SUMMER WORKSHOPS
Haystack’s summer workshops explore the intersections of craft, art, and design in broad and expansive ways. Nearly all of our workshops are designed for all levels of experience, and regardless of your background there is a place for you here.
A look back at our 2024 Summer Workshops. To be notified when the 2025 programs are available,
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HOW TO APPLY
Workshop Openings
There are currently no workshop openings.
Spaces in workshops and housing are limited, and applications are processed on a first-come, first-serve basis. Once your application is received and processed, you will be notified by email with your application status, payments deadlines, and any additional applicable workshop information. All new applications for workshop openings must be submitted through SlideRoom. Please note, there are no additional fellowships or studio assistant opportunities available for the workshop openings.
If you previously applied through the initial 2024 General Workshop application and are interested in one of the workshop openings, please email the registrar directly at registrar@haystack-mtn.org.
General Applicants
All applications for the summer workshops are submitted online through SlideRoom. Application fees are nonrefundable. Before starting the application process, we encourage applicants to review our Fees & Policies and Frequently Asked Questions.
Applicants must be 18 years of age or older to participate in session workshops. Workshops are open to all skill levels, except where noted in workshops descriptions. Enrollment in each studio is limited; Applications is for an entire one-week or two-week session. General Applications are reviewed competitively and selections are based on the need to have:
A balance between first-time students and past participants
A broad geographical distribution of participants
A wide range of students from varied backgrounds and skill levels
GENERAL APPLICATION
Application Closed for 2024
Fellowships
The Haystack fellowship program is a competitive opportunity, supporting individuals participating in summer workshops at the School, with financial support covering tuition, room, and board (dorm - the cost difference to change to a different cabin is the responsibility of the individual), and a monetary award. Students receiving a fellowship award must be 18 years of age or older. Fellowship students are responsible for travel, shop fees, and studio materials.
Haystack assembles independent committees to select award recipients through a competitive review process. Before starting the application process, we encourage applicants to review our Fees & Policies and Frequently Asked Questions. Please Note: in 2024, fellowship awards are not available for glass workshops.
Fellowship applicants pay a nonrefundable application fee of $30 at the submission of their SlideRoom application.
FELLOWSHIP APPLICATION
Application Closed for 2024
Studio Assistant Fellows
Studio Assistants (SAs - formerly Technical Assistants) must be familiar with equipment, processes, and safety of studios. They assist workshop faculty, connect with Haystack staff, support students, and provide supervision in the studios. SA positions are professional development opportunities through the Haystack fellowship program. Recipients are provided with tuition, room, and board (dorm - the cost difference to change to a different cabin is the responsibility of the individual), plus a monetary award. Studio Assistants must be 18 years of age or older. SAs are financially responsible for travel, shop fees, and any materials they use during their workshops.
Haystack assembles independent committees to select Studio Assistants through a competitive review process. Before starting the application process, we encourage applicants to review our Fees & Policies and Frequently Asked Questions.
Studio Assistant applicants pay a nonrefundable application fee of $30 at the submission of their SlideRoom application.
STUDIO ASSISTANT APPLICATION
Application Closed for 2024
Fab Lab Studio Assistants
For the first time in 2024, Haystack will accept applications for the new role of Fab Lab Studio Assistants.
The Fab Lab Studio Assistant (FLSA) is an opportunity for professional development, working alongside Haystack staff and supporting the Fab Lab Resident Artists in the Fab Lab, as well as supporting workshop instructors and students with projects and activities. FLSAs provide lab supervision during sessions and must be very familiar with the equipment and processes of the Haystack Fab Lab and digital fabrication.
Fab Lab Studio Assistants provided room & board, travel support, and a monetary award. They are responsible for shop fees and studio materials. FLSAs are selected through a competitive review process. Before applying, we strongly encourage reviewing the Workshop Fees & Policies.
FAB LAB STUDIO ASSISTANT APPLICATION
Application Closed for 2024
2024 Fees & Policies
Tuition, Room & Board
Fixed costs for workshop expenses are tuition, room and board, paid in advance, and will be invoiced prior to the start of each session. Additional expenses vary depending on individual workshop shop fees and the cost of workshop materials (see section below).
For general workshop applicants, when indicating your preference for housing, be sure to include your first and second choices on your application. While we make every effort to accommodate participants' first housing choice, we cannot guarantee it based on availability.
Meals costs are included in all Room & Board rates, including Day Student rate—meals are never a separate or pro-rated cost. There are no exceptions.
| Tuition | Session 1–5 | Session 6 |
|---|---|---|
| General Tuition per session |
$1,415 | $755 |
| Glass Tuition per session |
$1,880 | $1,022 |
| Room & Board | Session 1-5 | Session 6 |
| Double with bath | $2,020 | $1,120 |
| Quad with bath | $1,920 | $962 |
| Double near central bath |
$1,245 | $747 |
| Triple near central bath |
$800 | $445 |
| Dorm near central bath limited availibility |
$610 | $350 |
| Day Student | $555 | $335 |
DEPOSITS
Upon notification of acceptance into a workshop, a $150 non-refundable deposit for each session is required by April 12, which will be applied to tuition, room and board.
If your applied and were accepted for a Workshop Opening, please see your notification email for the deposit deadline.
FINAL BALANCE
The full balance of tuition, and room and board must be paid no later than 45 days prior to the start of a given session. Participants will forfeit their workshop spot if the full balance is not made by the payment deadline. For Session 1, the full balance is due by April 25.
If you applied and were accepted for a Workshop Opening, please see your invoice email for the payment deadline.
CANCELLATION POLICY
All cancellations must be made in writing by mail or email (no phone calls please) to the Registrar at registrar@haystack-mtn.org. For cancellations received 45 days before your session begins, a refund less the $150 non-refundable deposit will be issued. No refunds will be issued for cancellations less than 45 days before the start of your session.
Final dates to cancel and receive a refund:
Session 1 | April 25
Session 2 | May 9
Session 3 | May 30
Session 4 | June 13
Session 5 | June 27
Session 6 | July 11
If it becomes necessary for Haystack to cancel a workshop for any reason, students will be notified and a full refund of tuition, room and board will be issued.
In the event of any type of cancellation, Haystack is not responsible for refunding airline tickets or other travel expenses.
*All applicable refunds are made by check within 21 business days from notice of cancellation.
TRAVEL INSURANCE
Haystack Mountain School of Crafts has partnered with Travel Insured International to provide travel insurance coverage to interested participants. Haystack recommends that participants with concerns about refunds for cancellations or disruptions to travel consider acquiring travel insurance coverage. For more information and plan information, please refer to Travel Insured International’s website.
Shop Fees
| Studio | Estimated Shop Fee Range |
|---|---|
| Blacksmithing | $40-$150 |
| Ceramics | $30-$150 |
| Fiber | $10-$200 |
| Glass | $60-$135 |
| Graphics | $50-$200 |
| Metals | $25-$170 |
| Wood | $25-$150 |
| Writing (1-week) | $0-$15 |
Shop fees cover the cost of supplies used in common in your studio; please see the shop fee table for cost estimates for each studio. These costs are the financial responsibility of each participant, including Fellowship students and Studio Assistant Fellows. Shop fees include workshop supplies your faculty has ordered or supplied. Depending on the workshop, fees can include kiln firing, new glazes made for your workshop, gas, coal, cullet, sawblades, sandpaper, any demonstration materials, etc.
Haystack calculates shop fees at the end of each session to most accurately reflect the amount of supplies used during your workshop. These costs are then divided evenly among the workshop participants. Shop fees do not include the materials students purchase separately (see material fees below).
For participants that use the Fab Lab, there is a one-time shop fee of $25 for use of tools and equipment.
Material Fees
Material Fees are not included as part of shop fees. All workshop participants—including Fellowship students, Studio Assistant Fellows, and Fab Lab Studio Assistants—are financially responsible for individual amounts of materials used. The campus store stocks clay, wood, and steel in the studios, as well as a variety of Fab Lab specific materials. Other materials/supplies are also available for purchase in the store. A student memo and prep sheet detailing the workshop supplies and other personal items you will need to bring from home will be emailed upon enrollment in a workshop.
Academic Credit
Academic credit for workshops is available through arrangements Haystack has with the University of Southern Maine and Maine College of Art & Design. Undergraduate or graduate credits are available through the University of Southern Maine, and undergraduate credits only are available through the Maine College of Art & Design.
If interested in earning college credit contact please contact your school and notify Haystack prior to your arrival.
COVID-19 Guidelines & Policies
VACCINATION REQUIREMENTS
As of May 1st, 2023, Haystack is no longer requiring all residential program participants to be up to date on COVID-19 vaccination.
HEALTH SCREENING
Should you exhibit COVID-19 symptoms while at Haystack, we will require you take a rapid test, and if it comes back positive you will be asked to self-quarantine for 5 days if asymptomatic (or if your symptoms are resolving) and remain fever-free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medication, followed by 5 days of required masking around others to minimize the risk of infection. Tests will be available at the store for you to purchase ($10 each) if you did not bring your own.
MASKING & FACE COVERING
Masking indoors will be at the discretion of individual participants. Given the changing advice around COVID-19, our policies are subject to change. Haystack will not be providing masks to participants, so if you do choose to mask please make sure to bring your own.
DINING & FOOD SERVICE
All meals will be served indoors with optional outdoor seating. We encourage all participants to sanitize their hands, either by washing or by using hand sanitizer, before entering the dining hall.
IF YOU ARE NOT FEELING WELL, PLEASE STAY HOME!
If you are experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19, or believe you are at an elevated risk of exposure, please stay home. It is not safe to come to Haystack until at least 5 days have passed since the onset of symptoms or a positive test. Additionally, you must be asymptomatic or remain fever-free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medication.
POTENTIAL CASES
If, at any time during your stay at Haystack, you experience any symptoms associated with COVID-19, or have any other reason to suspect that you may be infected, please immediately quarantine in your cabin and notify the staff member on call. Haystack will have self-administered rapid tests available on campus for those experiencing symptoms. These will be available at the store for you to purchase ($10 each) if you did not bring your own. Individuals who test positive must self-quarantine for 5 days if asymptomatic (or if their symptoms are resolving) and remain fever-free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medication, followed by 5 days of required masking around others to minimize the risk of infection.
If an individual tests positive, Haystack staff will facilitate quarantining and/or coordinating leaving campus and assess the level of risk to others. In the event of any type of cancellation, Haystack is not responsible for refunding airline tickets or other travel-related costs.
Community Guidelines & Nondiscrimination Policy
Everyone coming to Haystack commits to a culture in which all members feel personally safe, listened to, valued, and treated with fairness. Gathering together is an intentional act and a reciprocal process, with every individual sharing responsibility to contribute positively to the community. A shared understanding of our common goals is how we create community.
The campus and programs foster a culture of generosity, investigation, and exchange through the exploration of new ideas in a supportive and inclusive community. We serve an ever-changing group of makers and thinkers, working and learning alongside one another while exploring the intersections of craft, art, and design in broad and expansive ways.
Studio culture is central to the Haystack experience. Individuals must be respectful of shared space and resources, equipment, tools and materials, personal space, and follow the School’s safety and community guidelines at all times. It is essential that individuals listen to others and consider multiple perspectives, including in group discussions.
Haystack is committed to a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion. We do not discriminate against any individual or group of individuals on the basis of age, color, disability, gender identification, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, economic status, or veteran status. All are welcome.