FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Fellowships Studio Assistant Fellows Workshops Residencies Applications General Questions

Haystack’s community guidelines is one of the ways we put our organizational values, and the goals of our Strategic Plan, into action. They are intended to establish a shared understanding of our common goals, how we create community, and the principles that ensure all people feel welcome and respected. It is expected that everyone coming to Haystack will help contribute to a culture in which all members feel personally safe, listened to, valued, and treated with fairness and respect.

Click here to review the full Community Guidelines before coming to Haystack

The Haystack fellowships program is a competitive opportunity, supporting individuals participating in summer workshops at the School. Students receiving a fellowship award for summer workshops must be 18 years of age or older. Fellowship recipients are provided with support for tuition, room, and board (dorm - the cost difference to change to a different cabin is the responsibility of the individual), and a monetary award. Fellowship students are responsible for travel, shop fees, and studio materials.

Haystack assembles independent committees to select awards through a competitive review process.

Fellowship applications are submitted online, through SlideRoom. Deadline to apply for 2024 workshops is February 8.

Studio Assistants (SAs - formerly Technical Assistants) must be familiar with equipment, processes, and safety of studios. They assist workshop faculty, connect with Haystack staff, support students, and provide supervision in the studios. SA positions are professional development opportunities through the Haystack fellowship program. Recipients are provided with tuition, room, and board (dorm - the cost difference to change to a different cabin is the responsibility of the individual), plus a monetary award. Studio Assistants must be 18 years of age or older. SAs are financially responsible for travel, shop fees, and any materials they use during their workshops.

Haystack assembles independent committees to select Studio Assistants through a competitive review process.

Applications for Studio Assistant Fellows are processed online through SlideRoom. Deadline to apply for 2024 workshops is February 8.

The Fab Lab Studio Assistant (FLSA) is an opportunity for professional development, working alongside Haystack staff and supporting the Fab Lab Resident Artists in the Fab Lab, as well as supporting workshop instructors and students with projects and activities. FLSAs provide lab supervision during sessions and must be very familiar with the equipment and processes of the Haystack Fab Lab and digital fabrication. 

Fab Lab Studio Assistants provided room & board, travel support, and a monetary award. They are responsible for shop fees and studio materials. FLSAs are selected through a competitive review process.

Applications for Fab Lab Studio Assistants are processed through a Google Form. Deadline to apply for 2024 is February 8.

All applications are submitted online through SlideRoom. Deadline to apply for 2024 workshops is March 14.

No. Images are not required with the General Workshop application.

Workshops at Haystack are open to anyone 18 years of age and and over. After the application deadline, a review committee meets to place participants in workshops for the summer. Space in each studio is limited, and selections are made based upon the need to maintain a diverse student body. Please keep in mind that answers to the questions on the application form are an important part of the review process. Focused applications tend to be more favorably received.

No. For each workshop we select a wide range of participants from varied backgrounds and skill levels. Unless otherwise noted in the workshop descriptions, workshops are open to all level of participants—from beginners to advanced professionals.

Aside from travel costs, the main expenses for participants attending Haystack are tuition, room, and board, shop fees, and materials fees (if additional materials are purchased in the campus store). Shop fees vary for each individual workshop. Participants in glass or blacksmithing can typically expect to pay the most for shop fees and additional materials. Please see our Fees & Policies for more information.

Haystack’s campus offers a wide range of housing options to make it comfortable and cost-efficient for everyone who attends. All of our cabins are simple, “camp-like” accommodations with electricity and twin beds. While we make every effort to assign participants their first choice of housing, occasionally, we must assign per the availability.

Please see the housing page for more information.

Currently, academic credit for workshops is offered only through the Maine College of Art & Design (MECA&D) and the University of Southern Maine (USM). Credit costs are set by the respective institutions and are subject to change. If interested in earning college credit, contact the institution you are enrolled with for paperwork once you receive notification of enrollment in a Haystack workshop.

No. While you may visit other workshops that are taking place on campus while you are attending, you can only be enrolled in one workshop during each session. You are welcome to attend as many sessions as you like and oftentimes students wishing to take more than one workshop will stay for multiple sessions.

Applications for the Open Studio Residency are processed online through SlideRoom.

Application Fee: $60
Application Deadline: January 28, 2024 at 11:59 pm EST

Yes, up to four images are required for all visual artists. SlideRoom addresses file size requirements at SlideRoom Support. There is also an opportunity for writers to submit a writing sample instead of images.If you work in another discipline, such as video or sound, you may share links to such work in the application.

Haystack’s Open Studio Residency is open to people who are 21 and over during the time of the Residency session. Space in each studio is limited, and selections are made based on the quality of work, the ability to work in an intensive community, and, if applicable, the nature and scope of work that will be done during the residency. Haystack residents are selected by an independent review panel comprised of a revolving group of distinguished professionals who work in various artistic mediums. Applicants are notified of admission status approximately three weeks after the application deadline.

Yes, students who are enrolled in an academic program—and are available during the time of the Residency—are eligible to apply.

There is no charge for tuition, room, and board for Open Studio Residency. Residency participants are responsible for the application fee, travel costs, and costs related to materials/items purchased/used during the residency.

No, Haystack provides shared studio spaces, so it is important for residents to be able to work in a supportive community setting. Residents should be self sufficient and able to work independently.

If you are collaborating on a project, individual application forms and supporting materials must be submitted by each collaborator. Each applicant will include the name(s) of all collaborators.

Housing will be assigned at random from among the various options. If you have particular physical or mobility concerns, please note these on your application.

No, participation in the program is for the full session.

The cost is currently approximately $75.00 per person, one way. This amount is subject to change annually depending upon variables such as vendors with whom we contract, etc. Please contact Haystack with any travel-related questions.

Participants accepted into our summer programs will be provided with a prep sheet that contains all of the basic information that individuals need to know for when they attend Haystack. The document details items you will need to bring—from clothing items to studio supplies, suggestions, and more.

The Haystack store typically maintains an inventory of supplies basic to most workshops.

When programs are in session, if particular or unusual supplies are needed for your work, we advise that you to bring these with you, as we are located far from major supply sources. A list of special items to be brought from home will be given to participants in workshops that require more than simple, basic supplies. The store also has a stock of drugstore items, stationery, selected craft books, clothing, snacks, refreshments, small necessities, and miscellany. There is no artwork for sale in the store.

Typically when programs are in session, guests are welcome to visit the campus, but because of limited facilities, we are unable to accommodate friends and relatives at the School as overnight guests. Space permitting and with advance notice to the kitchen, we can occasionally accommodate guests at dinner for a fee. Please check with the office if you would like to have a guest visit for a meal.

Internet service on campus is limited. There is internet access in the library and also a computer for use. Participants are encouraged to bring their own computers to the library to connect to the internet. On Island, there are also public wi-fi sites that we can suggest.

Having a car is helpful depending on your needs. Our campus is very secluded and there are no stores within walking distance. When programs are in session many students get by just fine for two weeks without a car—you can get essentials at the campus store or easily catch a ride into town with someone who has a car if you need something that we do not have available on campus.

The majority of our faculty are invited to teach based on invitation, however, we do accept inquiries from those interested in making teaching proposals. While Haystack will review all submissions, we cannot realistically accommodate every proposal given prior commitments, interest in the school, and our desire to develop diverse programming.

Teaching proposals are submitted through this application. The application will detail all of the materials we will need from you. Haystack will review proposals on a quarterly basis and if we need additional information we will contact you directly. All proposals will be kept on file for three years, and you may update your materials through the Slideroom portal at any point during that time.

Haystack is located in Deer Isle, Maine, approximately 250 miles north of Boston.

The closest airport is Bangor (BGR). From Bangor it is about a 1 ½ hour drive to Deer Isle. If you give us your flight information we will make arrangements for a taxi to pick you up at the airport and deliver you to the Haystack campus. You will be billed for the taxi ride at the end of the session. If you come by bus, we can also arrange for a taxi to pick you up at one of the bus stations in Bangor. If you are driving to Haystack take a look at our Directions page for detailed driving directions.

No, we do not have a formal, commercial gallery. Where we can, we will gladly connect you with galleries that represent artists who have taught or studied at Haystack. If you wish to purchase artwork made at Haystack you may do so during one of our session auctions or our summer auction for which works donated by faculty, residency and workshop participants, and staff are sold to support the School’s Scholarship Program.

While we offer special programs for local high school students, year-round, as well as junior high school students state-wide (Student Craft Institute) and elementary school students from Deer Isle, participants must be at least eighteen years old to attend a workshop during one of our summer sessions and twenty-one years old to participate in the Open Studio Residency.

Haystack offers guided, weekly tours to the public every Wednesday afternoon at 1pm throughout the summer (June-August). Advance registration for tours is required. Sign-up for 2024 tours will be available online on May 1.

No. Pets are not allowed on campus.

Yes, but like internet service, cell service on campus is limited. Some carriers get better reception than others. Use of cell phones is discouraged in the studios, cabins, dining hall, or on the decks. There are designated areas for cell phone use.

No. Haystack does not have a dock or mooring for visitors or program participants to safely arrive by boat.

Administrative Office Hours

Monday – Friday
8:30 am – 4:30 pm EST

Campus Store Hours

The Campus Store is closed for the season.

Still have questions?

Please feel free to contact Haystack. Haystack staff is available Monday–Friday, 8:30 am–4:30 pm EST.