Anyone who identifies as a Black Woman and works in the field of arts education is welcome to apply to attend this retreat. If you are (1) 55+ years old and (2) have demonstrated commitment to the field of arts education with 20+ years of experience, you can still apply as a participant but you may also be nominated as an Elder.

To help ensure the health and safety of our staff and Retreat participants, the NYC Arts in Education Roundtable requires that participants observe the following health and safety procedures in alignment with the policies of the Garrison Institute:

All retreat participants will be required to submit a negative COVID-19 self-administered antigen test taken within 48 hours of the beginning of the retreat. Logistics on this testing process will be shared with retreat participants after their acceptance.

Masks will not be required, providing there are no changes to NYS and CDC guidelines prior to the retreat dates. All participants are welcome to wear masks while participating in the retreat including travel and during all indoor activities. The Roundtable will have masks and hand sanitizer available for participant use.

Retreat staff and attendees are encouraged to monitor their own symptoms leading up to the retreat. Participants will NOT be able to attend the retreat if they have:
– A fever or are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.
– Tested positive for COVID-19 within 14 days of the retreat.
– Close contact with anyone who is confirmed or suspected of having COVID-19.

The Roundtable is committed to providing opportunities for everyone to participate in our programming. Participants will be able to indicate any accommodations and/or accessibility needs to make their attendance at the retreat more comfortable. For more information about retreat accessibility, please reach out to Dani Criss at dcriss@nycaieroundtable.org.

Per the CDC’s website, “In general, the more closely you interact with others and the longer that interaction, the higher the risk of COVID-19 spread.” While there is no way to guarantee zero risk of infection in a space where people are present, the cooperation of staff and retreat participants in following required health and safety protocols is essential to our effort to ensure that everyone remains healthy and safe. All participants and staff must comply with the above procedures. Noncompliance may result in a participant(s) being asked to leave the retreat. Those participating in the retreat do so at their own risk of exposure and possible infection.

Please note we reserve the right to change and update these processes and policies as deemed necessary.

The 2024 Black Women’s Wellness Retreat will be held in-person at the Garrison Institute in Garrison, NY. While the retreat schedule is currently being finalized, participants can expect a mix of sessions facilitated by in-person and virtual presenters.

Due to overwhelming demand, all participants must apply or be nominated to attend the Black Women’s Wellness Retreat.

Applications will be reviewed by a selection committee of Black Women who work in the field of arts education. Participants will be notified by the end of June 2024 on the status of their application and will be asked to confirm their attendance at the retreat by early July. There is no registration cost associated with the retreat.

Elders are defined for the purposes of this application as Black women who (1) are 55+ years old and (2) have demonstrated commitment to the field of arts education with 20+ years of experience.

Elders who wish to self-nominate are asked to please complete the full application to attend the retreat. The Elder nomination form is intended for use by those recommending someone else for acceptance to attend the retreat.

Yes, you are welcome to apply again but attendance is not guaranteed based on your previous participation.

Applications will be reviewed by a selection committee of 7-8 Black Women who work in the field of arts education.

Applicants from outside the NYC metro-area are welcome to apply. This retreat is specifically designed for individuals who identify as Black Women and work in the field of arts education, but the opportunity is not limited by home or working location.

The Garrison Institute is located at 14 Mary’s Way, Route 9D, Garrison, NY 10524. The campus is conveniently located about 60 miles north of New York City.

The Roundtable will provide round-trip transportation from New York City via Metro North Railroad via the Hudson Line leaving the morning of Friday, September 6 and returning in the early evening on Sunday, September 8 (exact times to be confirmed). Upon reaching the Garrison Train Station, a ~5-minute van or car ride will transport participants from the train station to the campus.

Participants are welcome to make other travel arrangements at their own expense.

DIRECTIONS BY CAR
For your own convenience and the safety of our local community, please use the directions on the Garrison Institute website to arrive.

When using your car’s GPS, please use the address of the neighboring Highland Country Club at 955 Route 9D, Garrison, NY 10524 to guide you to the Garrison Institute’s entrance on 9D.

The Garrison Institute offers on-site parking for those who will arrive by car.

DIRECTIONS BY PLANE
The Garrison Institute is accessible via the greater New York Metropolitan area airports: LaGuardia Airport, JFK Airport, and Newark International Airport as well as the locally-based Stewart Airport.

Access more information on air travel to the area here.

The retreat is free to attend including housing, accommodations, food, and round-trip train transportation from NYC.

Please note, round-trip transportation from New York City via Metro North Railroad will leave on Friday, September 6 and return on Sunday, September 8 (exact times TBD). Upon reaching the Garrison Train Station, a ~5-minute van ride will transport participants from the train station to the campus.

Participants are welcome to make other travel arrangements at their own expense.

Garrison Institute accommodations are rustic, simple, and comfortable.

Each individual will have a private bedroom, but will share a bathroom with other participants. All accommodations include meals and linens. All rooms are heated and have a table or standing fan.

Rooms do not have phones or televisions. Free Wi-Fi is available in the gathering spaces, classrooms, and guest lounges in the building.

PLEASE NOTE: Individual rooms do not have Wi-Fi access.
Learn more about the facility and grounds here.

The Garrison Dining Hall serves food that is nourishing, usually vegetarian, and prepared with care. All meals are prepared by Fresh Company, a catering company led by Executive Chef Shelley Boris. Most of the ingredients come from farms and producers in the Hudson Valley. Gluten free and vegan options will be available as well.

Retreat attendees will have the opportunity to share their dietary restrictions and preferences at the time of acceptance, and Roundtable staff will work with the Garrison Institute to accommodate those requests.

The Garrison Institute building is wheelchair accessible via a ramp into the main entrance. The first floor dorm rooms, classrooms, gathering spaces, bathrooms, and dining hall are also wheelchair accessible.

The building does not have elevator access, and stairs are required to access the upper floors. Retreat programming will only take place on the first floor of the building, though retreat participants that can navigate stairs will be assigned rooms on the second and third floors of the building.

The back lawn is accessible via the road that circles the campus. Car transportation around that road will be available by Roundtable staff throughout the retreat.

The gazebo near the Hudson River is only accessible via stairs down from the campus entrance, and then following a path with more stairs before reaching the edifice.

Please feel free to reach out to us at retreat@nycaieroundtable.org with any questions. We invite all applicants to let us know how we can best meet your access needs within the application and via email if accepted.

Our BWWR Committee is currently working on finalizing this year’s full schedule centering wellness, community building, and the arts. Please visit the 2023 Retreat website for information on last year’s offerings.

To help you prepare your application or nomination, we’ve put together Google Doc versions to help you prepare your answers in advance of submitting via the online platform Submittable. Please refer to these documents for the full list of questions included in each form.

Click here to access 2024 Black Women Elder Nomination Questions

Click here to access 2024 Wellness Retreat Participant Application Questions