James Castle House 2-Month Residency 2026

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CONTACT:  Mónica Galván mgalvan@cityofboise.org | 208-608-7054 

 DEADLINE: August 6, 2025 at 11:59 pm MST


MORE ABOUT JAMES CASTLE
MORE ABOUT THE BOISE CITY DEPARTMENT OF ARTS & HISTORY

Boise City Department of Arts & History invites local and national emerging and mid-career artists in any creative field to apply for a two-month residency at the James Castle House in Boise, Idaho. 

The Residency:

This residency invites artists to immerse themselves in the historic site where James Castle lived and worked for the last 46 years of his life. Artists are asked to explore the house, its history, and the surrounding landscape, and respond to their experience through the creation of new works. Residents will share their creative practice and process with our community through several public events throughout their stay, including, but not limited to, workshops, open studios, and presentations. 

Each residency cycle provides one participant with private furnished living quarters, 24-hour studio access, and a $4,000.00 stipend to assist with living expenses and supplies necessary to create work. The resident is responsible for travel and shipping expenses. At the end of their term, residents will donate a selected piece reflective of their time at the James Castle House and congruent with the quality and style of work portrayed in their application. This piece will be a part of the larger collection owned by the City of Boise. 

Through this program, the James Castle House keeps the legacy of daily creativity and experimentation alive on-site, cultivating a growing local and national community and providing a deeper understanding of James Castle and the place he called home. 


About James Castle: 

Born in 1899, James Castle was deaf from birth and never gained proficiency in reading, writing, signing, or any other formal language system. Naturally curious and observant, Castle endlessly investigated his environment and material world, inventing many of the tools and techniques used to create his work. His methodological and experimental approach led to the creation of thousands of works of art, spanning a wide range of aesthetic and conceptual styles that have inspired artists and scholars for decades.    
 

The James Castle House: 

The James Castle House is a historic site and museum serving as a testimony to the legacy of self-taught artist James Castle. As stewards of this legacy, the James Castle House is responsible for managing Castle’s historic living and working spaces, art and artifact collections, and offering public opportunities to engage with the site. 

Located in the historic Collister neighborhood, the James Castle House has easy access to Boise’s downtown and the nearby foothills, allowing residents to experience the beauty and culture of Idaho’s capital city while ensuring a quiet and private workspace.

*Please note that this is a solo residency. The selected participant will have regular contact with staff at the James Castle House and Boise community members, but they will reside alone.  

Residency Terms:

Summer Term:

  • June 1 – July 31, 2026

Fall Term:

  • September 1 – October 31, 2026

Applicants will select the date ranges that are best for their proposal.

Supported Disciplines: The James Castle House 2-Month Residency program is open to emerging and mid-career artists and professionals working in any creative field. This includes but is not limited to, visual or new media artists, poets, writers, musicians, dancers, metalsmiths, and printmakers. However, due to the property’s limitations and proximity to neighbors, the site cannot accommodate loud or especially messy processes. If special equipment or facilities are required for the creation of work, the James Castle House will work to find a partnership within the Boise community to fill those needs.


Selection Criteria: Selections will be made by committee and based on the following:

  • Strength of application
  • Quality of work samples
  • References
  • Interview

Demographic information will not be available to committee panelists unless the applicant discloses identifying information in short answer application questions.

Eligibility:

  • Open to applicants legally able to work in the United States.
  • Applicants must be able to pass a thorough background check.
  • Applicants must be 18 or older.

The James Castle House does not discriminate in its programs and activities on the basis of race, religion, national origin, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, and/or disability.


Duration of Residency: 2 months
Number of Residents Per Term: 1
Companions Allowed: None


Expenses Paid By Resident: 

  • Travel Supplies 
  • Liability Insurance 
  • Food 
  • Other


 

Expenses Paid By James Castle House: 

  • Housing 
  • Utilities 
  • Stipend


Residency Setting:  Suburban

Resources: 

  • WiFi 
  • Kitchenette  
  • Bus pass  
  • Bicycle 
  • Washer/Dryer 
  • Weekly car trips for groceries and supplies 
  • Exclusive access to James Castle content and artwork  
     

Accommodation: 

  • Private Living Quarters 
  • 275 sf Private Studio 
  • ADA Accessible


 

Studio Features: 

  • Sewing machine 
  • 3D printer 
  • Large format Canon Pro-1000 photo printer 
  • Basic hand tools 
  • Electric drill 
  • Circular saw 
  • French easel 
  • Conrad E15 etching press 
  • Utility closet with sink 
  • Chemical storage and removal 
  • Endless north-facing natural light
     
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