ATELIER
ARTIST in RESIDENCE
A unique arts residency experience where we continuously curate our programming and destinations for artists of exceptional talent and promise.
We transport our artists to a uniquely creative workspace.
What sets Atelier Artist in Residence apart is that each residency location is specially chosen for its ability to transport our artists to an immersive creative workspace not otherwise available in its ability to transform and inspire.
Our 2026 programs are set at Chateau de Cerisay in France and the Westcove Estate in Ireland.
Chateau de Cerisay is a beautiful, sprawling French estate, 40 minutes from Le Mans which is 1 hour from Paris via train. An Ideal location for focused creative process but close enough to nearby cities & beautiful French villages for exciting & enriching excursions.
The Westcove Estate is an incredible Georgian manor on the shores of the “Wild Atlantic Way” on the western edge of the Ring of Kerry. It’s natural beauty draws you in and almost hypnotizes all who attend.
Programs at Chateau de Cerisay will be held as follows;
Ireland - August/September 2026 Residencies
Late summer at Westcove Estate offers artists the rare gift of Ireland's most luminous season, where dramatic coastal landscapes meet the golden warmth of extended daylight hours. Perched on the edge of the Atlantic, the estate provides an ever-changing canvas of moods: morning mists that roll in from the sea and lift to reveal emerald hills dotted with ancient stone walls, dramatic cliffs that catch the last light of sunset, and skies that shift from pewter to brilliant blue within the span of an afternoon. The famous Irish light—soft, diffused, and constantly changing—creates ideal conditions for artists working in any medium, while the temperate late summer weather allows for extended outdoor creative sessions. This is the season when Ireland reveals its most enchanting character: wildflowers still bloom across the countryside, harvest festivals celebrate the abundance of the land, and the warmth of August transitions into September's crisp clarity, providing artists with two distinct creative atmospheres within a single residency experience.
The coastal setting of Westcove Estate creates an atmosphere of creative freedom that's both invigorating and grounding, where the rhythm of the tides becomes a natural metronome for artistic practice. Artists find themselves drawn to work outdoors, whether sketching the ever-changing seascape, writing poetry inspired by the sound of waves against ancient rocks, or composing music that captures the haunting beauty of traditional Irish melodies drifting across the landscape. Evening gatherings naturally extend into the soft Irish twilight, with conversations flowing as freely as Irish whiskey and Guiness, while nearby villages offer authentic cultural experiences through traditional music sessions, local markets showcasing artisanal crafts, and the legendary Irish storytelling tradition that infuses every interaction with warmth and creativity. The combination of dramatic natural beauty, extended daylight hours, and the welcoming spirit of Irish culture creates an environment where artistic boundaries dissolve and inspiration flows as abundantly as the estate's ancient springs.
Ready to experience the wild beauty and creative energy of Ireland's coast? Applications for our August and September sessions at Westcove Estate are now open, with limited spaces available for this season of coastal inspiration and Celtic creativity.
Session 1 - August 23rd - September 6th, 2026 - *Closed
Session 2 - September 7th - September 21st, 2026 - *Closed
Session 3 - September 21st - October 5th, 2026 - *Closed
DEADLINE TO APPLY - May 30th, 2026
France - Q4/2026 - October/December Residencies
Autumn at Chateau de Cerisay offers artists something rare and precious: reflection, and deepening light that transforms the estate into a masterclass in color, texture, and atmosphere. As summer's intensity mellows into October's golden fall light, the countryside enters its most dramatically beautiful phase - The garden heavy with fruit and the ancient stone of the chateau glowing amber in the slanting afternoon sun. This is when the landscape becomes a study in transformation, with each week bringing new color palettes: September's late-summer greens giving way to October's burnt Sienna and deep ochres, then November's silvery mists and bare-branch geometries. The quality of light becomes a character in itself—long, honeyed rays that seem to pause and linger, creating shadows and highlights that photographers dream about and painters race to capture before the magic hour fades.
Fall residencies attract artists seeking depth and introspection, drawn to a season that encourages productive solitude and meaningful creative communion. The cooler temperatures bring everyone back to cozy studio spaces, where the rhythm of work naturally deepens and extends into the evenings. Local autumn festivals celebrate authentic cultural experiences where artists can witness centuries-old traditions still alive in the countryside. The weekly markets overflow with produce and the season's finest ingredients that fuel memorable communal dinners where artistic conversation flows freely. Excursions take on a mystical quality in autumn's atmospheric conditions, while Le Mans and nearby villages showcase their offerings during this culturally rich season. As winter approaches and the year winds down, artists find themselves working with unusual focus and clarity, often producing their most significant breakthroughs in these contemplative months where the outside world slows down and creative practice takes center stage.
Ready to embrace the introspective power of autumn creativity in the French countryside? Applications for our fall sessions are now open, with limited spaces available for this season of harvest, transformation, and profound artistic focus.
Session 2 - October 9th - October 23rd, 2026
Session 3 - October 27th - November 10th, 2026
Session 4 - November 14th - November 28th, 2026
Session 5 - December 1st - December 15th, 2026
DEADLINE TO APPLY - May 30th, 2026
France - Q1/2027 - January/March Residencies
Fall and Winter at Château de Cerisay offer something rare for artists: depth, stillness, and the kind of creative focus that only comes when the world quiets down.
As autumn settles across the French countryside, the estate transforms into a cinematic landscape of amber forests and mist-covered mornings that invite long hours of uninterrupted creative work. Ancient stone walls glow golden, nearby fields shift into rich ochres and deep greens, and the slowing rhythm of rural life creates an atmosphere perfectly suited for reflection and artistic immersion. Painters find endless inspiration in the dramatic seasonal palette and soft diffused light; photographers capture the haunting beauty of fog drifting across the grounds at dawn; writers and composers discover the rare mental spaciousness that colder seasons naturally encourage. Inside the chateau & studios become warm sanctuaries of concentration and experimentation, where ideas can deepen without distraction and artistic practice takes on a more contemplative intensity.
Winter at Château de Cerisay carries its own quiet magic—one rooted in intimacy, discipline, and creative transformation. The estate becomes a retreat in the truest sense of the word: peaceful, atmospheric, and deeply conducive to meaningful work. Shorter days encourage a slower and more intentional creative rhythm, balanced by evenings spent gathered around candlelit dinners, sharing works in progress and conversations that often stretch late into the night. Frost settles across the gardens, nearby villages glow with holiday lights and winter markets, and the Norman countryside reveals a stark elegance that feels timeless and profoundly inspiring. Excursions to Alençon, Saint Ceneri, Le Mans, and surrounding historic towns take on an entirely different character during the colder months—less crowded, more intimate, and filled with the quiet beauty of the off-season.
Fall and Winter residencies foster a uniquely close-knit artistic community. With more time spent indoors together, collaborations emerge organically, conversations deepen, and artists often form lasting creative relationships that continue long after the residency ends. The season encourages not just production, but evolution and a chance to step away from daily noise, reconnect with creative purpose, and enter the new year with renewed clarity and momentum. For many residents, these colder months become the most transformative period of their artistic practice—not despite the stillness of the season, but because of it.
Ready to retreat into a season of deep creative focus in the French countryside? Applications for our Fall 2026 and Winter 2027 sessions are now open, with limited spaces available for artists seeking immersion, inspiration, and meaningful artistic growth.
Session 1 - January 15th - January 29th, 2027
Session 2 - February 3rd - February 17th, 2027
Session 3 - February 22nd - March 8th, 2027
Session 4 - March 12th - March 26th, 2027
Meet & Greet
Upon Arrival to the Chateau, once you’ve had a moment to settle in and freshen up, we will have an afternoon soiree to get to know each other before our first group dinner.
Gather Materials
The following morning, we will take stock of what material needs you may have and you'll have the ability to venture into the nearby towns that are best equipped to supply your needs.
Explore & Join In
From this point, as we are a self-directed residency, most of your time is up to you. However, we do have planned outings throughout the Residency!
WHO SHOULD APPLY?
We welcome all Artists, amateur or established - Worldwide! Painters, Writers, Photographers, Musicians, small scale Sculptors, Poets, Illustrators, Digital Artists, Textiles, Print makers, etc.New Artists who would benefit from surrounding themselves with other Artists in practice.Emerging Artists wanting to further immerse themselves in the creative experience.Established Artists looking for new approaches to their work or wanting to explore working in a new environment.Artists wanting a dedicated period of time to focus on projects without the distractions of their daily lives.We welcome couples as Artists, so long as each are engaging in their artistic practice during the residency. Couples may collaborate with each other or practice independently of the other partner.
INCLUDED WITH YOUR TUITION FEE:
Housing (Private room)Studio space (Shared and Private)Chef prepared group dinners each evening while at the chateau. Breakfast & lunch foods provided for Artists to prepare on their own schedules.Day trips to local villages, Le Mans & more for events, gallery visits and cultural enrichment.Exploring local events like marchés and local brocantes for an authentic french experience, etc.The Chateau is centrally located to other cultural and entertainment options to be explored, both on and off the property.
