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Artist in Residence

We are thrilled to announce that Holy Wisdom is the recipient of a generous donation that will sponsor a three to four week stay for an Artist in Residence at Holy Wisdom during August, starting in 2026. We express huge gratitude to Dr. Bill Knoedler, a neighbor, former Benedictine Life Foundation Board member and long-time community member of Holy Wisdom. During his career, Bill served as a psychiatrist and Unit Chief of the Training in Community Living Program in Madison. Bill is sponsoring this opportunity in remembrance of his late wife, Vicky Tzoumerka Knoedler (1941-2022).

Vicky Tzoumerka Knoedler 

Vicky, born in Athens, Greece, was a prolific and prominent composer of classical music, singer-performer and dancer-choreographer, and played piano, violin and cello. She founded and directed the Mesoghios Greek Dance Troupe for 47 years. Vicky also helped to organize the International Festival at the Madison Overture Center.  She received the WI Dance Council Lifetime Achievement Award for her work in dance. Vicky was born with a loving and creative spirit and touched many lives through her art, music and performance. Bill expresses his eternal gratitude for Vicky, the love of his life, and all the ways she brought art and creativity to their lives.

Vicky Tzoumerka Knoedler Artist in Residence at Holy Wisdom Monastery

Bill, in partnership with Holy Wisdom Monastery, is excited to provide this opportunity for artists of exceptional promise and demonstrated accomplishment to have quiet, sacred time to focus, create, advance or complete their work in the peaceful and beautiful setting of Holy Wisdom during a time when the support of the arts is dwindling. Artists include those working in visual, literary and performing arts, as well as individuals whose work doesn’t fit neatly into one of those categories.

Residencies

Residencies occur for three to four consecutive weeks during the summer months in the hermitage of Holy Wisdom Monastery. The hermitage includes a living room, kitchen, bedroom (with one queen bed), bath, deck, air conditioning and parking. There is no internet connection in the hermitage, but hermitage guests may connect to the Wi-Fi in the monastery building or retreat and guest house. Laundry facilities are available for hermitage guests.

The dates will be determined by the guest services staff the year prior. The rent and meals are included in the residency. Residents must arrange for their own transportation to and from the monastery, any offsite travel during their stay and any incidental costs during the residency.

Meals

Hermitage guests may cook their own purchased meals or join in community meals lovingly prepared by our culinary team. Our culinary team makes lunch and dinner Tues – Sat using the commercial kitchen onsite. A light continental, self-serve breakfast is available each morning in the retreat and guest house. Chef Felipe Saint-Martin is happy to accommodate dietary restrictions and is committed to carrying out the monastery’s mission to care for the earth by cooking from the sisters’ gardens and buying from local farmers whenever possible.

Workspaces

The full hermitage and other public workspaces at the monastery are available to the artist, including the library, gathering areas and dining areas. The artist may work with the guest services staff to reserve additional workspaces if needed, but additional fees may apply.

Location

Holy Wisdom Monastery is a community of communities originally founded by a group/community of religious sisters and continues to honor the values and spirit of St. Benedict. The monastery is located near Madison, Wisconsin, a vibrant city with a plethora of lakes, parks, miles of bike trails, farmers’ markets, incredible restaurants and food, culture, festivals and more. Prayer, hospitality, justice and care for the earth form the heart of the communities of Holy Wisdom. The peaceful setting is on 190 acres of restored prairie and oak savanna, a retreat and guest house and an eco-friendly monastery building.

Engagement

As part of the Vicky Tzoumerka Knoedler Artist in Residence, the artist is expected to host one public event during their stay, such as a workshop, reading, talk, performance or art show.

Application Process

Holy Wisdom Monastery begins accepting applications on December 15th of each year. Applications must be received in full by March 1. Artists will be notified of the selection by April 15th of each year.

Selection Process

A selection committee comprised of local artists and members of the Holy Wisdom Program Team will select from the pool of applicants. Selections will be made based on merit and assessment as to how their work can advance the organization’s mission of working in the Benedictine spirit to care for the earth, provide hospitality, prayer and/or justice in the spirit of Vicky Tzoumerka Knoedler.

Apply Today (closed for 2026)

If you are an artist, writer, musician, dancer or performer in need of quiet and sacred time and space to focus, create, advance or complete your work please consider applying by March 1, 2026 for the Vicky Tzoumerka Knoedler Artist in Residence at Holy Wisdom Monastery for three or four weeks in August 2026.