Facility

Located in the Cane Ridge area of Nashville, TN, and adjoining the Rabbit Room’s Northwind Manor property, West Kilns is a single-family home converted into a retreat space for artists. The two-story house has 3 bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms, so each artist-in-residence will enjoy their own private bedroom and bath.

Communal spaces include two living room areas (upstairs and down), a full kitchen, dining area, laundry room, and covered patio and outdoor spaces in the backyard. A piano and an acoustic guitar are available downstairs.

From the back yard of West Kilns, the Rabbit Room's Northwind Manor is easily accessible via a short footpath through the wood, and resident artists are encouraged to avail themselves of the various opportunities for fellowship there, as well as to utilize Northwind workspaces during appropriate hours. Local amenities such as grocery stores and restaurants are available within a few minutes drive, and grocery delivery is also an option.

Program Benefits

• Dedicated time and space to focus on the completion of a significant step in a creative project.

• Opportunity to engage with other local, national, and international artists within the Rabbit Room community and throughout Nashville, TN.

• Integration of artists into the ongoing life of The Rabbit Room, potentially including opportunities to perform, give a talk or a reading, exhibit art, etc. during their West Kilns residency. Such possibilities will be covered in the application process.

• Mentoring. When requested and appropriate we will seek to match younger or less established artists with a more-established mentor in their field who is willing to meet and consult with them during their residency.

West Kilns FAQ

How much does a West Kilns residency cost?

Those who are awarded a residency, need pay nothing. The program is offered free-of-charge as a gift to the participating artists. However, participants are responsible for their own food and transportation costs during a residency.

There are also limited grant monies available through The Rabbit Room awarded on a case-by-case basis. These might be used to cover travel and expenses, or to offset costs associated with a particular creative project. Request for any additional Rabbit Room grant monies can be made in the residency application.

How Long are Rabbit Room Artist Residencies at West Kilns?

Residency lengths generally vary from 1 week to a full term (about 10 weeks). Longer or shorter residency requests will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Applicants request their choice of term, duration, and any specific date ranges that could work for them.

Residency Terms:

Winter Term: January 2 - March 15

Spring Term: April 1 - May 15

Summer Term: June 1 - August 15

Fall I Term: September 1 - September 30

Fall II Term: October 15 - December 15

Can I apply for multiple possible residency dates?

Yes! We encourage applicants to list all workable dates as possibilities, noting them in order of preference. The more flexibility you have in scheduling, the greater the chance we can fit you in somewhere.

How are applicants selected for residencies?

An anonymous committee will review and consider each application based on multiple criteria, including the proposed project, the applicant’s CV, and scheduling and various other considerations. Award recipients will be expected to accept or decline the offer within two weeks of notification.

My project is collaborative. Can my collaborator(s) and I apply as a team?

Definitely. You should fill out one joint application, but detail the nature of the collaboration, and include relevant links to each of your portfolios or work samples.

If I’m accepted for a residency, can my spouse join me?

Not always, but in many cases accommodation for spouses can be made—especially if we can host you during a time when other artists would also have their spouses present. You will have the opportunity to make such request in your application.

If I’m accepted for a residency, can my kid(s) join me?

Generally not. We find this dynamic can be too disruptive for other artists who might need more quiet and solitude for their productivity. If your family circumstances are such that you think an exception is warranted, feel free to proceed with your application, being mindful to communicate any pertinent details about your situation.

Can I Bring my Pet to West Kilns?

No. For multiple reasons including potential allergies of other residents, your pet cannot be accommodated at West Kilns. If you have a necessary service animal, the program coordinators will seek to accommodate your needs during a time when other artists present would not be adversely affected.

Is There Parking Space at West Kilns?

Yes, the house has a driveway as well as curbside street parking.

Is the area around West Kilns walkable?

Northwind Manor is a short walk from West Kilns. Groceries and restaurants are not. While food delivery is available from local stores and restaurants, it is recommended that residents have access to a car. For those that don’t, Uber and Lyft services are generally available in the area.

I’m Not From the United States. Can I Still Apply?

Please do! The Artist Residency Program at West Kilns is open to artists from around the globe, but residents are responsible for their own travel expenses. If cost is an impediment, note that there are a limited number of additional grants available through The Rabbit Room. You can apply for one of these as part of your residency application.

Do I Need to already be a professional artist to apply?

Our goal is that the West Kilns residencies would increase the number of redemptive artifacts being created and gifted to the world. We see the continued mentoring and development of promising new voices as of equal importance to the serving and encouraging of those veteran sage artists with a vast body of work already completed.

In short, West Kilns residencies are open to artists at any stage in their career, though the idea of “career” is important. This is not a program intended for hobbyists, but for those whose creative work is in some way already a serious vocational pursuit, with a reasonable hope that the project will actually come to fruition in some form.

I’m not that familiar with the Rabbit Room. Do I need to be a member to apply?

No. But a familiarity with the founding vision and purposes of the Rabbit Room organization, and a knowledge of the sorts of projects organically generated within the wider Rabbit Room community over the years will give you a better sense of whether your project might line up with our ethos. Exploring the rabbitroom.com website is a great place to start.

I don’t consider myself a Christian. Can I apply anyway?

The stated purpose of the Rabbit Room is to cultivate and curate story, music, and art to nourish Christ-centered communities for the life of the world. If your stories, music, or art don’t in some way do that, then the Rabbit Room Artist Residency at West Kilns program will probably not be a good fit. If you believe you have a compelling reason to apply anyway, please do. You’ll be able to articulate your reasons in the application.

I have physical limitations. Are the West Kilns facilities accessible?

The bedrooms at West Kilns are all upstairs and not wheelchair accessible. If you have other specific questions related to accessibility at West Kilns, we’re happy to provide answers and to work towards creative solutions where possible.

I’m part of the Rabbit Room community and need a place to stay when I travel to Nashville. Do I have to be working on a specific creative project in order to apply?

Yes. Rabbit Room Artist Residencies at West Kilns are reserved for those engaged in focused, creative work.

I Love the Vision for This Program. Can I Make a Donation to Help Underwrite the Program Expenses?

Of course! The Rabbit Room is a non-profit organization. You can make a tax-deductible donation to The Rabbit Room (see the rabbitroom.com website) and designate it for the Artist Residency at West Kilns program.

Could I designate a financial gift to go to a specific resident artist whose project I want to support?

Yes. Just make the donation via Rabbit Room and specify that you wish it to be used as additional project grant money for that particular artist-in-residence.