Snow Farm

Snow Farm is located in Williamsburg on a somewhat secluded property in the middle of western Massachusetts. The campus has multiple studio buildings for different media including flame working, painting, printing, fibers, metal working and much more. Some of the buildings are old historical barns and houses that have been renovated to work as studios. As a person from Minnesota, its not often you get to see hundred-plus year old structures!

Snow Farm is chock full of classes and workshops throughout the year with a large diversity in media and skill levels. Between class sessions, they structure a few weeks of time where artist in residents can come use the studios for their personal making practice. There’s three of these times throughout the year and each residency is for one week. Artists can apply for more then one week. There is a residency fee based on which residency session the artist applies for as well as the housing chosen and length of stay. The residency fee does not include firing costs.

Artists must bring their own making materials such as glaze and clay. Some materials are available for purchase from Snow Farm. There is a nice looking soda/salt kiln, five electric kilns and three gas kilns as well as a raku kiln.

This residency is more structured as a making retreat. There are no responsibilities required from the residents and special requests can be discussed including assistance with firing. Snow Farm does want all residents to be self reliant however for their main making practice.

This would be a good residency for artist that do not do ceramics full time who are looking for a short time to get away and dedicate to making or finishing work. One week is not enough time for a full making cycle, but can be used to work through ideas in a new space or maybe be used to glaze/decorate and fire a kiln load of already bisqued pieces. It’s a peaceful area and the studios have nice equipment with friendly and welcoming staff on campus.

I visited during the winter residency session where there was only a flame working resident on campus. This was the first year they have offered the winter residency. I was impressed with how many classes and workshops they offer throughout the year and the scope of variety in skill level and media they offer. There’s is also quite a few established ceramicists in that area and often work with Snow Farm to teach workshops as well.