Winter residency applications have closed. The next application cycle will begin in December. Please sign up for the postal newsletter to be notified.
In late 2026, The Center for Archaic Networks will begin welcoming residents to a historic home in upstate New York for one-week stays.
The Archaic House residency is for anyone wishing to explore low-tech living in a communal environment. There will be no wifi available, and all digital devices (smartphones, laptops, tablets) will be locked safely away for the duration of the stay. Computers will be accessible at a nearby public library.
Limited scholarships available. Please see instructions below for information on applying. Note that this will be the only round of applications accepted online. Going forward, all applicants must apply via post.
In partnership with The Cluny Institute.
Residencies will last one week, and will take place in upstate New York. There will be four residents at a time. Artists and non-artists welcome. You do not need to have a project to attend – wanting time offline is enough!
Because this is a new residency, stays will be discounted for the first two months to allow adequate time for feedback and troubleshooting. Early residents will play an exciting role in shaping the residency.
Fees
December-January: $400/week
February-March: $500/week
Residencies begin on Monday, with Sunday arrival possible.
For couples, the weekly fee is $600 for the first period, and $700 going forward.
Amenities
Private room
Shared bathroom
Full use of house and grounds
Shared art studio
Landline telephone
Typewriter
Instruments (piano, guitar, bass, etc.)
Schedule
Activities, excursions, and work sessions will be offered throughout the day. These are completely optional. Residents are welcome to plan and lead their own activities.
Food
Groceries and cookware will be provided. Residents can bring or purchase specialty items at a nearby store. Communal dinners will be a shared responsibility, with other meals subject to resident discretion.
Transportation
From NYC, take a bus to Binghamton (3 hrs), where you will be picked up and driven to the residency (30 min). Car transportation to/from Binghamton costs $25 each way. You can also fly to Binghamton Airport. Other options include flying into Ithaca airport (car transportation $40), or renting a car for the trip (free parking at the residency).
Technology
Please be aware that this a tech-free residency. If you are not comfortable temporarily surrendering your smartphone, computer, tablet, and/or smartwatch, then this is not the residency for you. Dumb phones are permitted. Otherwise, a landline will be provided. Public computers are available at the library across the street.
Noise
Archaic House is not intended as a silent, solitary retreat. It is a communal environment, and therefore may be noisy with conversation, music, landlines ringing, typewriters clacking. Please only apply if you work well in such environments – or if you're up for ditching your work to hang out. (There is a detached barn for silent work, but it is unheated.)
Please answer the following questions briefly, in 2-4 sentences. Keep it simple and don't overthink the phrasing – this is just the start of a conversation! Suitable candidates will be contacted for a phone interview. All candidates will be notified within a month of applying.
Scholarships
For scholarship applicants, please answer the below questions on paper (including contact information) and post to: Archaic House, P.O. Box 17, New York, NY 10002. Answers must be handwritten or typewritten, except in case of stated disability. Artists should enclose a physical work sample, of any size or length (writing, visual art, music CD, etc.). Printed photos or project descriptions are also acceptable. Please no web links! Non-artists should enclose a cover letter explaining the purpose of the stay. Postal applications must be postmarked (not necessarily delivered) August 31 or earlier.
For application assistance, call 830-ARCHAIC (830-272-4242).
Questions (Submit via form below)
1. What is your current relationship to technology? What is your ideal?
2. Briefly describe your life situation. Where are you living and what do you do for work? Anything else you'd like to share?
3. How will this residency benefit you? How will it advance your goals (professional, spiritual, personal)?
4. When can you attend? Please provide time windows and preferences, e.g. "mid-January to mid-March, with a preference for early February."
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