The Wachtmeister Award is endowed by VCCA Fellow and Board member Linda Wachtmeister and administered by the VCCA Fellows Council. It is presented every two years in rotation to a prominent writer, visual artist, or composer whose significant achievement in the arts is widely recognized. A list of previous award recipients is provided below.
This award acknowledges the vital role of the arts in our world, the importance of artists who exemplify excellence in their field, and the necessity of time and space for the creative phase of all artistic work.
2025 Wachtmeister Award – Music Composition
The 2025 Wachtmeister Award is open to established composers and/or sound artists using acoustic sources who have not previously been in residence at VCCA. Eligible applicants will have worked professionally as a composer for at least the past 15 years with substantial national or international achievement in their field, including publications, grants, awards, and other signs of achievement. There are no other age restrictions. International applicants are eligible, and VCCA would be happy to write a letter of invitation to an international artist to help them with their visa process.
The award winner will receive a fully-funded VCCA residency of up to 30 days, to be scheduled between May 1, 2025, and August 31, 2026; a $1,000 honorarium; and a travel stipend of $750. The VCCA residency at Mt. San Angelo includes an individual studio, a private bedroom with private en-suite bath, and three prepared meals each day in a community of more than 20 writers, visual artists, and composers in the foothills of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains.
Applications will be accepted February 1 – May 15, 2024.
There is no application fee.
Art Residency Application Primer: An Interactive Conversation
Thinking about applying to an artist, writer, or composer residency?
Come join us for our conversation on residency applications on April 26th, 9-10AM PST / 12PM-1PM EST / 6-7PM CET / 7PM-8PM EasternEuropeanSTime!
The Virginia Center for the Creative Arts (VCCA) Fellows Council will host an online event featuring VCCA staff and experienced VCCA writers, composers, and visual artists.
We will share strategies and tips for residency applications and answer your questions to help get you started:
- What are artist residencies and why should you consider joining an artist community?
- How to decide whether you’re ready to apply?
- How do you determine if a residency is a good fit for you?
- How do you put together a strong portfolio?
- What do you include in the bio and artist statement?
The VCCA is one of the oldest international American artist residencies, and has supported the careers of thousands of visual artists, composers and writers in the last 50 years.
With campuses in Virginia and France, and an international residency exchange program in place, the VCCA hosts over 400 emerging, established and outsider artists from the US and all over the world each year!
The next Application Deadline is May 15th.
Feel free to bring your questions about the VCCA for Staff, and your general questions about residency applications to our seasoned Fellows who have experience applying and being awarded multiple residencies.
For event link, please RSVP at: VCCA-FC-Cultivation@proton.me
(Thoughts and questions are also welcome!)
Participants:
VCCA Administrators Sheila Pleasants and Dana Jones
Composers Joelle Wallach, E. Shawn Qaissaunee, Martin Hundley
Writers Carol Mitchell, Iraj Isaac Rahmim
Visual Artist Nancy Y. Kim
Filmmaker/Writer Burcu Koray
VCCA Links:
https://www.vcca.com/apply/fully-funded-fellowships/
https://www.vcca.com/apply/financial-information/financial-assistance/