Yaddo Mansion, the historic 45,000-square-foot building at the center of Saratoga Springs’ Trask estate, has recently received a $250,000 grant from New York State for winterization and renovations.
The 122-year-old mansion has fallen into disrepair as a result of harsh winters and the passage of time, and is currently unable to host artists from September through April each year.
Yaddo is prominently known as a National Historic Landmark and an artists retreat, drawing around 60,000 visitors annually. 220 artists call Yaddo “home” each year as part of the residency program that encourages creativity, exploration, and the creation of masterpieces in a variety of artistic disciplines.
Since 1926, 6,500 artists have participated in Yaddo’s residency program, including James Baldwin, Leonard Bernstein, Aaron Copland, and Sylvia Plath. Senator Kathleen Marchione, who played an integral role in securing funds for Yaddo, has stated, “Yaddo has a long, proud tradition of supporting artists and the artistic process, and is an institution that deserves our community-wide support.”
Five new live-work studios are currently being constructed on the property, so the residency program will be able to continue uninterrupted while repairs are made to the mansion.
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