Trail Wood Sanctuary Artist-in-Residence Program

Established in 2012, the Edwin Way Teale Artist-in-Residence Program invites writers and visual artists to spend a week of creative solitude at Trail Wood, the former home of Pulitzer Prize–winning naturalist, writer, and photographer Edwin Way Teale and his wife and collaborator, Nellie Donovan Teale.
Artists in residence are encouraged to pursue work inspired by Trail Wood’s natural beauty and its deep legacy in American nature writing. Residents have access to Edwin’s Study in the main house, maintained as it was at the time of his death in 1980, as well as his rustic Writing Cabin.
Residencies are offered over six weeks in July and August, with placements for three writers and three visual artists. Applications are accepted from early January through March 1. Residents are selected through a juried process, and all applicants are notified by mid-April.
A $25 application fee is required. Accepted residents are asked to make a $100 donation to help offset the costs of maintaining the Teales’ historic 1806 farmhouse.

Following the residency, participants are expected to take part in two events: Trail Wood Under the Harvest Moon, a September fundraising event featuring readings or presentations of work in progress, and the Trail Wood Reflections Annual Writers & Artists Exhibition, held at Connecticut Audubon’s Center at Pomfret from late January through March.
To see examples of past work inspired by Trail Wood, explore Trail Wood Reflections, available in PDF and paperback at the Center at Pomfret.