Friday, Jan. 17 - Monday, Jan. 20
Join us for our next creative retreat at the historic Millay Arts in Austerlitz, New York!
For three days and nights we’ll be writing, drawing, and exercising all those creative muscles we rarely have the time and space to activate in our everyday lives.
Unlike other residencies, you don’t have to be a writer or an artist to join. You don’t need a portfolio or a writing sample. You don’t even need to have any experience writing or drawing. All you need is to want to spend a few days focused on your creative practice, and an interest in doing that work in a small community of 6-8 others.
Each day there will be a facilitated group activity. In between there will be private time to work and invest in your own artistic practice, as well as communal meals and optional evening activities. Continue reading for a more detailed overview, and if you still have any questions, send us a message at little.nights.events@gmail.com
The Space
For our winter retreat we’re thrilled to partner with Millay Arts, a multidisciplinary artist residency in Austerlitz, New York. Millay was founded in 1973 and is built on the historic estate of Edna St. Vincent Millay, a poet, activist, and the first woman to win the Pulitzer Prize.
In addition to being one of the longest-running artist residencies in the country, it is also one of the most competitive, receiving on average 1,000 applications for only 62 spots. Recent residents include Carmen Maria Machado, Danez Smith, Sigrid Nunez, Annie Baker, and Sarah Thankam Mathews.
This retreat is a unique opportunity to experience Millay and practice your art in a place so steeped in history.
The campus includes two residential buildings, with room for each participant to have their own private bedroom and separate, private studio. The layout encourages what Millay calls the shared experience of “working alone together”, where you can both dive deep into your process and come together for further inspiration and collaboration.
What’s Included?
Workshops
Each day there will be a facilitated group workshop featuring different narrative and visual art activities. These activities include writing and drawing lessons, ways to practice your observation, and strategies to sustain that practice after the retreat is over.
Past exercises include ekphrastic writing, blind-contour drawings, and oral history poems.
Housing
All participants will have their own private bedroom, separate private studio, and share one of the property’s five bathrooms.
Meals
We provide food for three meals a day, including breakfast staples, a sandwich and salad bar for lunch, three fully-cooked dinners, and a pantry of fruits and snacks, all of which include vegan and vegetarian options.
If you have any dietary considerations or food allergies, please let us know. You’re also welcome to bring any additional snacks you might want for the weekend.
One-on-Ones
Everyone gets a thirty-minute private session, which you can use to review and discuss your work or chat with us about anything – from developing a routine, to applying to residencies, to getting feedback on your work.
Please note: this is totally optional! If you'd rather take the extra time to work independently (see below), you won't hurt our feelings.
Solo Time
In addition to our activities together, there is also intentionally unstructured time for you to write, draw, read, journal, meditate, or explore your own individual practice however you wish.
Community
The work you’ll get done on your own is only the beginning. After three days of making, sharing, and discussing your creative process, our hope is you’ll have grown your community and made connections that’ll continue to support your practice long after the retreat is over.
In addition to meeting the folks on your retreat, you’ll also become a part of our larger alumni community and invited to join all our alumni events, retreats, and gatherings.
What You’ll Need
TO-DOs
You know that project you’ve been meaning to work on, finish, or start? Make sure to bring it along. A core element of this retreat is providing space and time for you to dedicate to your creative practice, whatever it might be.
Draw, draft, journal, edit, read, knit, nap—the choice is yours, just remember to pack what you need.
TRAVEL
For those traveling from New York City via train on Friday, January 17th, there is a 5:47pm Amtrak departing from Moynihan Hall-Penn Station that arrives in Hudson at 7:57pm. For those taking other trains, please plan to arrive at the Hudson Amtrak station by 8pm.
For those driving, please plan to arrive at Millay Arts between 8:30-9pm on January 17th.
On Monday, January 20th, we will drop off those taking the train at the Hudson Amtrak station at 12pm.
TOILETRIES
Each room includes a full set of bedding and towels. Please bring any other toiletries you’ll need.
Pricing
We are committed to making our retreats as accessible as possible, both creatively and financially. To that end, our sliding scale model allows you to select the rate that best suits your financial situation.
While all options receive the same benefits, we ask that you pay as much as you can afford; this enables us to continue offering the retreat to those who can only afford our lowest rates.
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3 days and nights in a private bedroom with your own separate studio space
6 hours of interdisciplinary group workshops
8 meals, including 3 fully-cooked dinners, and a pantry of fruits and snacks
All necessary supplies, including notebooks and all writing and drawing implements
Transportation to and from the Hudson Amtrak station
Application
We ask everyone to submit a quick and simple application, not to judge the merit of your work but to better understand your experience, intentions, and current relationship to your own practice. All of this will inform our ability to build a dynamic and cohesive group and make the best possible retreat for everyone.
November 1st: Applications open
December 1st: Applications close
December 15th: Selection announced
There are limited spots but if we are not able to include you this time please apply again!
Ask An Alum
Connect with one of our alumni to get a sense of the spirit of our retreats and what a Little Nights Big Weekend is all about.
Instead of questions about logistics and specifics (which you can always ask us!) think of it as a way to learn about the retreat from folks whose experience might feel similar to what you expect to experience.
Kajal Odedra, Feb. ‘24
IG: @kajalodedra
X: @kajalodedra1
Patrick Bagley, May ‘24
patrickjbagley@gmail.com
Cathy Cheng, Feb. ‘24
cathwhc@gmail.com
Michelle Cassidy, May ‘24
michelleccassidy@gmail.com
Refund Policy
There are no refunds for cancellations, but if something comes up we’ll do our best to roll your fee forward to a future weekend. If you can’t come, please contact us as soon as possible. In the event of a cancellation, Little Nights is not responsible for any related travel expenses.