The Greenhouse Residency
A winter residency offering artists fertile ground to intuit, research, test, dance, cook, write, forage, film, paint, sculpt, breathe and dig deep into our present moment.
Built in partnership with the Greenhouse Project
This residency is built in partnership with the Greenhouse Project, co-created by L Gilbert and MAC Executive Director Dav Bell in Santa Cruz.
About the Greenhouse Project
The Greenhouse Project is an intergenerational educational space that centers art, food, and climate justice. We see climate justice as an intersectional movement, one that strives to be accessible and inclusive, and recognizes the importance of collective liberation. We believe in radical skill-sharing, collaborative learning, and active listening. The space is intended to provide opportunities for community-led teaching and learning experiences through workshops, programming, and events. We see this space as an opportunity to gather – sharing conversations, meals, and artistic practices as we engage in meaningful discussions about climate justice.
The Greenhouse Project building and garden space were collaboratively built by students, faculty, and community members at the Center for Agroecology, The University of California, Santa Cruz Farm and Garden.
Project-based
We invite applicants to propose a project to be their focus for the length of their residency.
These projects can be in any medium, or no medium at all—just a chance to rest or time in community can be your “project.” The time at the residency can be used working on a preexisting project or experimenting with new works, ideas, or research. It can also be a time to form meaningful new collaborations both with artists participants or the greater community of Mendocino.
On food and climate justice
This residency is designed for artists whose work engages conversations about food and climate justice in some capacity.
These themes are loose and can relate to many different types of work. All artistic mediums are encouraged to apply including but not limited to, visual artists, writers, filmmakers, ecologists, activists, chefs, gardeners, foragers, and educators looking for space to work on a project or be in a creative community are also welcome and encouraged to apply.
Self-directed
The structure of the residency will be self-directed and up to the participants on how they would like to spend their time.
A community calendar board will be used as a central hub for residency participants to post and organize events, critiques, workshops, meals, and more. While community engagement isn’t necessary for participation in the residency, we hope that the residency attracts participants that are excited about being in community.
Shared resources and amenities
This residency provides an opportunity to spend time on our beautiful but rustic campus in rural Mendocino, between the ocean and the redwoods. We offer residents the following:
Studio space
Residents will each be assigned semi-private space in a shared studio. Our studios are better outfitted for some mediums than others, but we will do our best to accommodate the needs of all residents.
A cohort of peers
Residents will live in close proximity to each other, and are encouraged to build community in their time here. Residents will also have access to a shared kitchen space for communal meals.
Open studio
At the end of the residency, residents are invited to host an open studio sharing their work, research, or residency experience with the community.
Private apartment
Each resident will have their own furnished studio apartment, outfitted with a queen bed, seating, kitchen, and bathroom.
Food + Gatherings
Each session will include scheduled and spontaneous meals, workshops, and gatherings for residents, as well as other opportunities to build community.
Print publication
We will publish a small print publication to memorialize the work created by residents this winter.
4-week sessions
We will run four 4-week sessions* in December 2024, January 2025, February 2025 and March 2025. Each session has space for 5-7 residents.
Session 1: Monday December 2 - Friday December 27**
Session 2: Monday December 30 - Friday January 24
Session 3: Monday January 27 - Friday February 21
Session 4: Monday March 3 - Friday March 28
*Applicants are welcome to apply to and/or participate in multiple sessions back to back. Residents who participate in multiple sessions back to back are welcome to stay in their rooms for the weekend gap between sessions free of charge.
**Residents are welcome to leave early for the holidays, or to stay on campus.
Sliding Scale Contributions
To support the cost of the residency, we request sliding scale contributions from $500-$2500 per resident. We will have a limited number of spots below $2000, depending on fundraising. Please indicate your ability to contribute in your application.
Apply
Applications are now closed. 2025 applications begin April 1st, and run until June 15th.
Sponsor the residency
Contribute to the Regenerative Future Fund below to help us bring a community of artists working toward climate justice to Mendocino this Winter.
We need your support—help us reach our goal by December 1, 2024.
Email Updates
Interested in participating in the future? Sign up for updates below.
“…Seed to tree, tree to forest; Rain to river, river to sea; Grubs to bees, bees to swarm. From one, many; from many, one; Forever uniting, growing, dissolving—forever Changing.”
― Octavia Butler, Parable of the Sower
Have any questions?
Feel free to submit a message below, and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can. Thank you for your interest in building community with us.