Mayapple Center for the Arts and Humanities

The Mayapple Center offers separate programs in a variety of categories for different age groups and skill levels that promote cultural and intellectual vitality in the twenty-first century. These programs include:

Adult Programs

The Mayapple Center for the Arts and Humanities hosts five-day programs in the areas of music, creative writing, visual arts, theatre, and humanities, taught by faculty who are leading specialists in their respective fields. Guest faculty provide complementary lectures that contribute to the cross-pollination between disciplines in the arts and humanities. Participants reside at the Mayapple Center, where there is a range of activities available including tennis, canoeing, swimming, yoga, and meditation. The Center promotes sustainability, and serves produce partially from Mayapple gardens. At the end of a typical five-day program, faculty and participants hold performances, exhibits, lectures, and readings that are open to the community. Tuition for our adult programs is $800 and $400 for room and board.

Cultivating Young Scholars and Artists - Weekend Youth Programs

MCAH offers Cultural Literacy in the 21st Century classes during weekends throughout the year starting in the fall of 2014, for middle and high school students, as well as programs for youth in visual arts, music, theatre, and creative writing.

Resident Artist and Scholar Program

Every March, MCAH offers a month-long residency for 10 artists and scholars in the visual arts, music, theatre, creative writing, and humanities. Residents are provided with room and board, as well as shared studio space. The residency creates space for collaboration among residents, and the center holds open evenings each week so that residents may share their work in progress with the community.

Forum: Humanities in the 21st Century

The Center organizes an annual forum to discuss the state of the arts and humanities in the twenty-first century, inviting specialists and experts in a variety of fields to be panelists in a format that will be open to the public.

International Study in the Arts and Humanities

Mayapple Abroad offers programs to heighten cultural awareness and inspire individuals to create anew in the 21st century. For example, one program traces decorative painting through Renaissance France and Italy and ends at the Center with a decorative painting workshop. These programs are open to participants of all ages according to each program’s specifications and criteria.

Humanitarian Retreats:

The Center offers humanitarian retreats throughout the year to individuals from various human rights organizations, such as victims of human trafficking and domestic violence. These programs are tuition-free and are staffed by volunteers who offer music, writing, and art therapy as well as yoga to participants.

Mayapple creates an atmosphere where artists and scholars of exceptional stature come to teach and collaborate with small groups of dedicated, like-minded participants. Just one hour north of New York City, Mayapple offers diverse programs for adults and youth in a retreat environment where the distractions of quotidian life are suspended, freeing participants and faculty to pursue artistic and intellectual passions. The Center is located on a masterfully designed, 10 acre campus whose serene lake and peaceful landscape of trees and gardens serve to inspire its residents. Activities such as swimming, tennis, canoeing, yoga and meditation promote a strong sense of community among residents, with an emphasis on mindfulness. Onsite massage therapy is available for participants by appointment. The center’s holistic approach to artistic growth and development is demonstrated by our dedication to sustainability. Our meals are partially prepared from organic produce from Mayapple gardens, and we serve locally-sourced food at every meal.