Open Residency Program 2027

This residency is open to creative practitioners working in any medium. Cow House Studios is primarily a studio designed for visual artists; however, we have hosted performers, writers, musicians, and curators for previous open residency programs.

Artists may apply for a one or two-week residency. We aim to grant each successful applicant their desired dates; however, we may offer shorter stays subject to availability.

Most of our residencies run from April to June. On occasion, we will run additional programming in August. You can visit our residency page to read more about current opportunities.

We host between four and eight artists weekly for the Open Residency Program.

You can apply for this residency by clicking the apply button on the bottom right-hand corner of this webpage. You will need a prepared portfolio in PDF format that is at most 10MB in size. We have no specific requirement for the number of images; we advise applicants only to submit relevant materials to reduce the size of email submissions. The images should include captions or short descriptions. For videos, films, or audio, please provide links to your website, Vimeo page, or YouTube page in the space provided. Writers may submit a ten-page sample in PDF format.

You can read a comprehensive list of equipment and materials at Cow House here.

You can read a comprehensive list of equipment and materials at Cow House here. Please note that many of our materials are student-grade. If you require specific materials for your practice, you should bring them with you. Alternatively, you can have them shipped to the studio prior to your arrival. Our mailing address is as follows; please put your name at the top line of the address.

Your Name

Cow House Studios

Ballybawn, Rathnure

Enniscorthy, Co Wexford

Y21 T0X8, Ireland

Here is our location on Google Maps. You can also find us using our Eircode Y21 T0X8.

If you do not have a car, we offer a pick-up from Enniscorthy between noon and 1 PM on the first day of your residency. If you have a car, you're welcome to drive. Below are three popular services our guests have used for travel from Dublin.

Wexford Bus

Depart Dublin Airport Zone 14 at 9:30 AM - Arrive Enniscorthy 11:45 AM

Depart Dublin Airport Zone 14 at 10:30 AM - Arrive Enniscorthy 12:45 PM

Bus Eireann

Depart Dublin Airport Zone 13 Stop 9 at 10:00 AM - Arrive Enniscorthy 12:27 PM

Irish Rail

Depart Dublin Connolly at 9:33 AM Arrive Enniscorthy 11:47 AM

If your arrival is outside these scheduled times, you may use Enniscorthy Cabs (053 923 6666) or TK Cabs (087 655 5190) to travel to Cow House.

We are about three miles from the villages of Rathnure and Killanne. Both villages have pubs that frequently have live music. A local link runs from Rathnure Village to the bigger towns of New Ross and Enniscorthy.

We offer a pick-up from Enniscorthy between noon and 1 PM on the first day of your residency, which will bring you to Cow House Studios. We will also provide transportation back to Enniscorthy on the last day of your program. We will coordinate a time that works for all our guests before departure.

There is a small art shop in Enniscorthy, but we advise coming prepared. You can order online and ship directly to the studio, or you can bring materials with you. You can read a comprehensive list of equipment and materials at Cow House here. If you decide to ship materials, our mailing address is as follows; please put your name at the top line of the address.

Your Name

Cow House Studios

Ballybawn, Rathnure

Enniscorthy, Co Wexford

Y21 T0X8, Ireland

There is no stipend for this residency. Attending the Open Residency Program at Cow House Studios costs €575 weekly. There are 20% student and educator discounts. Additionally, we offer a 20% reduction for participants willing to share a room and studio. These offers can be combined, amounting to 40% off our weekly fee for qualified applicants.

Cow House Studios provides a private or shared room and studio, three nutritious, homemade meals daily, some materials and equipment, and studio support Monday to Friday from 11 AM to 1 PM.

Cow House staff are available daily to help artists locate materials and equipment, and to answer questions about the farm, the locality, or logistical considerations. Studio support does not include technical training.

Upon arrival, artists will receive an induction on any facilities they would like to use during their stay. This does not include technical assistance or training, simply an induction on the proper use of the equipment and facilities. Training is available for a fee of €50 per hour.

Our accommodation is beside the studio. The 300-year-old renovated stone barn provides our guests with a warm and welcoming atmosphere. The shared experience of living, eating, and spending time together forms an integral part of life at the Cow House. The Barn contains five en-suite bedrooms, a cozy dining room, a large living area, an expanding visual arts library, and a busy kitchen where we prepare home-cooked food.

At Cow House, we take our food seriously. We ensure that everyone eats three delicious and healthy meals daily and are happy to accommodate any dietary needs, whether food allergy or vegan or vegetarian requirements. At the creative direction of Co-Director Frank Abruzzese, we serve a variety of foods, from Irish to Mexican, Italian to Middle Eastern. We are proud to use ingredients produced locally: fresh milk and cheese, natural Irish beef and lamb, delicious root vegetables, not to mention our home-baked bread, fruit preserves, ferments, and delicious desserts.

Residency artists who have a private room can invite one guest for up to one week. There is a daily fee of €75 for meals and accommodation.

Many can travel to Ireland without a visa. This website provides a comprehensive list.

If you do not see your question here, please email frank@cowhousestudios.com with any additional queries.