Arbutus Folk School offers one-year residencies for Olympia-area artists to gain professional skills, build up their body of work, and develop their craft through access to space, equipment, and an artistic community. This is an unpaid, volunteer-exchange program operating on a rolling basis. Artists in Residence support our operations, have 24/7 access to our downtown Olympia facility, and have the opportunity to create on-site exhibitions, events, and sales to showcase their work to the public.
Current residency opportunities at Arbutus Folk School are focused in ceramics, woodworking, and fiber arts. All interested artists over the age of 18 are eligible and highly encouraged to apply to our residency programs. We prioritize applications from BIPOC and LGBTQ artists, along with artists who have limited access to studio space and equipment. Reach out to our staff with questions and curiosity at info@arbutusfolkschool.org.
Please note that artists in residence use our fully-equipped school facilities as their work-space and must share these spaces with ongoing class schedules. This is a work-exchange model in which the resident artist is expected to contribute to the operations of the school as a part of their residency experience. Resident artists should expect to spend a minimum of 15 hours per week on-site, from art-making to organizational support. Please also note that our facilities include areas only accessible by stairs/non-ADA ramp, and that resident artists may at times be using ladders and lifting weights of 50 pounds (boxes of clay) or more (buckets of clay slop).
2026 Residency Applications have Closed.
Sample Timeline
September: applications open
October: deadline to submit applications
October-November: review of applications, interviews
November: selected artists are notified
Residency dates: January through December
To Apply:
- Review residency agreement and expectations – sample document here.
- Complete the application (opening September 2026)
Selection criteria include artistic skills and commitment to creative practice, availability to meet expectations for the position, and positive, collaborative working style. Questions: info@arbutusfolkschool.org
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