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Application: 2026 Out in the Open Weaving Poetry Retreat with Samaa Abdurraqib, Audrey Gidman, verónica perez

Please let us know if a mail-in paper form or Zoom interview is more accessible to you.  Paper applications must be received by the due date, Sunday September 27. Zoom interviews must be scheduled and completed prior to the end of day Friday September 24. Contact Grace (Grace@WeAreOutintheOpen.Org or 207.808.0623) to coordinate paper or interview based applications.
Out in the Open is delighted to announce a creative residential retreat for adults (18+) residing in Wabanakik/ Vermont, New Hampshire, & Maine, to explore writing and poetic forms, and the interplay between textile weaving and poetry with Maine-based LGBTQ+ artists Samaa Abdurraqib, Audrey Gidman, verónica perez.

Participants of all backgrounds, levels of experience, and interest are invited to apply to join us for:

-A 5 day retreat with 3 days of workshop time with teaching artists to explore generative writing, poetic form, and transmuting the written word through the sensory rich experience of small format hand weaving with an array of materials.

- 4 afternoon/evenings of lightly facilitated gathering time (including an evening with the workshop facilitators, co-created by workshop participants, and facilitated by Out in the Open)

- Open retreat time for continued practice and exploration

This retreat is offered on a sliding scale, with no one turned away for lack of funds (NOTALOF). Check out the retreat webpage for more information about the retreat content and teaching artists before you apply: https://www.weareoutintheopen.org/2026-weavingpoetry-retreat

Important dates:

Applications close on Sunday September 27 at 11:59pm. Invitations to participate will be sent out by the end of the day on Tuesday October 6. We’ll need your commitment to attend by Sunday October 11— we will work off of a waitlist after this date.

An optional virtual meet and greet, with Out in the Open staff and retreat participants, will be held the week of October 12. 

Applicants are encouraged to take the opportunity to share openly about their ideas, identity & lived experiences with Out in the Open in the application process.

What is your name? (Whatever you would like to be called at the retreat)

Feel free to share your pronouns here.

What is your email address?

What is your phone number, and can we leave a message there if need be?

What is the name of the place where you currently live?

Are you 18 years of age or older?

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What words do you use to describe or refer to yourself?

There is no wrong answer to any of the questions below, about creative practice. We want to get a sense of where you are at as we bring folks into the retreat experience.

Tell us about why you are interested in joining this retreat.

What is your relationship to poetry?

What is your relationship to weaving and/or textile arts?

Some retreat time will be in group workshops with a cohort of up to 15 other people. What are your thoughts about being in a group? What helps you feel successful when working in a group environment? What challenges have come from any past group experiences?

The information below is helpful to know but will not be factored in to deciding whether the retreat is a good fit for you. Please respond as fully as you can.

The Out in the Open Weaving and Poetry Retreat is a residential retreat held at a rural property in southern Vermont that is spread out over a beautiful hilltop with paved pathways as well as wooded trails. Retreat participants will have double or single rooms in a dormitory setting, specifically All the Way & Halfway Residence Halls. There is a common space and shared restroom facilities in the dorm. The lower level of one dorm building is accessible to people with mobility devices although it is not officially ADA accessible. Retreat workshops will occur in a spacious ADA accessible building on site. Meals will be offered at a central dining hall that is accessible via a ramp and that has a large restroom with grab bars. You can learn more about the campus and see pictures here: https://www.marlboromusic.org/about/campus/ If you have questions about the specific location, please email us here: grace@weareoutintheopen.org Does what is described here work for you? What supports would you need to be in and enjoy this space?

The Southern Vermont town we'll be in is not accessible by public transportation. It is within 30 minutes of Brattleboro. Are you able to travel there on your own, coordinate your own transportation, or would you need support?

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Participants will be provided three meals and snacks throughout the day along with coffee and tea in a central dining hall that is preparing and serving food to people from other retreats on campus in addition to Out in the Open retreats. There will be vegan, gluten-free, vegetarian, and omnivore options. There is a small area in the dorm for participants to store snacks and small amenities, but not to independently cook or prepare meals. Does what we've described above meet your food needs? If no, there will be more space in the next question block to elaborate.

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Here is a place to share more about food related needs, such as allergies and sensory related considerations.

There will be masks, hand sanitizer, and hand-washing available throughout the retreat. Housing will be primarily in shared rooms and a limited number of single rooms. A more detailed guidelines to share with retreat participants if invited to join, including when masking will be required and if COVID testing will be needed. Masking when in shared inside space will be encouraged regardless. If you have questions, reach out to us!

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Will you be traveling and attending with a service animal?

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Will you be traveling and attending with a Personal Assistant (PA)?

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If you responded that you will bring a service animal or have a PA with you, and you’ll be joining the retreat, we will follow up with you to ensure that their needs are met during the retreat time.

Here is space to share more about any access needs you have or questions for us related to accessibility that are coming up for you right now.

Here are the last couple of questions! After you click "Submit," we will manually send you a confirmation email (which might take a few minutes, and won't happen during overnight hours or on the weekend).

Do you have any questions for the retreat hosts and teaching artists?

Would you like to join Out in the Open’s email list?

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