MARS Residency
In Mineral, Out of this World!
Residency
During fall 2026, we’ll host one one-week and two two-week residency sessions. We’ll host six artists at a time, plus two artist hosts. Applications for fall open up on July 3, 2026 and close August 1, 2026.
Fall 2026 Residencies
Residency sessions will be held during the following time periods:
9/19-9/27 — Alumni
10/11-10/25 — All genres
11/8-11/22 — All genres
Residency Details
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During each residency, six residents and two hosts will have their own bedroom in the Mineral Lake Lodge, as well as access to common spaces (kitchen, outdoor wraparound porch, dry sauna, grounds along the lake). Four resident bedrooms have ensuite bathrooms, and two resident bedrooms share a hall bathroom. Breakfast and lunch will be delivered to the lodge each morning, and dinner for all will be served nightly at the church (a 0.7-mile walk or drive from the lodge).
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We provide accepted applicants with space and time to create new work without the interruptions of normal life and with the bonus of three healthy meals daily as well as 24-7 access to coffee/tea and snacks. We survey all incoming artists about food allergies and preferences and we can accommodate most food challenges, while also incorporating where possible favorite cuisines, dishes, and desserts.
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Mineral features a swimmable fishing lake, a tavern, the historic bed & breakfast, a general store, one church, many free-range deer, a post office, and some facilities owned by the Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad. It’s a 25-minute drive to the Ashford/Nisqually entrance to Mt. Rainier National Park. The YMCA of Seattle-King County is working on their first new kids’ camp in a century right down the street from the lodge, and we are free to walk on its trails above Mineral Lake.
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The Mineral Lake Lodge guest rooms where artists will stay in fall 2026 are on the second and third floors of the building, and are thus not accessible due to stairs. The church building is wheelchair accessible, and the lodge’s conference center building is wheelchair accessible. We are working on locating additional alternative accessible lodging options for 2027 and beyond.
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During each residency, we host free visiting artist presentations open to the public. These events are typically held after dinner and are dessert potlucks. Additionally, during each residency period we hold a resident “Show & Tell” — this is not mandatory, but it’s a fun way to share new work with the community and gather feedback from fresh eyes and ears.
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You can apply to residency via the Submittable link here. We will hold a call for fall 2026, and a separate call for spring 2027. At this time, we do not have application fee waivers. Funds from application fees pay jurors to review applications name-blind, and go toward Submittable’s four-figure annual fee, so application fees and our fundraising carry these costs.
Why A Residency?
Residency can be a breakthrough time for a creative person — unstructured free time, without distractions and duties of normal life, can lead to epiphanies and intense productivity. The time can allow a too-busy person to take a necessary breath, to experiment with new forms, and to indulge in the kind of creative loafing that leads to the best artistic decision-making. Residency also broadens creative community, and many residents maintain fulfilling artistic friendships or launch artistic collaborations after they go home.
Read what former resident Donna Miscolta (’18) has to say about her experience
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“The most magical part of my 2015 was the two weeks in July that I spent at the Mineral School writing residency. I didn’t have to cook. My phone didn’t get reception and the Wi-Fi access was limited, allowing me to disconnect from the outside world. My only responsibility during that time was to revise my memoir. It was glorious…. I wrote 23,999 new words, plus a synopsis for another book.”
— Stephanie Kuehnert, Seattle-based fiction and creative nonfiction author of Pieces of A Girl (Dutton, 2024), I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone and Ballads of Suburbia [Editor’s note: We now have building-wide Wi-fi at 40 mbps or faster upload/download speed.]
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“I accomplished more on my Daughters manuscript in two weeks at Mineral School than I have in the three years since I started it – more than doubling the number of poems in my time there. From the time I received my acceptance until the day I left Mineral School at the end of my residency, I felt valued and cared for. From the space and solitude of the classroom, to the rich history of the town, to the gorgeous setting of Mt. Rainier, to the volunteer staff, to my amazing, talented, and kind cohort, to the intimate and fascinating conversations over meals and adventures, I felt completely at home. I cannot remember the last time I was so happy and content. So thank you. Never before in my writing life had I had an opportunity to dedicate myself to my work for two whole weeks. My time at Mineral School is one of the biggest and most important gifts I have ever received.”
— Brittney Corrigan, poet, Portland, OR
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“I was lucky enough to spend time at the Mineral School twice. First, during a parents-specific week supported through the Sustainable Arts Foundation, where I mapped out a detailed outline for my book, Starry Field: A Memoir of Lost History, and again three years later, when I finished up my book proposal, which was sold to Melville House. Mineral School was my first residency—a revelatory experience where I could devote all my energy to my writing without the demands of caregiving. I have also made lifelong friends there, including the cook during my first stay, Tessa Hulls, whose graphic novel published on the same day as mine!”
— Margaret Juhae Lee, nonfiction, Oakland, CA
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“This residency encouraged us to work hard but also to find time to connect as a community. I loved the no-pressure attitude which felt very permissive. Meals were offered on a schedule and so we generally saw each other during those times. I felt much more supported at this residency than at others in the past.”
— Elise Morris, visual artist, Oakland, CA
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“I still look back on my two weeks in Mineral as the most productive ‘six months’ I’ve ever had.”
— Janine Kovac, memoirist, San Francisco
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“Mineral School was a gift of time and space I did not realize how badly I needed. As a working mother, to attend to nothing but my writing benefited my work and me tremendously. I have been incorporating these lessons in daily life in order to nurture that sacred space. Within a few months after residency, I completed a draft of my manuscript. I also left with incredible friendships. I cannot thank Mineral School enough for one of my most powerful experiences as a writer.”
— Supriya Lopez Pillai, fiction, Oakland, CA
