Homepage

MacDowell makes a place in the world for artists, because art makes the world a better place.

Scroll

Elevating Black Artists and Holding Ourselves Accountable

The time for American innocence has past, past time for indifferent callousness. Artists have been showing us the way. It’s time to heed them and the MacDowell community of artists who are continuing this work at this crucial time.

Holding Ourselves Accountable

Coronavirus/Pandemic Updates

A letter from our executive director in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and all related MacDowell postings online while we are temporarily closed.

Director's message and updates

Latest News + Events

Latest: Etheridge Knight’s Poetry Gives America the Truth of Being Black

“I died in Korea from a shrapnel wound, and narcotics resurrected me. I died in 1960 from a prison sentence and poetry brought me back to life.”

Alice Childress’ Plays Offer Indispensable Insight into Black Lives

“Any list of great American playwrights is incomplete without Alice Childress (65) — her cool eye saw deep into history, into the theater, into blackness, into whiteness,” writes MacDowell Fellow Helen Shaw (14) in a January 2020 essay for Vulture. Discover more about this pioneering American playwright.

Audre Lorde’s "Sister Outsider" As Relevant Today As Ever

Monday is the 36th anniversary of the publishing of Audre Lorde's Sister Outsider, a collection of 15 essays and speeches by the poet, essayist, and activist, written between 1976 and 1984.

Rosanne Cash Named 61st Edward MacDowell Medalist to be Honored in 2021

Composer-Performer Rosanne Cash will receive the 2021 Edward MacDowell Medal at a free public event at MacDowell's Peterborough, NH campus on August 8, 2021.

Latest: Nell Painter Recounts the Invasion of Coronavirus While Ensconced in Italy

Nell Painter (16, 19), visual artist, author, and MacDowell's new chair of the board was at Fondazione Bogliasco working on a new book when COVID-19 invaded Italy. This brief essay describes the experience and her self-examination as she and her husband eventually made their way back home.

New Comprehensive Artist Index

We list all Fellows from 1907 to the present in this comprehensive artist index. Try the search window to see who's been in residence at MacDowell.

Get to know 8,000+ artists

Find out who has gone through our community and how their artistic dreams and passion are being fulfilled.

Browse Artists

Artist Accolades

The writers, visual artists, composers, filmmakers, playwrights, interdisciplinary artists, and architects who have attended MacDowell have won:

91 Pulitzer
Prizes

844 Guggenheim
Fellowships

33 National
Book Awards

8 National
Medals for the Arts

32 MacArthur
Fellowships

109 Rome
Prizes

9 Academy
Awards

15 GRAMMY
Awards

31 Tony
Awards

A house of dreams untold – It looks out over the whispering treetops and faces the setting sun.

- Edward A. MacDowell

Apply

Our next application deadline is September 15, 2020 for winter-spring 2021 residencies. The application period opens on July 15.

Apply

Donate

MacDowell relies on the generosity of individuals and foundations
to provide vital support every year to more than 300 artists in seven disciplines.

Donate