Sea Breeze Artist Residency
for writers and visual artists
Mission
Founded in the spring of 2023, the Sea Breeze Artist Residency was created to offer artists and writers an inspiring place to focus on their work. The residency honors Mary Newhouse, a passionate advocate for the arts and a devoted steward of Block Island’s natural beauty. Mary believed that individual creative endeavors have the power to make the world a better place, and her spirit continues to guide our mission.
The Residency on Block Island
The ten-day residency takes place at Sea Breeze on Block Island, just off the coast of Rhode Island. Known for its strong traditions of artistic support and environmental conservation, Block Island offers a unique and tranquil setting for creative practice. We host two sessions each year during the quieter seasons of May and October.
Each resident enjoys a private guest room. Visual artists are provided with a studio space, while writers may choose to work either at Sea Breeze or at the Island Free Library, one of the island’s year-round community hubs. Breakfast and a light lunch are provided daily. A bicycle, equipped with helmet and lock, is also available for residents to explore the island at their own pace.
An important part of this residency is fostering dialogue and connection within the Block Island community.
Our residents are invited to share their work and creative process through open studios, public talks, and other community-centered events, all free and open to the public. To help residents understand what makes Block Island so distinctive, we also organize special activities that introduce them to the island’s culture, history, and natural environment.
The residency is committed to supporting the local economy by partnering with island vendors and small businesses. Our public programs also help generate off-season activity, contributing to tourism during the shoulder months.
Resident-led workshops and classes provide students at the local Block Island School with valuable exposure to a wide range of contemporary artistic practices and creative approaches. Past initiatives have included artist talks, hands-on workshops, open studios, and other interactive events. Our mission is to foster meaningful connections between artists, writers, and the Block Island community while strengthening local engagement. To support this goal, the residency covers materials for public workshops, open studios, talks, Q&As, and school-based classes.
There will be two ten day sessions for 2026.
Spring Session: Thursday, April 30 - Sunday, May 10
Fall Session: Tuesday, October 13 - Thursday October 22
Applications will be accepted starting in early January, with a deadline in the beginning of March, and notifications sent out in early April.
please check back for more details, or email us to be added to our list
Artists working in all visual arts including painting, drawing, sculpture, printmaking, photography, and mixed media, are encouraged to apply. Writers in poetry, nonfiction, fiction, playwriting, and graphic forms are also welcome. For each ten-day session in 2026, one writer and one or two visual artists will be awarded residencies. A panel of jurors will review submitted work and make selections.
Visual Artist’s Guestroom and Workspace
For the visual artist residency, a private guestroom and bathroom, plus a studio workspace is provided. Breakfast and lunch are included. The studio on-site is a 14x14 foot room, with a 3x6 foot work table and large wall spaces. Please note: there is no sink access in this studio. There is access right outside the studio to a hose and bucket. There is another smaller studio space available right down the street, at the Spring Street Gallery, a 5 minute walk.
Writer’s Guestroom and Workspace
For the writer residency, a private guestroom and bathroom is provided, with a table and chair for writing. Breakfast and lunch are included. Please note: we do not have wifi available at our location. You can use your hotspot in the guestroom, or there is the option to work at our local Library, which has free wifi.
FAQs
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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/
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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.
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Artists and writers are selected through an application process by a diverse jury of professionals. Quality of work is the primary criterion for selection.
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Bring warm clothes to layer, a waterproof outer layer, and waterproof shoes. Weather can be unpredictable during the off-season, and often is different than the mainland. We are located right on the coast, and winds can be strong at our location. We recommend you check the weather report for the island before your stay.
Please plan to bring all of your writing and art supplies and materials needed to generate your work during your residency. If needed, please bring a hotspot for wifi. The island has very limited resources.
We provide all of the following as part of our service to our guests : linens, towels, beach towels, irons, hairdryers, bath amenities (soap, shampoo, conditioner). Daily housecleaning is also provided.
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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 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.
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The Sea Breeze residency provides your breakfast and lunch every day. Each morning, breakfast is delivered to your room. A light lunch will also be prepared for you to pick up. There are no cooking or grilling facilities available on the property, and no access to a refrigerator. The residents are responsible for their own dinner meals. A small stipend is provided to help cover costs of meals out while on the island. Several restaurants are open during the off-season, within walking distance. Because everything has to be transported to the island the cost of food is higher than on the mainland. If you have specific dietary needs or allergies, please let us know in advance.
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The average temperature is in the 50’s F during the off season in May and October. Typically the island runs 10 degrees cooler than the mainland and New England area. Expect a variety of Rhode Island coastal weather: sunshine, cold temperatures, rain, fog, and wind. Be prepared for it all.
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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.
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Yes, cell phones work fine. Service can be intermittent on the island at times. We recommend bringing a hot spot if you have one. We do not have WiFi at our location. The best free WiFi service is at The Island Free Library, a short 10 minute walk from Sea Breeze. https://islandfreelibrary.org/
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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.
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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. Thanks for your understanding.
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Yes, thank you ! We accept donations of any amount, to help us cover the full cost of the residency. The Sea Breeze Residency covers all juror application and advertising fees, plus staff, lodging and food expenses. See below for more details, or contact us by email. To make non-profit donations, please connect with our island community at Block Island Arts Council here: BIAC
Every little bit helps us all, and we are grateful.
**All donor’s names will be displayed on our website.
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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 a message, if we are unable to pick-up. Our mailing address is: Sea Breeze, PO Box 141, Block Island, RI 02807
If you would like to be added to our mailing list, please email us: contact@seabreezeblockisland.com
Writers
Writers may apply in the following fields : Poetry - Fiction - Non-fiction - Playwriting - Graphic
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Work sample. Please submit your work sample in manuscript format, double-spaced, 12 point font. Please submit no more than a maximum of 10 pages. Can be work-in-progress, published pieces, excerpts, or a selection of short works. Work samples completed within the past four years are required.
Statement. On a single page, in 12 point font, tell us about your work and explain any contexts for the work you feel are important. We would like to know what you plan to focus on while in residence at Sea Breeze. We hope to get an understanding of who you are as a writer, your creative process, and how the residency can positively impact your own writing practice.
Biography. On one page in 12 point font, please include any relevant educational background, professional experience, and any accomplishments to date. Please include a link to your website, if you have one.
Artists
Visual artists may apply in the following fields : Drawing - Painting - Sculpture - Photography - Mixed media
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Images. You can submit up to 8 jpegs maximum of individual works. Please identify each image by title, year, medium, and dimensions. Work samples completed within the last 4 years are required.
Statement. On a single page, in 12 point font, tell us about your work, and what you plan to focus on while in residence at Sea Breeze. We hope to get an understanding of who you are as an artist, your creative process, and how the residency can positively impact your work.
Biography. On one page, in 12 point font, please include your educational background, professional experience, and any accomplishments to date. Please include a link to your website, or social media account, as applicable.
Meet the Team
Co-founder - Sea Breeze Artist Residency
HELP US WITH A DonatION
Your donation will assist us in providing this unique opportunity for artists to work without interruption in a supportive environment. Click the link below to donate now. By supporting the Sea Breeze Artist Residency, you are part of the creative process, and help make the world a better place.
You can also make a donation to: The Block Island Arts Council.
BIAC is a non-profit community building organization, connecting artists on the island. Visit them here @BIAC
a big Thank you to our donors AND SPONSORS!!
Terri Chegwidden Nate Casto Austin Thomas David Sanders
Marsha Norman Sue and Phil Knoll
Sue Brown Black Leigh Klonsky Sharon Lehman Renee Meyer
Lazy Fish Island Free Library Island Bound Bookstore Persephone’s
Block Island Arts Council Bodhi’s Bees The Roosa Fund
Block Island Arts and Crafts Guild Block Island Tourism Council Spring Street Gallery
Virginica’s