The year-round ferry leaves from Pt. Judith, R.I. The closest Amtrak station is Kingston, RI. Taxi or Uber can be arranged from Kingston to Pt Judith. Passenger-only ferry tickets do not need to be booked in advance. There is parking available near the ferry (fees do apply).

Ferry schedules: https://www.blockislandferry.com/point-judith/

There is a $35 application fee that is non-refundable. The residency is free to attend. We provide a private guestroom with private bathroom. Breakfast and lunch are provided. We provide the artists with a studio space. We also provide a bike, with helmet and lock. We offer a small stipend, to help support living expenses and meals out while on the island. We do not cover any travel expenses.

The Sea Breeze Artist and Writer Residency is committed to using a diverse, rotating jury composed of the following: past residents, members of the island community, professional artists, writers, editors, and educators. Applications undergo a careful and thorough review process, evaluated according to multiple criteria to ensure a fair selection. Applicants are also required to submit a statement outlining their intentions for the residency, along with proposed projects for the community.

Please bring warm, layer-able clothing, a waterproof outer layer, and waterproof shoes. Weather during the off-season can be unpredictable, and often differs from conditions on the mainland. Since we are located directly on the coast, expect some strong winds. We recommend checking the island’s weather forecast prior to your stay.

Residents should plan to bring all writing and art supplies and materials needed to create their work during the residency, the island has very limited resources.

If internet access is desired, please bring a personal hotspot, as Wi-Fi is not available on site, or use the free Wi-Fi at the Island Free Library.

We provide the following amenities for our guests: all linens, towels, beach towels, irons, hairdryers, and bath amenities (soap, shampoo, and conditioner). Daily housekeeping service is also included.

Yes!
This ten-day residency is designed to be an outstanding opportunity for personal artistic growth.

We also aim to foster meaningful connections with the local community. We host one event that is free and open to the public during each residency. We ask each resident to prepare a 10-15 minute talk for this event.

Because growing up on a small island offers a unique perspective, we want to give local students the chance to be inspired by the experiences and work of our visiting artists and writers. To support this, we ask each resident to visit the local school and lead one workshop or class.

Finally, residents are asked to prepare a small open-studio exhibition near the end of their stay.

Sea Breeze Residency provides breakfast and lunch daily. Breakfast is delivered to your room each morning at 8:30am, and a light lunch is prepared for pickup at 1pm. Please note that there are no cooking or grilling facilities on the property, and residents do not have access to a refrigerator. Dinner is the responsibility of each resident.

A small stipend is provided to help offset the cost of dining out on the island. We encourage residents to support local businesses, as dining out also offers opportunities to connect with the community. Several restaurants remain open during the off-season and are within walking distance. Because all goods must be transported to the island, food costs are higher than on the mainland.

If you have specific dietary needs or allergies, please inform us in advance so we can accommodate you as best as possible.

During the months of May and October, average temperatures are in the mid-50s °F (approximately 10–13 °C). Expect a range of Rhode Island coastal weather, including sunshine, cool temperatures, rain, fog, and strong winds. Be prepared for it all.

A car is not necessary on the island. Block Island is small, 7 miles long and 3 miles wide. We are conveniently located within a 10 minute walk to the main town, Old Harbor, the ferry, restaurants, and shops. We provide a beach cruiser bike to use during your stay, which is a great way to explore the island. Taxis are also available, and we are happy to arrange this for you. If you want to bring your car, please note that all cars require advance reservations on the ferry, and these book up quickly, even off-season.

Cell phone service works at our location; however, coverage can be intermittent in more remote areas of the island. We recommend bringing a personal hotspot if you have one, as Wi-Fi is not available on site. The best free Wi-Fi access is available at the Island Free Library, located just a ten-minute walk from Sea Breeze: https://islandfreelibrary.org/

The residency program is designed to provide uninterrupted time away from other obligations, therefore we cannot accommodate any extra guests during the residency. We cannot accommodate any pets. No smoking is allowed in the guestrooms, on the property, or in the studios.

We understand that circumstances may change. If you need to cancel your residency, we require a 15 day notice from the start of the session. This would give us enough time to reach out to someone else.

Yes, thank you! For all non-profit donations, in any amount, please connect with our sponsor the Block Island Arts Council here: BIAC‍ Block Island Arts Council is a registered 501c3 organization dedicated to fostering the arts on Block Island.

Every little bit helps, and we are grateful.

The best fastest way to reach us is via email. Please email us at: contact@seabreezeblockisland.com If you prefer to reach us via phone, our number is (401) 466-2275. Please leave us a message, if we are unable to pick-up. Our mailing address is: Sea Breeze, PO Box 141, Block Island, RI 02807