Abbott Watts Photography Residency — Fall 2026

The Abbott Watts Photography Residency is hosted by Monson Arts in Monson, Maine, with the photography studio itself located in nearby Blanchard — an 8-minute drive from the Monson Arts main campus, adjacent to the former home of pioneering documentary photographer Berenice Abbott. The residency was launched in fall 2021 and is named after Abbott and longtime collaborator Todd Watts.

The Blanchard studio is unusually well-equipped. The darkroom supports silver gelatin printing up to 40×50 inches from negatives ranging from 35mm to 8×10, plus alternative analog processes. The digital studio includes PC workstations with 34-inch monitors and Adobe Creative Cloud, a 44-inch Epson printer, scanners, trimmers, and a dry-mount press.

Fall 2026 offers two session lengths. The two-week session runs September 14–24 with a $250 stipend; the four-week session runs October 28 through November 19 with a $500 stipend. Both sessions include a private bedroom in shared housing in Monson, all meals, and full studio access. Residents must supply their own materials and have a car for the daily commute to the Blanchard studio.

Eligibility is open to photographers at any career stage worldwide. Applications go through SlideRoom. Both fall 2026 sessions share the same May 15, 2026 deadline.