The house is both charming and rustic. Artists are housed in a 110-year-old historic house near downtown Cumberland, Maryland. . While charming, it is also quirky. Doors stick, floors creak. It can be drafty/cold in the winter and humid/hot in the summer.

We are frugal in our use of gas and electricity for heating and cooling —it supports the long-term sustainability of both the planet and our non-profit center. In winter, bring warm clothes and pajamas, and expect to layer while indoors and in the studios. In the summer, we use passive cooling when possible. Pack for fluctuating temperatures and expect to layer and remove layers as needed.

Is the house fully accessible? We are sorry to say it is not, but we are working on it. While there are only 3 small steps to enter the house (and we can install a ramp when needed) for access to the first-floor studio and library, the doors beyond that are too narrow (28” wide) for a wheelchair, including the bathroom. We have applied for a grant to help make this space more accessible and look forward to offering fully accessible retreats in the future. Additionally, we are compiling a list of accessible lodging near Kinship Studio. Please email us for more info.

You will be sharing the house.  Unless special arrangements are made, you will be sharing the house with at least one other person. Share spaces include the basement, bathroom, library, and kitchen. We ask all guests to keep shared spaces tidy and to keep showers short! You will also be asked to take others’ needs for privacy and quiet into consideration. If you prefer not to share public spaces, please email us. We can recommend local private accommodations, or you can book the entire downstairs if available.

We only provide accommodations to non-smokers. Smoking is not allowed in or near the house (this includes vaping). As a general policy, we only provide rooms to non-smokers. If you would like us to make a special exception, please email us before filling out the retreat request form.

You will be providing your own food. The kitchen is well-stocked with essential cooking equipment and basic items, including spices, salt, and pepper. The kitchen is on the smaller side, so it is best to keep your meals and meal prep simple.

Linens. We provide two sets of linens per room, including sheets, pillow cases, duvet covers, towels, and washcloths. We also provide a comforter and a light blanket or quilt. You are welcome to wash your linens as often as you like in the basement laundry room.

Candles or any other potential fire hazards are prohibited - always! No open flames ever.

You might hear things like dogs barking, coyotes howling, trash trucks early in the morning, and other people working. Darkrooms and studios are open 24 hours, and some folks like to work late into the night. You might hear running water, printers printing, and exhaust systems running. We do ask people to respect quiet hours from 10 pm to 7 am - no loud talking, and the use of headphones is required when listening to music or streaming during quiet hours.

You might smell things. Art and photography practices produce smells and sometimes fumes. Most studios, including darkrooms, are housed on the same floor as the bedrooms. Our darkrooms are well ventilated, and our bedrooms are equipped with high-volume air purifiers. If you are hypersensitive to smells and aromas, Kinship Studio is not a good fit.

How do I get there? Nestled along the Potomac River, Cumberland is located in western Maryland. It’s a stone’s throw from both Pennsylvania and West Virginia, and about 2h 15m from Baltimore, D.C., and Pittsburgh. Major airport options include Reagan, Dulles, Baltimore, and Pittsburgh. Regional Airports (1h 15m) include Morgantown, WV, and Hagerstown, Maryland. Amtrak also provides intercity service to Cumberland via the Floridian Route (Chicago, Pittsburgh, Washington, DC, Savannah, Tampa, Miami).

Bring a computer/laptop! The computers in our studios are available for printing and scanning. We ask that you do the bulk of your editing, emailing, and streaming on your own computer. If you need to borrow a laptop, please let us know before your arrival.

We have a resident hypoallergenic dog, and you will hear her bark. Rosie is a large poodle mix with service dog training (medical alert). She has a sweet disposition and LOVES people. Sometimes a bit too much. She primarily lives upstairs, but you might encounter her on the porch, while moving through the yard, or when using the attic studio. We ask that people treat her with gentleness and kindness; harsh or aggressive reprimanding is not allowed. Rosie is not allowed in artists' rooms or in the studios. If you want or need a completely dog-free environment, please let us know.

You will be expected to clean your studio.  Studios must be returned to the condition you found them in upon arrival. Cleaning may include scrubbing trays, wiping down surfaces, removing chemical stains from counters, removing adhesive residue from cutting mats, emptying trash, sweeping, and mopping. A studio cleaning checklist will be provided. We recommend setting aside 1-2 hours at the end of your stay. If you prefer not to clean, we can arrange a cleaner for you; the cost is typically $50-$100 per studio.

You will be expected to tidy your room when you leave. We ask each person to remove all trash, wipe down surfaces, and bundle used linens upon departure.

EQUIPMENT MALFUNCTIONS.  Which is just another way of saying "stuff happens". We keep all of our equipment well-serviced. But with that said, as anyone who owns an inkjet printer, or any piece of machinery, can testify, things happen that you can’t control. We keep backup bulbs, ink, cleaning solutions, printer cables, and a range of support supplies on hand, but that doesn’t mean we have everything covered. We cannot guarantee a piece of equipment won’t break. So be prepared to shift gears if necessary.

You will be responsible for repairing or replacing any equipment or household items you break.

Most importantly, we are community-minded, generous, supportive, and welcoming, and we ask that you bring your most cooperative self.  Communal spaces require fairness, sharing, kindness, and generosity from everyone who participates. We look forward to sharing space with you.