Hedgebrook invests in women who write by providing them with space and time to create significant work, in solitude and community, and by developing an international network to connect writers and audiences.

Description:
Hedgebrook is on Whidbey Island, about thirty-five miles northwest of Seattle. Situated on 48-acres of forest and meadow facing Puget Sound, the retreat hosts women writers from all over the world for residencies of two weeks to two months, at no cost to the writer. Residents are housed in six handcrafted cottages, where they spend their days in solitude – writing, reading, taking walks in the woods on the property, on nearby Double Bluff beach or trails around the island. In the evenings, they gather in the farmhouse kitchen to share a home-cooked gourmet meal, their work, their process and their stories. The women who come to Hedgebrook are writing in all genres, and are of all ages, ethnicities, backgrounds and levels of writing experience. As of 2007, over 1000 women have come to Hedgebrook. We are building an alumnae network, connecting these writers with each other, and with publishers, editors, agents, producers, readers and audiences. Outreach programs feature work of Hedgebrook alumnae through the Women Authoring Change reading series in Seattle and Literary Landscapes readings at the retreat. The Women Playwright's Festival, co-produced with Seattle Repertory Theatre, features the work of Hedgebrook alumnae playwrights in readings at the Rep followed by residencies. Four playwrights have been selected for the Pulitzer Prize, two as MacArthur Genius Fellows and two have been produced on Broadway.

History:
Hedgebrook was founded 20 years ago, in 1988, by pacific northwest philanthropist Nancy Nordhoff and writer Sheryl Feldman. These two women shared Virginia Woolf’s belief that giving a writer a room of her own is the greatest gift of confidence in her voice. Over twenty years, their vision has evolved into a vibrant community of woman authoring change in the world. Hedgebrook is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The Board and staff are currently focused on securing Hedgebrook's longterm sustainability with the launch of an endowment campaign in 2009. Hedgebrook has offices both on Whidbey at the retreat, and in Seattle, the site of most of the organization's outreach activity.

Contact people:

Amy Wheeler, Executive Director, (phone), (email) Vito Zingarelli, Residency Director, (phone), (email) Gitana Garofalo, Dir Of Alumnae Relations & Communications, (phone), (email)

Office fax number: (360) 321-2171

Address:

2197 Millman Road Langley, WA 98260 This location is handicap accessible (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.hedgebrook.org

Directions:

Take I-5 N to exit 182 Merge onto WA-525 N toward WA-99 / Mukilteo, WA Follow WA-525 N / Mukilteo Speedway for 9 miles to the Mukilteo/Clinton ferry dock The ferry leaves every half hour; if the weather is nice, there will. . . (more)

Miscellaneous Information

Liability
	Yes
Does your organization welcome court-ordered community service volunteers?
	Yes
Does your organization have volunteer positions for youth 12-18?
	Yes