Residents are expected to treat our facilities with care and consideration as well as be mindful of each other’s space. Whether it’s in a living or working situation, everyone is responsible to clean up after themselves, and to leave the space inviting for others. Just as we are asking you to respect our facilities and each other, we will ask you to extend the same measure of mindfulness towards our tools, equipment, and instruments. Whether you are handling a tripod, a power tool, a piano, or a blender, please use it with respect to your and its capacity. 

Please be aware that our House and other facilities are rather old and considered to be “works in progress”; they are “under construction”, continually evolving and undergoing changes throughout the year. You are invited to participate in these structural changes to learn about various aspects of construction and contribute to making this our (and your) home. We thank you for your understanding. 

All residents are expected to clean up after themselves and to keep shared areas clear and functional for others.

Please do not leave personal belongings in common areas, studios, kitchens, dining rooms, or lounges. These spaces are used by many people throughout the day. Leaving your things in a shared space does not reserve it for personal use, even if you plan to return later.

Depending on the season, you may be sharing the campus with 10 people or with 60. Please be aware of this and adjust your use of shared space accordingly.

We share approximately three communal dinners each week. These meals are listed on the shared Google Calendar, along with their times and locations.

Everyone is encouraged to participate, and no prior cooking experience is required. Being on a meal prep team does not mean you have to lead. You can also assist or support someone else’s plan. Sometimes one person proposes a menu. Other times, the group comes up with it collaboratively.

Before you sign up for a meal prep day (by clicking on the button below):

• First, check the Google Calendar to confirm your class schedule. If your class or other commitments end close to or during prep time, please choose a different day when you are fully available.

• Have a plan in place, including the recipe or concept and a list of ingredients, at least two days in advance.

• Do the grocery shopping ahead of time. Arts Letters & Numbers covers the cost, but you are responsible for organizing, shopping, and preparation.
  

Each dinner generally requires: 3 to 5 people to prepare the meal and 3 to 5 people to handle cleanup and dishwashing afterward. Everyone is expected to participate at least once in both roles during their stay. With a full house, no one should be involved more than once every two weeks. Beyond the cooking itself, the meal prep team is also responsible for deciding the setting. This includes where the dinner will be held, how the space is arranged, and what kind of atmosphere is created. This might involve setting the table, lighting, decoration, or any small details that bring the meal together.

We encourage you to treat these dinners as more than logistical tasks. They are opportunities to share something personal, to reflect a part of your background or your culture, or simply to create an experience that others can enjoy. They can be a window into your world, and they are just as much a creative act as any other project on campus. These meals are one of the central ways we come together, and we hope you will approach them with the same care and imagination you bring to your work.

If you are cooking for yourself, for any meal of the day (breakfast to dinner) you are responsible for cleaning up immediately after the cooking is done. Do not wait until after you have finished eating.

This includes:

• Washing all dishes, pots, pans, and utensils you used

• Cleaning the stovetop and any surfaces you used

• Putting away ingredients and supplies

• Leaving the sink, counter, and stove ready for the next person

Even short delays of fifteen to forty-five minutes between cooking and cleaning can prevent others from using the kitchen. This includes access to the sink, pans, burners, or workspace. If everyone leaves their mess until after they eat, it creates bottlenecks that affect everyone else’s ability to prepare food or clean up.

Do not leave dirty items in the sink, on the stove, or on the counter at any time. If you used it, clean it and put it away before you sit down to eat. This is not only about tidiness. It is about keeping shared tools and spaces accessible and functional for everyone throughout the day.

The shared Google Calendar contains the schedule of communal meals, workshops, classes, and events. Please check it regularly and use it to stay informed.

If you’re ever unsure about how something works, or if you have questions or ideas to contribute, speak with a member of our team or reach out to us directly at info@artslettersandnumbers.com.

Thanks for helping make this a thoughtful, respectful, and creative environment. We look forward to what you’ll bring to the space.

Arts Letters & Numbers is located on a multi-building campus in Averill Park, NY, set in the hills of Rensselaer County. The campus includes a collection of living, working, and gathering spaces, all within walking distance. The atmosphere is informal and always in development, shaped by the people who pass through and contribute to its evolving form.

Key ALN Spaces:

• House on the Hill – Primary residence with shared bedrooms, full kitchen, dining and gathering space, workstations, and WiFi throughout

• The Studios – Main studio and workshop space, featuring tools for wood and metal work, open studio floors, kitchen, library, and communal areas for work and events. For more specificity on how the studios are divided, and to cross-reference the naming used in the Google Calendar, please click here to view the studio breakdown and layout of the main spaces.

• The Barn – Indoor-outdoor venue for concerts, dinners, lectures, and gatherings, used year-round

• The Grounds – Trails, outdoor work areas, fire pits, wooded terrain, and lawn spaces connecting the entire property

• Twin Houses (North & South) – Additional living/studio spaces occasionally used for guests, smaller group residencies, or overflow accommodations

• La Perla Restaurant & Country Inn – Located just a short drive from the main campus, La Perla offers a blend of tradition and innovation in the historic Gregory Inn estate. The inn features twelve uniquely themed guest rooms each with a private bathroom, cable television, free internet, individually controlled heat/AC, desks, and telephones.

WiFi Access

House on the Hill / Barn (Network: House on the Hill , Password: artslettersandnumbers

Studios (Network: ALN Studios , Password: artslettersandnumbers)

North Twin House (Network: My Spectrum wifi F7-2g or 5g , Password: writerharbor208)

South Twin House (Network: Spectrum wifi10-2g or 5g , Password: swiftsquirrel576)

WiFi is available in all interior spaces, though we encourage time offline as well — to engage with the space, the work, and each other without distraction.)