JULY 5–9, 2026

WHAT IS SQUARE ONE?

Haystack has launched a new session format, Square ONE, developed expressly for beginners. The session includes workshops in each of the Haystack studios with topics developed to introduce the disciplines or media taught at the School to individuals with no previous experience.

While most of Haystack's workshops are open to artists of  all levels, Square ONE is intended to provide space and support for artists and would-be artists alike to learn introductory material together in a workshop cohort of only beginners. Individuals with previous experience but are new or a beginner to the medium or technique being offered during a Square ONE workshop are welcome to apply.

Square ONE is open to all interested in learning something new, regardless of background. To ensure an environment accessible to beginners, however, individuals with even limited experience in the offered workshops are encouraged to apply to one of the summer workshop sessions.

SQUARE ONE WORKSHOPS

Explore the 2026 Square ONE workshops! Select workshops have open seats, please see the How to Apply section for more details.

How to Apply

Square ONE | Open Call

Applicants must be 18 years of age or older to participate in session workshops. Except where noted in the workshop descriptions, workshops are open to all levels—from beginners to advanced. Enrollment in each studio is limited. Application is for the entire session. When completing the application form, please indicate your choice of workshop. Due to the high volume of applications, not all applicants will be accepted.

On-campus housing is limited. If accepted, Haystack will try our best to accommodate housing requests; however, it is not guaranteed.

If you previously applied through the initial 2026 general application and are interested in one of the workshop openings, please email the registrar directly at registrar@haystack-mtn.org.

WORKSHOP OPENINGS

SQUARE ONE
OPEN CALL APPLICATION

Open Call applications are submitted through StarRez, Haystack’s new application portal. We encourage all applicants to review the Fees + Policies, Square ONE Frequently Asked Questions, and StarRez Frequently Asked Questions.

Square ONE | General Application

Applicants must be 18 years of age or older to participate in Square ONE workshops. Haystack accepts applicants based on a lottery system.

Square ONE is intended for those with a serious interest in learning a new process, practice, or media, including artists with a lifetime of experience in the arts. All Square ONE workshops are exclusively for beginner-level participants in the workshop in which they are placed. Participants with even limited experience are encouraged to apply for other workshops offered in sessions 1-6. Applicants with previous experience in the workshops provided should recognize that all instruction and activity will be presented at a beginner level.

Application is for an entire Square ONE session. When completing the application form, please indicate your choice of workshop. Due to the high volume of applications, not all applicants will be accepted.

SQUARE ONE
GENERAL APPLICATION

Application Opens: January 6, 2026
Application Closes: February 20, 2026

2026 Application Closed

Square ONE applications are submitted through StarRez, Haystack’s new application portal. We encourage all applicants to review the Fees + Policies, Square ONE Frequently Asked Questions, and StarRez Frequently Asked Questions.

Fees & Policies

Tuition, Room + Board

The table below covers the Tuition cost to attend Square ONE, as well as the housing options and associated cost.

Upon notification of acceptance into a workshop, a $300 non-refundable deposit is required by April 3, 2026, and will be applied to tuition, room, and board. The full balance of tuition, room, and board must be paid no later than 60 days prior to the start of a given session. Square ONE final balance is due May 6, 2026.

Meal costs are included in all Room & Board rates, including the Day Student rate—meals are never a separate or prorated cost. There are no exceptions.

Shop Fees

Square ONE participants will be charged one shop and materials fee based on the workshop they are taking. This Shop Fee will cover the cost of all materials and supplies used in your workshop. These costs are the financial responsibility of each participant.

Specific Shop Fees will be listed on each workshop’s student memo, which will be provided to participants by email at the time of notification. Estimated Shop Fees for this three-day workshop will range from $5 to $80.

Cancellation Policy

When planning and preparing for programs, Haystack devotes substantial time and resources, and vacancies can be difficult to fill.

All cancellations must be made in writing by email (no phone calls please) to registrar@haystack-mtn.org. The Square ONE cancellation deadline is May 6, 2026.

For cancellations received 60 days before the Square ONE session begins, a refund less the $300 non-refundable deposit will be issued. No refunds will be issued for cancellations less than 60 days before the start of the Square ONE session. 

In the event of any type of cancellation, Haystack is not responsible for refunding airline tickets or other travel costs. Applicants are encouraged to review the information about Travel Insurance.

Travel Insurance

Haystack has partnered with Travel Insured International to provide travel insurance coverage to interested participants. Haystack recommends that participants with concerns about refunds for cancellations or unforeseen disruptions to travel consider acquiring travel insurance coverage. For more information and plan information, please refer to Travel Insured International’s website.

Open Call Questions

Open Call is Haystack’s final round of enrollment for Square ONE. Not all accepted applicants from the initial application period are able to attend, creating openings in workshops. Please see the Open Call section under How to Apply for a list of workshop openings and information on how to submit an application.

There is no guarantee on which workshops will have open spaces. Some workshops will have multiple openings, some may have only one, and others will have none. The list of workshop openings will be updated throughout the summer.

On-campus housing is limited for Open Call. If accepted, we will do our best to accommodate housing requests; however it is not guaranteed. An overview of housing options on campus can be found on the Housing page.

Applications for Open Call are submitted through StarRez, Haystack’s new online portal.

• Navigate to StarRez

• Select Login if you have an existing StarRez account, or Create New Account if you do not

  • New users will need to complete their Profile prior to starting their application

  • Returning users may need to updated their Profile if they have not done so in the last 30-days

• Select Square ONE in the navigation menu

• Navigate down the page to the Square ONE | Open Call Application box and start your application

No. If you had already applied through the first round of applications and are interested in one of the workshop openings, please email to registrar directly: registrar@haystack-mtn.org.

This is no deadline for Open Call. Workshop openings are first come, first served until seats are filled.

You will receive a notification about the status of your application two (2) weeks from your submission date.

General Square ONE Questions

Anyone interested in Square ONE will need to submit an application. The initial round of applications are processed in a lottery.

Due to the quantity of applications, not everyone is accepted. However, not all accepted applicants are able to attend, creating openings in workshops. These open spaces are initially offered to individuals who applied and were not accepted. If there are still workshop openings after the outreach to existing applicants, we will offer the open workshop spaces through an Open Call application.

All applications for Square ONE are submitted online. The general application for Square ONE opened January 6, 2026 and closed February 20, 2026.

The Square ONE Open Call application is currently open. Please see the How to Apply section above for information to apply to Open Call.

Notifications about the status of your application will be shared March 27, 2026.

Open Call notifications will be sent two (2) weeks from your submission date.

No. Square ONE applications are processed through a lottery system. If you are interested in purchasing a workshop as a gift, the recipient would first have to apply and be accepted to the program. Upon their acceptance, you would be able to pay the program fee on their behalf.

No. You can only be enrolled in one workshop during the session.

Haystack has several housing options to meet different needs. An overview of Haystack’s housing options is available on the Housing page. If you have particular physical or mobility concerns, please note these on your application.

If you wish to room with a specific person during Square ONE, you both will need to provide this information in the “Roommate Request” question of your application. All other roommates are chosen at random.