2024 MILKWOOD SCHEDULE
Our 2025 Schedule will be announced in February
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SENDAK FELLOWSHIP AT MILKWOOD
Milkwood is honored to host the 2024 Sendak Fellowship, a core program of the Maurice Sendak Foundation.
MAY 13-JUNE 9
JUNE 13-16
OPENING Retreat for Authors and Illustrators
REGISTRATION IS CLOSED
JUNE 20-23
WORKSHOP FOR WRITERS OF PICTURE BOOKS
Open to published and unpublished writers of picture books.
Workshop: “Mastering the Mechanics of Picture Books: The inner workings of a great picture book text.”
Faculty: Annie Barrows, Susan Rich
For more information about this workshop, click here.
REGISTRATION IS CLOSED
JUNE 24-30
RESIDENCY FOR WRITERS AND ILLUSTRATORS
Open to published and unpublished writers and illustrators in all children’s literature genres – early readers, picture books, chapter books, middle grade, YA, and graphic novels.
Apply as an individual artist or as a group of 10.
For more information about residencies, click here.
REGISTRATION IS CLOSED
JULY 11-14
retreat for LIBRARIANS AND EDUCATORS
Open to children’s literature librarians and educators.
Presentation/workshops with Sarah Jacoby and Sophie Blackall.
This retreat is a Peer Retreat. For more information about Peer Retreats, click here.
REGISTRATION IS CLOSED
JULY 18-21
LGBTQ+ Retreat
Open to all members of the children’s book community - agents, authors, booksellers, designers, editors, educators, illustrators, librarians, publishers, reviewers, etc. - who identify as LGBTQ+. Please do not apply if you don’t identify as LGBTQ+.
This retreat is a Peer Retreat. For more information about Peer Retreats, click here.
REGISTRATION IS CLOSED
JULY 25-28
multidisciplinary Retreat
Open to all members of the children’s book community – agents, authors, booksellers, designers, editors, educators, illustrators, librarians, publishers, reviewers, etc.
This is a Peer Retreat. For more information about Peer Retreats, click here.
REGISTRATION IS CLOSED
AUGUST 8-11
GRAPHIC NOVEL and comics WORKSHOP FOR BIPOC CREATORS
Open to published and unpublished BIPOC authors and illustrators interested in creating graphic novels and comics. Please do not apply if you don’t identify as BIPOC.
Workshop: “Paneling It out Together.”
Faculty: Ruth Chan, Sharee Miller
For more information about this workshop, click here.
REGISTRATION IS CLOSED
AUGUST 15-18
“THINGS TO LOOK FORWARD TO” WORKSHOP
Open to any and all creative adults, in and outside the children’s book community.
Workshop: “Things to Look Forward To: Drawing, writing, creating and collecting small joyful things to delight our future selves.”
Faculty: Sophie Blackall
For more information about this workshop, click here.
REGISTRATION IS CLOSED
AUGUST 22-25
WORKSHOP FOR ILLUSTRATORS
Open to published and pre-published illustrators in all children’s literature genres – early readers, picture books, chapter books, middle grade, YA, and graphic novels.
Workshop: “Points of Departure: How to get out of your head and onto the page.”
Faculty: Cecilia Ruiz, Doug Salati
For more information about this workshop, click here.
REGISTRATION IS CLOSED
CLOSING Retreat for Authors and Illustrators
REGISTRATION IS CLOSED
SEPTEMBER 5-8
SEPTEMBER 9-15
RESIDENCY FOR WRITERS AND ILLUSTRATORS
Open to published and unpublished writers and illustrators in all children’s literature genres – early readers, picture books, chapter books, middle grade, YA, and graphic novels.
Apply as an individual artist or as a group of 10.
For more information about residencies, click here.
REGISTRATION IS CLOSED
SEPTEMBER 16-22
RESIDENCY FOR WRITERS AND ILLUSTRATORS
Open to published and unpublished writers and illustrators in all children’s literature genres – early readers, picture books, chapter books, middle grade, YA, and graphic novels.
Apply as an individual artist or as a group of 10.
For more information about residencies, click here.
REGISTRATION IS CLOSED
prices
PEER RETREATS
Prices for Peer Retreats include accommodations and all meals from Thursday afternoon to Sunday afternoon.
Single room: $1,350
Shared double room: $1,000 per person
WORKSHOPS
Prices for Workshops include accommodations and all meals from Thursday afternoon to Sunday afternoon.
Single room: $1,800
Shared double room: $1,450 per person
“THINGS TO LOOK FORWARD TO” WORKSHOP
Prices for the “Things to Look Forward To” Workshop include accommodations and all meals from Thursday afternoon to Sunday afternoon.
Single room: $2,100
Shared double room: $1,750 per person
RESIDENCIES
Prices for Residencies include accommodations, a welcome dinner on Monday night, and breakfast on Tuesday. All other meals are self-catered.
Single room: $1,200
Shared double room: $850 per person
Group of 10: $10,000
Application Process
All retreats involve a 2-step process.
1) REGISTRATION
Register for any and all retreats that you are eligible for. (Registration is closed for 2024.)
2) SELECTION
LOTTERY for Peer Retreats
Attendees are chosen by lottery, with the Additional Factors below taken into consideration.
ADVISORY COMMITTEE for Workshops and Residencies
An advisory committee will select attendees, based on artistic merit or potential.
Additional Factors: For all Retreats, Workshops, and Residencies, 1) Preference may be given to pairs who indicate on their registration form that they would prefer to share a room; and 2) In accordance with our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, we reserve spots for BIPOC and members of other traditionally marginalized communities.
CancelLations
Attendees who cancel their booking more than four weeks before the start of their retreat will receive a full refund, minus a $30 processing fee. Attendees who cancel their booking between four and two weeks before the start of their retreat will receive a 50% refund. Attendees who cancel their booking less than two weeks before the start of their retreat will not receive a refund.
If one of two guests in a double-occupancy room cancels, the other guest will have three options: to find a replacement, to share the room with a guest on the waiting list, or to cancel their own booking.
If, for any reason, Milkwood cancels a retreat, attendees will receive a full refund.
Financial assistance
We want Milkwood to be accessible to all members of the children’s book community, regardless of financial means. To that end, we have set aside limited funds to assist those who are unable to afford the full cost of a retreat. If you have been selected to attend a retreat, workshop, or residency, you will have the opportunity to apply for financial assistance.
We welcome and appreciate contributions to the Milkwood Financial Assistance Program!