Residency Program

Nomination & Selection Process

Surf Point does not have an open application. Residents are selected through a nomination-based process followed by a lottery. Unsolicited applications and nominations are not accepted, and there is no way to request to be nominated.

Each year, a full cohort of past residents is invited to nominate one individual for a future residency cycle. In some cases, partner organizations and foundations also nominate individuals through sponsorships. Nominators submit a name, contact information, and a brief rationale, and nominees are then invited to complete a short application. No project proposal is required.

All completed applications are entered into a randomized lottery. When needed, the lottery is lightly weighted to ensure that each session reflects a range of practices, backgrounds, and perspectives. Applicants indicate their availability, and placements are made based on lottery results and alignment with session dates. Those not placed remain on an active waitlist for one year in case of cancellations or rescheduling, and may be invited to apply again the following cycle.

This approach allows the program to grow through networks of trust and lived experience. It often reaches artists and arts professionals who may not be connected to major art centers or who may not see themselves reflected in traditional open-call systems. By reducing the administrative demands of large-scale applications, more resources can be directed toward residents and public programs.

Residents are typically visual artists or arts professionals with an established practice of at least five years, based in the United States, and comfortable participating in a rural, self-directed residency with a small cohort.

As of 2025, Surf Point has welcomed 160 alumni from 26 states. Approximately 65% of residents identify as women or nonbinary, and approximately 58% identify as BIPOC. The acceptance rate is approximately 35%.

Surf Point asks nominators to consider individuals across a range of identities, experiences, and career paths, including:

Visual artists, curators, writers, educators, and arts professionals
People who are thoughtful, generous, and comfortable in a self-directed environment
Those who have had limited access to residency opportunities or may not see themselves reflected in traditional application models
Individuals who contribute to their communities in meaningful ways
Women, BIPOC, LGBTQIA+ individuals, people with disabilities, and those connected to Maine and the broader region