The Art Educators Summer Symposium and Residency at NISDA - July 20th to 27th 2026

A week-long immersive artist residency and community gathering designed especially for Arts Educators at the Nantucket Island School of Design and the Arts (NISDA).

Join a vibrant community of creative educators for seven days of workshops, open studios, artist talks, a group exhibition, and island excursions—all set against the inspiring backdrop of Nantucket’s coastal beauty.

Immerse yourself in a week of creativity, collaboration, and artistic growth in one of New England’s most inspiring Arts environment - see www.nisda.org

As a Summer Symposium participant for a Fee of $500 you’ll enjoy:

  • Private studio space to create, experiment, and refine your artistic vision;

  • Group exhibition featuring one of your artworks in NISDA’s Silo Gallery;

  • Morning workshops designed to expand and enrich your creative practice (offered/required by each Summer Symposium participant);

  • Afternoon optional excursions to explore the island’s art, nature, and culture

  • Evenings at NISDA - Art, Conversation, and Celebration

    • Monday: Opening Reception & Orientation,

    • Tuesday: Artist Talks presented by Symposium participants,

    • Wednesday: Silo Gallery Opening Reception (open to the public),

    • Thursday: NISDA Fête — a lively island celebration (open to the public),

    • Friday: Bonfire/Movie Night outside at NISDA,

    • Saturday: off,

    • Sunday: Open Studios (open to the public).

Summer Symposium Residency additional Fee of $1500 offered for housing at NISDA’s charming Wauwinet House (limited availability for “dormitory” double/triple occupancy) including:

  • Each room includes an en-suite bathroom;

  • Shared full kitchen, dining-room and lounge/common-room (triple includes a kitchenette);

  • Complimentary morning coffee/tea in the shared kitchen; 

  • The initial residency Welcoming Reception; 

  • Free/optional van transportation as provided by NISDA on the island.

Participant Contributions - each Summer Symposium Residency participant will:

  • Offer either a morning Artist Workshop, or an evening Artist Talk;

  • Offer one (or more) artwork(s) to be exhibited in NISDA’s Silo Gallery.

Applications accepted and confirmed on a first-come/first-serve rolling basis.  Housing at the Wauwinet House Residency is limited - only seven beds available in two double-occupancy rooms and one three-occupancy room.  Apply by emailing the Symposium Director Ian Torney at ian_torney@milton.edu.  All applications due April 1st 2026, with decisions confirmed by April 8th 2026, and full payment due by April 30th 2026.

Create. Connect. Celebrate. Experience a week of dedicated studio time, artistic camaraderie, and unforgettable island moments — where creativity meets community, and inspiration flows freely.

NISDA Art Educators Summer Symposium and Residency Schedule:

Monday July 20th: 

  • arrival @ 4:00pm (complimentary van transportation from Nantucket ferry to NISDA available, with a stop on the way at the local grocery store to purchase food)

  • 6:30 to 7:30pm - Welcome, NISDA Orientation, Symposium Schedule (with light refreshments)

  • 7:30 to 8:30pm - van to Pocomo Beach for sunset (swim?)

Tuesday July 21st:

  • 8:30am - coffee/tea available in the Wauwinet kitchen

  • 9:30am to 12noon - Workshops TBA (Silo Exhibition installation TBA)

  • (optional 1:30pm afternoon van transportation to downtown Nantucket available)

  • afternoon Open Studio

  • 7:00 to 8:30pm - member Artist Talks TBA (25-minute presentations)

Wednesday July 22nd:

  • 8:30am - coffee/tea available in the Wauwinet kitchen

  • 9:30am to 12noon - Workshops TBA

  • (optional 1:30pm afternoon van transportation to Sconset Village and Beach/Bluff-Walk available)

  • afternoon Open Studio

  • 7:00 to 8:00pm Silo Exhibition Opening Reception - the “Arts Educators Symposium Exhibition” (open to the public)

  • 8:00 to 9:00pm - member Artist Talks TBA (25-minute presentations - open to the community)

Thursday July 23rd:

  • 8:30am - coffee/tea available in the Wauwinet kitchen

  • 9:30am to 12noon - Workshops TBA

  • (optional 1:30pm afternoon van transportation to Madaket Beach/Bartlett’s Farm and Grocery/Cisco Brewery available)

  • afternoon Open Studio

  • 6:00 to 9:00pm - NISDA Thursday Nite Fete (community open-mic music or spoken-word with food trucks and artists booths - open to the public)

Friday July 24th:

  • 8:30am - coffee/tea available in the Wauwinet kitchen

  • 9:30am to 12noon - Workshops TBA

  • (optional 1:30pm afternoon van transportation to Nantucket available)

  • afternoon Open Studio

  • 7:00 to 9:00pm - Bonfire/Movie Night (the Klaus choice?) outside at NISDA

Saturday July 25th:

  • 8:30am - coffee/tea available in the Wauwinet kitchen

  • morning/afternoon Open Studio

  • (optional 1:30pm afternoon van transportation to downtown Nantucket and/or Jetty’s Beach available)

Sunday July 26th:

  • 8:30am - coffee/tea available in the Wauwinet kitchen

  • (optional - “Clamming Seminar” with Mitch with timing tide-dependent)

  • 2:30 to 4:30pm - afternoon Open Studio (open to the public)

  • 5:00pm - strike the Art Educators Symposium Exhibit at the Silo Gallery

Monday July 27th: 

  • 8:30am - coffee/tea available in the Wauwinet kitchen

  • departure @ 10:00am (complimentary van transportation from NISDA to Nantucket ferry available)

PROPOSED WORKSHOPS

  • Beginning Technique of Oil Painting/Abstraction 

  • Beginning Technique of Acrylic Painting/Still-Life

  • Beginning Technique of Watercolor Painting/Landscape

  • Plein-Air Landscape Painting in Oil, Acrylic and/or Watercolor

  • Drawing in Nature with Graphite/Charcoal/Pastel

  • Beginning Ceramic Technique with the Bowl Project

  • Beginning Printmaking Technique

  • Photography in the Landscape

  • Sculptural Assemblage

  • Textile Design

  • Zen-Tangles

  • Forrest-Bathing

  • Creative Writing: journaling the spoken word

  • Creative Writing: the haiku poem

  • other (proposals welcome)

PROPOSED ARTIST TALKS

  • Individual Artist Practice 

  • Artist Innovations in the Classroom

  • The Art of the Critique

  • other (proposals welcome)

FEES:

  • Arts Educators Summer Symposium at NISDA Fee - $500: includes the initial residency Welcoming Reception; all scheduled Summer Salon day and evening Meetings/Workshops/Artist Talks; Open Studio space; and an exhibition at the Silo Gallery (each member exhibits one artwork).

  • Arts Educators Summer Symposium at NISDA Residency Fee - $1500: includes all housing at NISDA’s Wauwinet House and complimentary morning coffee/tea; the initial residency Welcoming Reception; free/optional van transportation as provided by NISDA on the island; as well as all scheduled Summer Symposium day and evening Meetings/Workshops/Artist Talks; Open Studio space; and an exhibition at the Silo Gallery (each participant exhibits one artwork).

NOTES:

  • All morning Workshops free to Art Educator Summer Symposium participants with all materials provided (additional NISDA community members can join any Workshop per NISDA Fees schedule);

  • Summer Symposium participants must supply their own materials to create their own artworks during Open Studio (clay/glazes/wheels etc. available for an additional fee, and tables and/or easels and limited tools/power tools available);

  • Residency at Wauwinet House are “dormitory quarters” with double or triple occupancy (couples and/or friends encouraged to apply together), with each room including an en-suite bathroom, and a shared kitchen/dining-room and lounge/common-room and limited washer/dryer facilities available - all bedding/linens/pillows and towels are provided (bring your own beach towels etc.);

  • Wauwinet House Residency participants provide for their own meals, with a shared full kitchen/dining-room and lounge available, with all basic cutlery and cookware provided (complimentary coffee/tea available at the Wauwinet kitchen every morning, and afternoon trips to local grocery stores available TBA);

  • Bringing an automobile to Nantucket is not necessary (estimated costs @ $375 ferry one-way - book early) as NISDA will provide complimentary daily van service for all Summer Symposium Residency participants as scheduled to/from the Nantucket ferry (estimated costs @ $70 fast-ferry or @ $15 slow-boat ferry one-way), to/from Residencies in the morning and/or evening (@ less than a mile away from NISDA studios i.e also or a short walk or bike-ride), as well as optional afternoon van trips as scheduled and provided by NISDA Staff and/or the Summer Symposium Director;

  • Bicycles with helmet and locks are also available via NISDA, or bring your own bicycle or e-bike - closest Pocomo Beach (inner harbor beach) 1.5 miles or Quidnet Beach (outer beach) 3 miles from Waiwenet House, and/or see various bike trails and walking/nature trails throughout the island;

  • Limited public bus transportation or Taxi/Uber/Lift throughout the island also available;

  • The Symposium is open to teachers, artists, writers, educators, college professors etc. - confirmation required from the Summer Symposium Director and the NISDA Director;

  • Application deadline April 1st 2026, and accepted and confirmed on a rolling first-come/first-serve basis - email Art Educators Summer Symposium Director Ian Torney @ ian_torney@milton.edu to apply. All applications due April 1st 2026, with decisions confirmed by April 8th 2026, and full payment due by April 30th 2026.