Laceyville — City Guide for Artists – Reviewed by Artists

Why Laceyville is on artists’ radar

Laceyville, Pennsylvania is tiny, rural, and quiet—and that’s exactly the point. Artists go there for uninterrupted work, not for gallery crawls or networking marathons. Think fields, trees, long stretches of time, and a studio you don’t have to give up after three hours.

If you’re craving:

deep-focus time on a project that keeps getting pushed aside,
nature outside the door instead of city noise, and
a mixed group of visual artists, writers, and musicians around the table at dinner,

then Laceyville is worth a serious look.

The art “scene” here is basically one thing: residency culture. The town itself doesn’t have a big gallery district or constant public programming. Your art community will be your cohort, the residency staff, and whatever regional connections you build in nearby towns if you decide to roam on your days off.

Soaring Gardens Artists Retreat: the core residency in Laceyville

The main reason artists know Laceyville exists is Soaring Gardens Artists Retreat, run by the Ora Lerman Charitable Trust. It’s a retreat-style, time-and-space residency that prioritizes quiet work over public-facing output.

Residency basics

Disciplines: visual artists, writers, composers, instrumentalists, and other musicians
Length: typically three weeks, with occasional two-week stays if the schedule allows
Season: runs roughly late spring through early fall
Cohort size: around five to six artists at a time, depending on the site and mix of practices
Fees: no application fee and no fee to attend

The residency’s tagline could basically be: no demands, just space, nature, and time. You’re not required to give a public talk, teach a workshop, or produce a finished piece. You’re there to work.

Who this residency is really for

Soaring Gardens suits artists who:

are actively working and have a clear practice (the program describes eligibility as at least two years of experience),
want intense, uninterrupted work time more than structured programming,
are comfortable working independently without a lot of hand-holding, and
don’t mind rural quiet and shared living.

The residency explicitly encourages applications from artists from historically marginalized communities, and offers a small number of need-based grants. If cost has kept you from applying to other residencies, this one is relatively low-barrier: no fees, plus the potential for extra support if you qualify.

Two sites: farmhouse and church

Soaring Gardens actually operates with two distinct locations, often called the farmhouse and the church.

The farmhouse site (just outside Laceyville) includes:

a large, older farmhouse with five bedrooms, shared bathrooms, a kitchen, dining room, and living rooms,
a separate studio building about thirty feet away,
two spacious studios (about 750 square feet each) on separate levels, and
laundry on-site.

The farmhouse setup works well if you like a more communal residency experience: shared meals, casual critiques if people are open to it, and short walks between bed, kitchen, and studio.

The church site offers a different vibe: a repurposed church building and grounds that tend to feel more intimate and self-contained. It’s often ideal for writers, composers, and artists whose work doesn’t require large, messy studios.

Across both locations, residents are expected to shop and cook for themselves. There’s no meal plan or on-site cafe. Many artists end up sharing grocery runs and cooking in loose rotation, but that’s up to the group.

Studios and work conditions

The two big studios at the farmhouse are a key asset. They give you:

enough floor space for painting, drawing, or mixed-media work,
room for tables, easels, or instruments, and
the ability to spread out and leave work in progress set up for the full stay.

Because the actual number of studio users at a time depends on the cohort, it’s smart to be flexible about scale and mess. If you work with solvents, heavy ventilation needs, or anything that might disrupt music or writing, contact the program in advance to check compatibility.

Writers and composers often treat the home itself as an extended studio—working at desks, kitchen tables, or in quieter corners of the house, then using the main studios for larger or more physical work.

Application and selection atmosphere

Soaring Gardens accepts online applications through its website at soaringgardens.org (check there for current details). Historically, the program has used a defined window early each year, followed by notifications before the summer season.

The selection leans on:

quality and clarity of your work samples,
a coherent sense of what you want to do with the time, and
evidence that you’re actively engaged in your practice.

Because there’s no fee, you can focus your energy on presenting strong, focused work instead of calculating whether you can afford to submit.

What to expect from Laceyville itself

Spending a few weeks in Laceyville is less about exploring a cultural metropolis and more about treating the residency as its own micro-ecosystem. Still, it helps to know what you’re stepping into.

Town vibe and basics

Laceyville is a small borough in northeastern Pennsylvania with a rural feel: fields, trees, and a quiet main area. You won’t find a dense cluster of galleries, museums, or late-night venues. You will find:

a slower pace that supports long studio days,
a night sky dark enough to actually see stars, and
a modest set of local services, with more options in nearby towns.

Because the residency houses you, you’ll mostly dip into town for groceries and errands. For specialty art supplies or more varied food options, you’ll likely drive to larger nearby communities.

Cost of living and daily expenses

The biggest financial relief is that the Soaring Gardens residency itself is free—no rent, no studio fee, no application cost. Your main expenses are:

groceries and household basics,
transportation (fuel, tolls, etc.),
shipping artwork or materials, and
any personal extras (trips to nearby towns, eating out, etc.).

Overall, day-to-day costs are generally lower than in big cities, but because you’re somewhat isolated, you’ll want to plan and budget. There isn’t a big local art-supply ecosystem, so if you need something specific, order it ahead or ship it to the residency.

Where artists actually work and live

If you’re coming specifically for a residency, your “neighborhood” is the residency itself. The farmhouse or church will be your home base. There is no separate, established artist district in town where short-term visitors usually rent studios.

If you’re extending your stay before or after the residency, you might look at short-term rentals in nearby towns rather than in Laceyville proper, simply because the housing stock is limited and spread out.

Getting to and around Laceyville

The key transport detail: a car makes life a lot easier. Public transport options in and around Laceyville are minimal.

Arriving in the area

Most artists travel by:

driving their own car from within the region, or
flying or taking a train to a regional hub, then renting a car for the final leg.

The roads are typical rural Pennsylvania: scenic and generally manageable, but weather and time of day can matter, especially early or late in the residency season.

Life without a car

Attending Soaring Gardens without a car is possible but takes more planning. If you don’t drive, you’ll want to:

coordinate with residency staff about potential pick-ups from a nearby town or transit stop,
arrange grocery runs with other residents, and
ship materials and supplies you can’t easily buy locally.

Think of it like going to a cabin: you want most essentials with you or en route by mail, instead of assuming you can quickly pop out for specialty items.

Working internationally: visas and logistics

Soaring Gardens is in the United States, so visa questions mostly affect artists who aren’t U.S. citizens or permanent residents.

If you’re an international artist

Before you accept a spot, it’s smart to:

ask the residency for an official invitation letter if you need one,
confirm that your planned activity (non-employment, short-term creative work) fits the visa type you’re applying for, and
check any country-specific rules with your consulate or an immigration attorney if your status is complex.

Many international artists attend short U.S. residencies on visitor status, but that’s not universal. Always verify for your specific situation instead of assuming all residencies are automatically covered.

If you’re based in the U.S.

No visa issues—your main logistics are transport, supplies, and budget.

How to decide if Laceyville is right for you

Choosing a residency is really about matching your current needs to what a place can actually offer. Laceyville, via Soaring Gardens, is a strong fit if you:

want three focused weeks to push a project to the next stage,
enjoy (or at least tolerate) rural quiet,
are comfortable cooking for yourself and sharing a home with a handful of peers, and
don’t need heavy programming, critiques, or a built-in exhibition at the end.

You might look elsewhere if you’re craving:

urban energy, big museums, and constant events,
a residency that includes stipends, production budgets, or fabrication support,
extensive visiting-artist programs or regular critiques, or
a large gallery scene within walking distance.

Practical prep tips for Soaring Gardens and Laceyville

To make the most of a residency here, it helps to treat it like a structured retreat you’re designing for your own practice.

Before you go

Define your project goals. Decide what you want to leave with: a series of works, a full draft, a new body of sketches, a chunk of a composition. The more specific you are, the easier it is to organize your days.
Plan your materials. Pack or ship anything that will be hard to source locally, especially specialized paper, paints, small equipment, or instrument accessories.
Sort your tech. If you’re composing or writing, check that your software doesn’t require constant high-speed internet. Rural connections can be slower or less stable than in cities.
Coordinate with your cohort. Once you have contact info, simple messages about ride shares, grocery runs, or shared items (like big pots or tools) can smooth your arrival.

On site

Establish a rhythm early. Day one sets a tone. Decide on your studio hours and stick to them as much as you reasonably can.
Use the landscape. Walks, sketches outside, field recordings, or simply sitting under a tree can reset your brain between work blocks.
Share resources thoughtfully. Kitchens, studios, and tools are shared. Clear communication about noise, mess, and storage keeps everyone focused on their work.
Document your work. Bring what you need to photograph or record pieces in progress and finished work. Rural light can be beautiful; take advantage of it.

Connecting beyond the residency

While Laceyville itself doesn’t have a big institutional art network, you’re not cut off from the larger region unless you want to be.

You can:

research galleries and art centers in northeastern Pennsylvania and schedule a few visits on your off days,
reach out to organizations in nearby towns for studio visits if that aligns with your work, and
stay in touch with your cohort and Soaring Gardens alumni—this network often becomes the most lasting “infrastructure” you gain from your time there.

Where to get current details

Residency specifics can shift over time, so always confirm the latest information directly at:

Those links will give you up-to-date dates, application guidelines, and sometimes recent photos and reviews from artists who have worked there.

If your ideal residency is quiet, affordable, and serious about giving you time to work, Laceyville—through Soaring Gardens—deserves a spot on your list.

Laceyville, United States