We’re upgrading! After seven years of road trips and writers’ residencies, the studios are taking this season off for necessary repairs and upgrades! We are excited to make the studios more accessible to our residents and to the Pittsfield community.
Our Day Residency program will resume in May, 2025 and continue to run seasonally, from May through October, at Melville’s Arrowhead. It is open to anyone working on a creative project.
The Day Residency includes private use of your choice of The Mastheads studios, a tour of Melville’s historic home, and access to the extensive grounds and trail network at Arrowhead. You may reserve as many days as you like.
The Day Residency rate is $100 per day. These funds support our free public humanities programming in Pittsfield and the Berkshire Historical Society at Melville’s Arrowhead. We also offer several sliding-scale residency positions. If you’d like to participate, just email info@themastheads.org with a description of your project and how much you can afford.
The Details
Where are the studios located?
Melville's Arrowhead and grounds are located at 780 Holmes Road in Pittsfield.
The Melville studio is located adjacent to the Arrowhead barn and facilities.
The Hawthorne studio is a 300 foot walk along a mowed grassy path up the hill along the Melville trail.
The Longfellow studio is a 600 foot walk along a mowed grassy path up the hill along the Melville trail.
The Holmes and Thoreau studios are each a 750 foot walk along a mowed grassy path up the hill along the Melville trail.
What amenities do the Mastheads studios have?
The Mastheads studios are rustic and open air. They do not have electricity or wi-fi. Each studio has a built-in bench, a built-in desk, a chair, and a unique series of pivoting wall panels to control natural light, airflow, and views. Past residents have reported unprecedented productivity within them!
Do you provide housing?
No, but there are plenty of beautiful lodging options in the Berkshires if you'd like to stay a while and can't easily get back and forth from your home to the studios.
What kind of facilities does Arrowhead have?
Arrowhead’s grounds include Melville’s barn and house, as well as acres of meadows and forest trails. There are two very clean bathroom in the barn and a gift shop.
What should I bring?
Bring enough food and water for the day. (If you want to leave for lunch, the nearest restaurant or food market is approximately 2 miles away.) The studios are rustic, so wear casual clothing suited to the weather. You may also want to bring a small pillow and blanket for reclining on the bench.
How do I access my studio?
Check-in is at 10AM at the front desk at Arrowhead, in the gift shop behind Melville's barn. If you attend for more than one consecutive day, your additional days may begin at dawn——just take your key with you when you leave. Further details will be provided upon applying!
How late can I stay?
Arrowhead facilities, including restrooms, close at 4:30, but you're welcome to stay until dark. Just drop your key in the black mailbox in the back vestibule of the main house on your way out. (Enter through the back door of the yellow house that says “office.”)
How far in advance do I need to apply?
You can reserve a studio as late as 9am on the day you'd like to arrive. Any later than that, just stop at the front desk at Arrowhead or give them a call to see if there are any open studios: 413-442-1793.
What is your cancellation policy?
You may cancel your residency up to 24 hours in advance. After that, we will charge you the full amount of your stay. If you have Covid or flu-like symptoms the day leading up to your residency, we will issue a full refund. Just send us an email.