WHAT WE'RE UP TO

The Strange Foundation is an experimental space offering forward-thinking creative practitioners the time, support, and isolation needed to focus and think expansively. Located in West Shokan, NY, Strange HQ is a mini compound nestled in the mountains between a spring-fed pond, a rushing river, and the forever-wild Catskill State Park Forest.

Through our Decelerator residency program, we support ambitious practitioners who leverage their creativity in service of a more equitable, imaginative, and sustainable future. Residents are offered a week of uninterrupted alone time to refocus on their vision and impact from our beautifully regenerative location. We tend to host two residency programs each year, one in the spring and one in the fall, and support ~20 residents per season, by themed application. 

The Strange is more than a retreat space and a residency program, though—we're also a growing community of people who believe in using our creativity as a tool to re-engineer the status quo. We are not formally incorporated, meaning we can shape-shift as necessary to fulfill our mission. In the past, we've worked on publications, granting initiatives, and many behind-the-scenes collaborations. To talk about a co-conspiratorial project, reach out to [email protected].

You can also subscribe to our newsletter for up-to-date information about open calls and residency opportunities.

WHO WE ARE

The Strange is the project of partners Willa Köerner and Daniel Morgan.

Willa is a writer, editor, digital strategist, and mentor putting the internet to work for creative culture. She's currently a freelance creative consultant, columnist for the Pioneer Works Broadcast, and NEW INC mentor. Previously, she developed strategic projects and practical resources for The Creative Independent, directed editorial initiatives at Kickstarter, worked on digital content strategy for the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, was a founding member of Gray Area Art & Technology's Cultural Incubator, and freelanced for a wide range of cultural organizations and publications.

Daniel works to develop and sustain thoughtful web-adjacent technologies, writes about blockchain, and volunteers for various non-profits—including the leadership program Global Glimpse. He is currently the Education Lead for Tumult Inc, a small company that makes the interactive HTML5 animation app Hype.

We are excited for The Strange to evolve based on the needs of the artists and thinkers who come here, and hope the project inspires people to contemplate what's possible when the internet, nature, and our own imaginations come together.

Photo of Willa and Daniel by past Decelerator resident Yumna Al-Arashi.

CONNECT WITH THE STRANGE

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