Caldera's Spring Artists in Residence Program

Caldera's mission is to inspire and support youth from historically underserved urban and rural communities by awakening the potential of their creative voice. Through our residency programs, Caldera supports artists, creatives, and cultural workers to build skills, relationships, and projects that inspire growth, combat oppression, and activate change. Residents draw inspiration from the residency community and the natural world surrounding Caldera in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains.

Our newly launched fee based residency is open to U.S.-based creatives and cultural workers in any discipline. Artists at any stage of their careers are eligible to apply. (Caldera will continue to offer a stipend residency geared to artists from historically underrepresented populations, and applications for that program are invited late spring/summer.) Revenue from the fee based residency supports our other AiR and youth programming.

Our fee for the 12-day residency is $1800.

Residents will receive private lodging, studio space, and both a welcome and farewell community dinner prepared by local chefs. Please note: transportation to and from the residency site is not provided by Caldera.

Each of our A frame cabins can accommodate up to 4 guests. If you would like to apply as a collaboration the fee will be $1800 + $300 for each additional collaborator. Note: we will need to evaluate the available studio space when adding artists.

Fee for the 12-day residency is $1800. Payment schedule available.

• $25 due with application (non refundable)
• $1000 due 30 days prior to your arrival
• $775 due 10 days prior to your arrival (credit applied for registration fee)

LOCATION. The Caldera Sisters campus is located at an altitude of 3,500 feet in the eastern foothills of the Cascade Mountains. We sit on the shores of Blue Lake, one of the deepest lakes in Oregon, among 119 acres of ponderosa pine and Douglas fir, surrounded by Deschutes National Forest. By design, residents form a small community of 5–10 artists. Collaboration, community building, and exchange are encouraged. 

Residents are given 24-hour access to all facilities and the time and space to create. All residents have access to the Hearth Building including the Library common areas with fireplaces, A/V systems, and a well-equipped commercial kitchen. Residency periods are in spring, fall and winter when weather is variable in the Cascades. Due to our rural location, applicants should be comfortable with a high degree of solitude and disconnection from the outside world. The closest town, Sisters, is 25 minutes away by car.

Additional elements that applicants should be aware of:

• There is little to no cell service at Caldera. Dependable service is a 20-minute drive away in Sisters. A landline phone is available for emergency calls.
• Commercial Satellite Wi-Fi is available throughout the Hearth Building, Studios, and Cabins. Due to our rural location, there are times when it can be slow or unreliable.
• We regret that pets are not allowed at this time.

Accessibility. Caldera’s Studios and the Hearth Building are ADA accessible however, our cabins are not. Winter weather including ice and snow on the ground and walkways also impacts accessibility at our facility. Please contact us directly with specific questions or provide information about your needs in your application.

Accommodations. Residents are provided a private A-frame cabin with a sleeping loft, living room/work area, kitchenette, bathroom with shower, and a porch overlooking the creek. Wireless internet is available in all cabins. Cabin kitchens have a coffee pot, coffee bean grinder and French press, two-burner stove, toaster oven, Instant Pot, microwave, small refrigerator, dishes, and pots and pans. Cabins are heated by electric heat and wood stoves (wood provided). Linens and towels are provided.

Studio Space. Writers and others not needing an expansive workspace are often not officially assigned studio space if they can work in their A-frame cabins, which contain a table and living area. Performing artists work in the Hearth Building Grand Room, which is a large, light-filled semi-private space with a sprung wood floor, audio/visual system, and lighting system. The main floor area is 65′ x 40′ and the stage is 24′ x 20'. Visual artists work in one of Caldera’s two studios which feature natural light and large white walls:

• The Campbell Studio is a studio for visual artists of all kinds. One side of Campbell Studio has two electric kilns, a slab roller, a pottery wheel, drying shelves, a work table, sink, and counter; the other side has large walls, a work table, a large and small sink, and counters. The main floor is 42′ x 27′. This studio also has an 18′ x 26′ loft for additional workspace.
• The Photo Studio has large walls, a sink, counter, work table, a darkroom with related equipment, and an etching press. The main floor is 48′ x 26′. This studio also has a 10′ x 18′ loft for additional workspace.

 Artists should be able to practice their work independently without Caldera or artist assistance and provide their own materials and tools.  

Meals. A welcome dinner will be provided the second night of your residency and a community farewell dinner prepared by well-known local chefs. Residents will provide all other food. Caldera staff will provide one scheduled trip to the grocery store, during your stay. There are  transportation companies available for hire for additional needs.

Equipment. Caldera’s visual arts studios include some equipment that is available for residents including: two kilns, a pottery wheel, a slab roller, drying shelves, a darkroom, a projector, and an etching press. Our performing arts studio includes a full audio/visual system with microphones and large screen projection, and a lighting system. Extra tables and chairs are also available for residents if needed.

Residents provide all other tools and materials.

Cancellation and Refund Policy

Please note that our cancellation policy is in place because residencies are carefully scheduled and reserved in advance. Last-minute cancellations make it difficult for staff to offer the opportunity to another artist, as residencies require significant preparation and coordination. We understand that unexpected circumstances may arise, and we appreciate your understanding that cancellations impact both our operations and other artists waiting for a chance to attend.

• Cancellation 46–60 days before residency start date: 75% of fee refunded (minus deposit)
• Cancellation 15–45 days before residency start date: 50% of fee refunded (minus deposit)
• Cancellation 0–14 days before start date: no refund

We are asking for information on you and your practice. This will help us confirm we have adequate studio space for each session. We also like to get to know you before you arrive.

Please view Caldera and your accommodations here.

  We look forward to hosting you for this year's Artists in Residence.

 If you have any questions about the program or application process please email us at air@caldera.org

Caldera's Artists in Residence Program:  Golden Spot

Caldera's mission is to inspire and support youth from historically underserved urban and rural communities by awakening the potential of their creative voice. Our residency program supports the mission by showcasing diverse adult learners with a regular creative practice and sometimes connects artist residents with Caldera youth for direct instruction. Through our residency program, Caldera supports Oregon visual artists to build skills, relationships, and projects that inspire growth, combat oppression, and activate change. Residents draw inspiration from the residency community and the natural world surrounding Caldera in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains.

As part of our commitment to strengthening Oregon's creative ecosystem, the Golden Spot residency is designed to support established, Oregon-based visual artists. Eligibility is limited to Oregon residents whose primary creative practice is in any visual art except film, video, or animation that is intended to be viewed by streaming/online audiences. Residencies are also available for parent artists who would like to bring their children.

Residents will receive private lodging, studio space, and an artist stipend. Please note: transportation to and from the residency site is not provided by Caldera.

AIR PRIORITIES – PLEASE READ THOROUGHLY BEFORE APPLYING

Caldera has identified the following priorities for our AiR Program, and selection is made with these in mind:

• Oregon-based visual artists who identify as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, or People of Color). Caldera's goal for 2026 is for BIPOC artists to comprise 90% of residents.
• Female-identifying and LGBTQIA+ visual artists.
• Visual artists advancing cultural and social change through their work.
• Visual artists who have experience working with and teaching racially and ethnically diverse groups of young people. Teaching artist applicants are invited to propose workshops, skill-share sessions, and/or other public engagements during their residency.
• Parents, particularly parents of color, are invited to apply (see details below).

Thanks to a grant from the Ford Family Foundation, Caldera is able to offer this residency to those who qualify.

The Ford Family Foundation Visual Arts Program supports artists that:

• are practicing visual artists currently producing works of contemporary fine art and craft. The Foundation recognizes a broad array of contemporary visual arts practices. Specifically, applications to this program are accepted for visual arts work that is intended to be experienced in an installation-based setting, as opposed to a theater, streamed/web-based, or socially embedded projects;
• are full-time residents of Oregon for at least 36 months prior to the application deadline and those that remain a resident through the duration of the grant period;
• maintain Oregon as their primary residence if they participate in an out-of-state residency program;
• provide evidence, through appropriate documentation, of five (5) or more years of active professional participation in their medium; and
• are not enrolled in a degree-seeking program, either part time or full time, at the time of application or during the successive grant period. 

STIPENDS Stipend amounts vary based on funding available in a given year, but on average range from $700–$1,200. Collaborative groups typically split the stipend. Artists must have U.S. work authorization in order to receive the stipend. 

LOCATION The Caldera Sisters campus is located at an altitude of 3,500 feet in the eastern foothills of the Cascade Mountains. We sit on the shores of Blue Lake, one of the deepest lakes in Oregon, among 120 acres of ponderosa pine and Douglas fir, surrounded by Deschutes National Forest.

By design, residents form a small community of 5–10 artists. Collaboration, community building, and exchange are encouraged.

Residents are given 24-hour access to all facilities and the time and space to create. All residents have access to the Hearth Building, including the Library common areas with fireplaces, A/V systems, and a well-equipped commercial kitchen.

Residency periods are held in winter and early spring when weather is variable in the Cascades. Applicants should prepare for up to four feet of snow on the ground, heavy snowfall, rain, and temperatures ranging from the 50s to the teens. Due to our rural location, applicants should be comfortable with a high degree of solitude and disconnection from the outside world. The closest town, Sisters, is 25 minutes away by car.

Additional elements that applicants should be aware of:

• There is little to no cell service at Caldera. Dependable service is available about 20 minutes away in Sisters. A landline phone is available for emergency calls.
• Commercial satellite Wi-Fi is available throughout the Hearth Building, Tamarack Hall, studios, and cabins. Due to our rural location, there are times when service may be slow or unreliable.
• We regret that pets are not allowed at this time.
• We are a child-friendly residency and welcome children as part of our residency community. Applicants should be comfortable with children in shared common areas, at weekly shared dinners, and at other gatherings.
• Overnight guests are generally not allowed. Accommodations for visitors are available in the local area and range from 2–16 miles from Caldera. Exceptions are made for parent artists who may have their children and a caretaker stay overnight in their cabin, and for artists being dropped off on the first night of the residency.

ACCESSIBILITY Caldera's studios and the Hearth Building are ADA accessible; however, our cabins are not. Winter weather, including ice and snow on the ground and walkways, may also impact accessibility at our facility. Please contact us directly with specific questions or provide information about your accessibility needs in your application.

ACCOMMODATIONS Residents are provided a private A-frame cabin with a sleeping loft, living room/work area, kitchenette, bathroom with shower, and a porch overlooking the creek. Wireless internet is available in all cabins.

Cabin kitchens include a coffee pot, two-burner stove, toaster oven, Instant Pot, microwave, small refrigerator, dishes, pots, and pans.

Cabins are heated by electric heat and wood stoves (wood provided). Linens and towels are provided.

STUDIO SPACE Visual artists work in one of Caldera's two studios, both of which feature natural light and large white walls.

• Campbell Studio The Campbell Studio is designed for visual artists of all kinds. One side of the studio includes two electric kilns, a slab roller, a pottery wheel, drying shelves, a work table, sink, and counter. The other side includes large walls, a work table, large and small sinks, and counters. The main floor is 42' x 27'. The studio also includes an 18' x 26' loft for additional workspace.
• Photo Studio The Photo Studio includes large walls, a sink, counter, work table, darkroom with related equipment, and an etching press.The main floor is 48' x 26'. The studio also includes a 10' x 18' loft for additional workspace.

Artists should be able to practice independently without assistance from Caldera staff or other artists and should provide their own materials and tools.

MEALS A welcome lunch will be provided for all residents following a mandatory orientation. Residents are responsible for all other meals. Caldera staff provide scheduled trips to the grocery store, approximately once per week. Transportation services are also available for hire.

EQUIPMENT Caldera's visual arts studios include equipment available for resident use, including two kilns, a pottery wheel, a slab roller, drying shelves, a darkroom, a projector, and an etching press. Extra tables and chairs are also available if needed.

Residents provide all other tools and materials.

PARENT ARTISTS Offering residencies that welcome children to attend with their parent(s) is a natural extension of our mission, and we honor children as part of our residency community.

Parent artists are welcome to attend with their children and a caretaker. Children and caretakers may come and go from Caldera as needed.

Artists in residence should plan to reside at Caldera for the entire duration of the residency.

Caldera does not provide childcare.

Caldera has two pack-and-plays, two high chairs, baby gates, and outlet covers available for families to use in their cabin and/or studio upon request.

We are located in a rural area in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains, and travel can be difficult in winter due to the amount of snow we receive. That said, the snow provides many opportunities for outdoor fun for children, including sledding, snowshoeing, and building forts.

We are approximately 25 minutes from Sisters, the nearest town.

If you have questions about the program or application process, please email us at AiR@Caldera.org.