be found within that scheduling period, you will need to reapply.

If you need to adjust your residency dates, you may request to reschedule within the scheduling period for which you were accepted. Any payment would be transferable if we were able to schedule you for alternate dates within the same scheduling period.

Your $50 deposit is non-refundable, and cannot be transferred to future residencies outside of your currently accepted scheduling period.

VCCA should be notified as soon as possible of a residency cancellation. If the cancellation is made before your balance due date, any payments beyond your deposit will be refunded. If your cancellation is made after your balance due date, any payment towards your balance would be refunded if we are able to schedule someone else for that time.

Yes. Anyone seeking a residency at VCCA must complete an application, including those who have previously been in residence. New work samples must be submitted every three years.

As of June 2022, artists may be in residence at Mt. San Angelo only once every two years; returning Fellows must wait to reapply accordingly. The first question on the application for Mt. San Angelo residencies clarifies whether or not you are eligible to reapply for that period. Returning Fellows may apply to international programs any time.

Our advice to all applicants is to ensure that your application is complete, that your project description is clear, and that your work samples are current. We are not able to provide individual feedback to applicants.

Directions on how to get to VCCA are available on our website under Directions.

No. Transportation to and from VCCA is the responsibility of the Fellow. Directions and suggestions for travel providers are available on the website and in the Fellows Handbook.

It isn’t necessary to have a car while in residence. VCCA takes Fellows into Amherst twice a week for errands.

For weekday arrivals during business hours: Fellows arriving between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. on business days should check in and receive a brief orientation in the VCCA Office.

If arriving on a weekend, after 5 p.m. on a business day, or on a holiday: Please head to the Fellows Residence where you will find your welcome materials above the mailboxes in the foyer.

We understand that sometimes these things happen. Fellows should notify VCCA staff in advance of any adjustments to their residency dates. We will work to fill any unused days at the beginning or end of your residency as quickly as possible. Fellows are responsible for their residency payment regardless of how many days they are in attendance unless that time is assigned to another Fellow.

Yes. Each VCCA Fellow is provided a private studio, a private bedroom with a private bath, and three meals each day. Vegetarian alternatives are always provided.

Linens are provided, and laundry facilities are available.

VCCA’s dining partner Meriwether Godsey uses the web-app MyMenus to share daily menus along with detailed information about allergens, nutritionals, and all ingredients, down to the individual spices. Fellows have the ability to create a unique user profile and flag any of the common allergens that may apply. More information about dining at VCCA is available in the Fellows Handbook.

VCCA cannot accommodate guests of Fellows for overnight stays. There are a number of places to stay in the area. A list of accommodations and contact information is available in the Fellows Handbook.

A laundry room in the Fellows Residence provides Fellows with washers and dryers, an ironing board and iron, and detergent.

VCCA does not have a gym.  However, regular yoga classes are held on site, and VCCA’s extensive grounds offer opportunities for walking, hiking, running, swimming, and biking. See the Area Guide in the Fellows Handbook for additional workout facilities in the area.

Twice a week a VCCA staff member takes Fellows into Amherst. This is known as the “Fellows Run.” If you have additional transportation needs, the Fellows Handbook provides a complete list of transportation options to and from VCCA.

WiFi is available throughout VCCA. We do not have a public computer available.

Several bedrooms in the Fellows Residence are on the ground floor. One bedroom is fully accessible with a low sink and a roll-in shower. Almost the entire Studio Barn complex is on one level and is a five- to ten-minute wheelchair ride along a private lane.

If you are a wheelchair rider, be sure to mention this in your application so that we may best accommodate you.

Yes. Each Fellow is assigned a private studio.

Each visual artist’s studio has work tables, white walls, a sink, a shelf for supplies, and a bed. The use of the Dickerson combination printing press or the black-and-white darkroom can be requested during the application process.

Each composer’s studio is equipped with a piano, a desk, desk chair, and a bed.

Each writer’s studio has a desk, desk chair, reading chair, printer, and a bed. There are also several live-work spaces for writers.

No. VCCA does not provide supplies or equipment. You will need to bring anything necessary to do your work. If you will be painting, we ask that you use drop cloths and that you try to avoid getting paint on the walls. If you would like to use the black-and-white darkroom or the printing press, please request them during the application process.

A printer is provided in each writer’s studio and in the library of the Fellows Residence, but Fellows are responsible for paper and replacing toner.

Yes. You are welcome to ship materials prior to your arrival. Please make sure the shipping is prepaid. It should be addressed to:

(Your Name)
c/o VCCA
154 San Angelo Drive
Amherst, VA 24521

Your mailing address while you are in residence at VCCA will be:

(Your name)
c/o VCCA
154 San Angelo Drive
Amherst, VA 24521

Mail is delivered to the office each weekday and distributed to the mailboxes in the Fellows Residence. If you are mailing items you may place them in the outgoing mail tray in the office. We receive deliveries from UPS and FedEx almost daily.

VCCA does not have facilities specifically for ceramics. Fellows working in ceramics are provided a visual artist’s studio. Some Fellows have made arrangements to have work fired at kilns at nearby ceramics facilities at the Academy of Fine Arts in Lynchburg, Virginia (30 minutes away by car) or at Sweet Briar College (10 minutes away by car). VCCA cannot guarantee access to these facilities or provide transportation. If access is acquired, there may be charges associated with the use of these facilities.

Only Fellows who have previously had a residency at Mt. San Angelo are eligible to apply for a residency at le Moulin à Nef or the international exchange program.

The average stay at le Moulin à Nef is 20 days. There is no minimum length of residency. We are flexible in our scheduling practices and schedule based on the individual artist’s needs. We ask that Fellows arrive on a Monday and depart on a Thursday.

VCCA is supported through a partnership of the artists who benefit most from its service and donors and funders committed to advancing creative work. In order to make VCCA sustainable, we depend on all accepted applicants to help offset the cost of their residencies to the best of their ability.

The current cost of a residency at le Moulin à Nef is $240 per artist/per day. Fellows are required to pay at least $80 per day. More information is available under Financial Information.

There is a place on the SlideRoom application to note your intended daily payment as well as any financial constraints.

There is a $30 non-refundable SlideRoom application fee*.

Artists are responsible for the cost of travel to and from VCCA.

* If the application fee presents a significant barrier to application, please write to vcca@vcca.com at least five days before the deadline to request an application fee waiver.

The application process for le Moulin à Nef is the same as for Mt. San Angelo. Use the online portal SlideRoom to complete the application form, include current work samples and a $30 non-refundable application fee.

* If the application fee presents a significant barrier to application, please write to vcca@vcca.com at least five days before the deadline to request an application fee waiver.

Applications for le Moulin à Nef and the International Exchange program are due on September 15 each year. Notification is December 31.

Detailed work sample requirements are listed for each discipline on the SlideRoom application. Please refer to SlideRoom’s media requirements for acceptable digital formats. Work samples are required every three years for returning Fellows.

VCCA uses a peer review process. Your application is reviewed by a panel of peers working in the genre in which you are applying. The major basis for admission is quality and promise of your work. Artists Services staff will review your application for completeness.

Panel members rotate on a four-year cycle with staggered terms for each member.

Yes. Collaborators should apply individually, each submitting a complete application, with the understanding that one person may be accepted and the other may not. Please note your collaboration on your application if you are willing to attend a residency if the person you are applying with is not accepted. Each person accepted for a residency will be offered a separate workspace unless otherwise requested.

Yes. Couples working on their own creative projects should apply individually and request parallel residencies, with the understanding that one person may be accepted and the other may not. Please note on your application if you are willing to attend a residency if the person you are applying with is not accepted. Each person accepted for a residency will be offered a separate workspace unless otherwise requested.

Couples working on collaborative projects may apply as collaborators (see the question above). If both are accepted, each will be offered a studio.  If the schedule allows, couples may be scheduled in a double room.

Yes. VCCA maintains an active waiting list of applicants who applied at the deadline but were not scheduled. If you are offered a place on the waiting list, be sure to send your dates of availability to Artists Services.

VCCA also has a “short notice waiting list” for VCCA Fellows who may be interested in residencies that come available through cancellations made on short notice. To be considered for a short notice opening, contact Artist Services.

No. Residencies may not be deferred beyond the scheduling period for which you were accepted. Unless alternative dates can be found within that scheduling period, you will need to reapply. Note: The scheduling period for the Moulin à Nef is from mid-March to mid-November.

If you need to adjust your residency dates, you may request to reschedule within the season for which you were accepted. Any payment would be transferable if we were able to schedule you in the same year.

Your $500 deposit is non-refundable and cannot be transferred to future residencies outside of your currently accepted season.

VCCA should be notified as soon as possible of a residency cancellation. If the cancellation is made before your balance due date, any payments beyond your deposit will be refunded. If your cancellation is made after your balance due date, any payment towards your balance would be refunded if we are able to schedule someone else for that time.

You may apply at any time. As we work to provide this opportunity to the many creative artists in need of time to focus on their work, how recently you were in residence is taken into consideration when scheduling.

Yes. Anyone seeking a residency at le Moulin à Nef must complete an application, including those who have previously been in residence. New work samples must be submitted every year.

Directions on how to get to le Moulin à Nef are available on our website under Directions.

No. Transportation to and from le Moulin à Nef is the responsibility of the Fellow. Directions and suggestions for travel providers are available on the website and in the Fellows Handbook.

It isn’t necessary to have a car while in residence but if you do wish to rent a vehicle, information on where and how to do that is in the Fellows Handbook.

Please give detailed arrival information to the Resident Director prior to your arrival. You will be greeted at le Moulin à Nef by a staff member.

We understand that sometimes these things happen. Fellows should notify VCCA staff in advance of any adjustments to their residency dates. We will work to fill any unused days at the beginning or end of your residency as quickly as possible. Fellows are responsible for their residency payment regardless of how many days they are in attendance unless that time is assigned to another Fellow.

At le Moulin à Nef, Fellows live communally in the Maison Vieilhescaze and each VCCA Fellow is provided a private bedroom and a shared bath. Linens are provided and laundry facilities are available. An evening meal is provided twice a week, and Fellows are responsible for the remainder of their meals. There is a fully-equipped kitchen in the Maison Vieilhescaze.

Le Moulin à Nef is committed to providing a space in which Fellows can focus on their work, therefore we discourage guests.

A shared laundry room is available on the first floor of the Maison Vieilhescaze. Fellows are required to provide their own laundry supplies.

Once each week, VCCA staff take Fellows to the large outdoor market in Valence d’Agen. You will also have time to go to the grocery store and do other errands while there.  If you have additional transportation needs, the Fellows Handbook provides a complete list of transportation options to and from le Moulin à Nef.

Le Moulin à Nef has fiber optic internet that’s shared with everyone at le Moulin à Nef. It is accessible from the patio, in the studios, and most areas of the Maison Vieilhescaze.

Yes. Each Fellow is assigned a private studio in La Cebo, the studio building. The Fellows Handbook contains more detail on studio space.

No. VCCA does not provide supplies or equipment. You will need to bring anything necessary to do your work.

Yes. You are welcome to ship materials prior to your arrival. Please make sure the shipping is prepaid. It should be addressed to: (Your name), c/o VCCA, 18 Esplanade du Port, 82340 Auvillar, France. Please be sure to include Cheryl Fortier’s cell phone number on your shipping label: 06 33 29 53 69.

Your mailing address while you are in residence at VCCA will be:

(Your name)

c/o VCCA

18 Esplanade du Port

82340 Auvillar, France

Mail is delivered to the office and distributed by le Moulin à Nef  staff on business days.

Packages can be mailed at the post office (La Poste) on the Rue des Moines in Auvillar. If you are mailing small, flat items you may place them in the mailbox on the front outdoor wall of the Vival grocer in the village or at the post office.