Frequently Asked Questions

ABOUT THE RESIDENCY

  • After reviewing work samples, a panel of art, literary, and music professionals rate and rank the applicants based on the development or promise of a personal vision or voice.

  • Jentel averages around 350 applications for 66 residencies with additional partnership invitees.

  • May 15th - September 7th are the most heavily requested dates for a residency.

  • Since the privacy of the residents is foremost, views of the facilities from the office parking lot and visits with staff may be available Monday through Friday by appointment. Please contact the office ahead of time and we will do our best to accommodate you.

  • Collaborations may be accepted for a residency, and each artist needs to submit separate applications along with a joint proposal. Please indicate in the proposal the requirements for work space.

  • Couples may apply individually with the understanding that one partner may be accepted and the other may not.

  • All residencies are approximately three weeks long.  All residents arrive on the 15th of one month and all leave the morning of the 7th of the next month. No exceptions, please.

  • Six residents are on site each session from January 15th through December 7th.

  • Once a week, a staff member will drive residents into Sheridan to buy groceries and make coordinated stops for related errands during the town trip.  For residents wanting to explore the area or needing more frequent access to town, several national rental agencies offer vehicles at competitive prices by the day, weekend and week.

  • Residents are responsible for buying their own food and preparing their own meals.  A large pantry and two side by side refrigerator freezers provide ample room for storage.  A large, well designed kitchen is easy to use for individual or group meal preparation.

    A $100 weekly stipend is part of the residency award and helps to defray expenses related to food and other personal needs.

ACCOMMODATIONS

  • Please see our Facilities page.

  • Jentel is a low-tech and no-equipment residency.

  • Sculptors, ceramists, textile artists, and artists creating in media that are often heavily-based in equipment and technology with intensive studio support have all come to Jentel and had successful residencies. The residency opportunity is only limited by the imagination of the artist to use the unfettered time and space.

  • Residents are urged to bring an adequate stock of art materials and supplies for their session. If you need a tool or piece of equipment on a continual basis, you are expected to buy or bring your own.  Check with staff before proposing a project that requires bringing major equipment, since there may be matters related to noise, safety and ventilation to consider.

  • Two writer studios are cozy, comfortable carpeted spaces with limited WiFi internet access. They may never be used for art making. The other four studios are spacious, well lit and ventilated work spaces with limited WiFi. Residents use one dedicated studio for the duration of the residency. Your proposal should match your studio request.

  • Residents who bring their own computers may connect to our limited wifi for their creative work. As with most rural settings and understandably in the least populated state in the country, broadband internet is often slow. Streaming Netflix, Zoom calls, or streaming a favorite radio station further slows down and stops wifi access for all users. Give up any plan to stream or video conference call while in residence.

    Writers using electronic media to create their work need to bring their own hardware and software for use in the studio while at the residency. This includes a printer. Each writer’s studio can reach our limited wifi.

  • Jentel is located 20 miles southeast of Sheridan, WY.  The closest airport is in Sheridan (population approx. 20,000) with connections to Denver International Airport.  Residents may arrange for their travel from Montana and other Wyoming airports to Sheridan via bus and rental cars. Jentel staff will provide transportation to and from the Sheridan Airport and the Sheridan bus station.

EXPENSES

  • Residents are responsible for transportation to and from Sheridan and for transporting or shipping personal items, materials and equipment needed for creative work.  Residents also shop and prepare meals and purchase personal items. As part of the residency award, a $100 weekly stipend helps to defray some of these expenses.

  • Residents who need funding for travel, materials, supplies and/or at home expenses, are encouraged to research opportunities through state arts councils, local and regional foundations, related resources and some social media platforms.

  • The application fee is $30. It is nonrefundable and cannot be waived.

  • All residencies are approximately three weeks long.  All residents arrive on the 15th of one month and all leave the morning of the 7th of the next month. No exceptions, please.

  • Six residents are on site each session from January 15th through December 7th.

APPLICATION ELIGIBILITY + REQUIREMENTS

  • Creatives who reside within the state of Wyoming most of the year are eligible to use the application entitled ‘307 Resident Creative’.

  • Since Jentel already has a panel of jurors to review your work sample and to make recommendations for residency awards, select individuals who may address your ability to thrive in a small isolated community in a rural setting and be self directed as an individual in your work.  Jentel is located on a ranch twenty miles from town and your time is primarily unscheduled.

  • The individual should primarily address your interpersonal skills, self motivation and self direction.  Select people who know you, who have worked with you or who have had an opportunity to observe your life and/or work habits in a group setting or situations.  These individuals should know you well enough that they address these qualities and do so objectively.

  • Jentel awards residencies to artists, writers, and composers who are:

    • focused and serious about their intent

    • who may have proven themselves by publication, exhibition or performance

    • or who may not necessarily be well advanced in their work, but who have developed a personal vision or voice

    • anyone over 25 years of age who is a citizen of the United States is eligible to apply

    • those currently enrolled 9 hours or more (per semester) in academic programs are ineligible to apply.

  • Jentel welcomes applications from U.S. citizens wherever they may reside or roam.

  • Yes.  Only matriculated students with a course load of nine or more semester hours must wait until after they graduate to apply to Jentel.

    Additionally, those in post-doc fellowships are welcome to apply.

  • If your primary residence for the year you are applying to Jentel is in the U.S., we welcome your application. U.S. citizenship is not a requirement; only residence.

  • Artists who have applied previously may reapply by submitting a new application and new work.

    Previous residents may reapply for a residency after five years have lapsed, and must submit a new application with new work.

  • Residents commit to the arrival and departure schedule at Jentel for their residency. The applicant’s availability to use the scheduled time awarded is clearly a factor in finalizing residency invitations.  No exceptions, please.

  • Regrets. The Residence, studios and environs are reserved for residents.  However in the past, some residents have boarded their animals in Sheridan while at Jentel.  They also brought a vehicle to accommodate the 20 mile trip into town for visits.

    Jentel follows ADA guidelines for trained Service animals (dogs and mini horses). Trained Service animals are approved upon acceptance to the residency and submission of a signed contract. We are unable to accommodate support animals.

  • ArtistCommunities.org is your one-stop guide to artists’ residencies for visual artists, writers, composers, choreographers, scholars, filmmakers, community artists, architects, and more. The site provides residency information, upcoming application deadlines, and the latest job opportunities. Hundreds of residency programs, endless possibilities!

    www.artistcommunities.org

    The Wyoming Arts Council provides resources to sustain, promote, and cultivate the arts for the people of Wyoming.

    www.wyoarts.state.wy.us

    The State of Wyoming offers a variety of information for visitors.

    www.wyoming.gov

    Sheridan provides an informative website for planning any activity or event in the county.

    www.sheridanwyoming.org

    Yellowstone National Park is four hours west of Jentel.

    www.nps.gov/yell

    Let it rain. Let it snow. Let the sun shine bright. Use ‘82801’ to check weather conditions near Jentel.

    www.weather.com

    cowboystatedaily.com/category/daily-features/don-day-weather

Ready for an application? Check out the Apply page.

Jentel welcomes the participation of artists from all backgrounds and does not discriminate with regard to age, race, gender, sexual orientation, disability, religion, marital status, or nation of origin in its admission policies.

Still have a question? Send us a message.