Life is full of distractions. That’s why artists come to VCCA.
The solitary time artists receive at VCCA allows them to focus on their work without interruptions. A few weeks spent at VCCA often lead to more progress than months spent at home. The scenic outdoor views that surround VCCA’s two locations at Mt. San Angelo (Virginia) and Le Moulin à Nef (France) are relaxing and a top choice for many Fellows looking to make the most of any downtime they have.
In residencies ranging from one to six weeks, Fellows have the freedom to work individually and interact with 20+ writers, visual artists, and composers in residence. Returning and first-time Fellows combine to create a mutually supportive and inspiring community of peers.
Mt. San Angelo offers artists a private bedroom with private en-suite bath, a separate individual studio, and three meals each day, all within sight of the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains.
The time at VCCA provided me with the chance to dig deeply into a manuscript of poems by re-imagining and revising the project. This was my first residency ever! I now understand the impact of an expanse of time as well as space. I also loved being in the company of artists from around the country who work in a variety of disciplines. To hear about practice and process from playwrights, composers and visual artists truly informed my own work. Plus the food was great.
-Pamela Hart, writer
An immersive and life-changing opportunity.
Le Moulin à Nef, tucked away in the picturesque Gascon village of Auvillar on the left bank of the Garonne River, is on the pilgrimage route of Saint Jacques de Compostelle. Residences ranging from 10 days to six weeks are hosted in a quaint village where pilgrims wind their way past our facilities on their way to Santiago, Spain. The campus welcomes about 40 Fellows each year, with four Fellows in residence at any one time, working in private studios and enjoying a shared living experience.
My residency at Moulin à Nef was a truly transformative experience. The beauty and comfort of the studios and residence combined with the welcoming environment of Auvillar opened my ability to feel, to think, to write. In my new poems, there are the roses along the cobblestone streets, the eye in the wall on Rue Junca, the Garonne River, the egrets, the poplars and the cottonwood trees, and the market in Valence d’Agen.
-Jan Freeman, writer
