Adult Program Overview
Professional Development | Community | Housing | Dining
1-Week Workshops for Adults
Dates: August 4 – August 10
Ages: 21+
Single Room Boarding Tuition: $1,550
Shared Room Boarding Tuition: $1,300
Commuter Rate Tuition: $950
Deepen your knowledge of your craft with a fun, hands-on professional development opportunity
We offer a variety of one-week intensive arts workshops that appeal to adults of all ages. Our workshops provide the guidance, time and space you need to deepen your knowledge and complete individual work.
Workshops are typically held on campus the second week of August. Each studio will meet with their instructor for 6 hours daily. Studios will remain open 24/7 for independent work through the evening.
We invite you to create and collaborate through workshops and studio time with our accomplished faculty, using our many well-equipped arts studios.
Professional Development
Our workshops are an opportunity for participants to expand their practice in a variety of ways, such as working with our accomplished faculty to master a technique, exploring a new process or medium, or bringing a cherished project to fruition.
While each workshop offers a basic fundamental offering, within that is a broad degree of flexibility to tailor the experience to fit each individual’s needs. For example, a participant in the Weaving & Fiber Arts workshop could learn the intricacies of shearing sheep, focus on sewing fabric together, advance their weaving skills on a loom, practice spinning yarn from wool, study color in the dye garden or devote dedicated time to any weaving-related ability of their choice.
Participants end the workshop with a certificate for 40 hours of professional development time in their craft.
Community
We bring together more than 30 individuals with the shared goal of delving deeper into their artistic craft. Friendships develop, partnerships bloom and creative endeavors flourish in a nurturing and supportive environment.
Our program also aligns with The Vermont Jazz Center’s summer workshop, where some of the best musicians from around the world stay on campus for a week-long immersion in jazz study and performance. Participants are able to listen to practice sessions, attend concerts and interact with the performers, paving the way for interesting conversations and potential collaborations.
Nestled in the idyllic hilltops on a working dairy farm in Southern Vermont, our campus is as much of a draw as our fully equipped studios and knowledgeable instructors. We encourage participants to get outdoors and find inspiration in the natural beauty of their surroundings — whether that means heading to the observatory to paint from the lookout, visiting our cows and horses in the barn, or enjoying a picnic lunch on the lawn. Our campus is surrounded by more than five miles of hiking trails that lead up ledges, down ravines and into swimming holes, while our paved roads are great for less strenuous walks.
Off campus, Putney Mountain is a short drive away and offers 360-degree-views from the summit, while downtown Putney and nearby Brattleboro provide access to food cooperatives, general stores, supermarkets and coffee shops.
Housing
Our accommodations are quaint and rustic. Participants can choose to stay in one of the student dormitories, or an off-the grid cabin tucked into the surrounding woods on campus.
Dorm rooms are simple and provide basic accommodations. We offer single or double all-gender rooms, with a common living room and shared bathrooms. A blanket and pillow are provided, and all participants must bring their own bed linens and towels. August weather in Vermont is unpredictable; we encourage you to bring a fan as rooms are not air conditioned, and suggest packing comfortable clothing and blankets appropriate for a wide range of temperatures. Each dorm is equipped with washers and dryers, which are available free of charge. Laundry detergent is provided.
For a more remote experience, participants may choose to stay in one of our cabins for a quiet, private retreat. They run on a solar-powered battery with no running water or facilities. The living space includes a downstairs, loft area, and outside deck. This is an opportunity to truly unplug and unwind in the beauty of nature as you reflect on your craft. Participants have access to the common spaces in the dormitories, including the living room, bathrooms and laundry facilities.
Dining
Wholesome and plentiful meals are served in the central dining hall (the K.D.U.). Our experienced kitchen staff puts their skills on display with refined dishes that appeal to many different palates. The school grows many of its vegetables and produces milk and dairy products. Vegetarian and vegan selections are available at meals and daily menus to meet the needs of those with food allergies. A wood-fired oven, stoked and fired in the morning, provides fresh bread, pizza, and other baked goods. Coffee and snacks are available throughout the day. Food brings people together, and the K.D.U. is often used as a creative meeting space.