Christy Williams, a Saratoga Springs native, grew up between ballet barres and art studios. Her journey with Yaddo began in 2010 after graduating from the Boston Conservatory. In her early years at Yaddo, Christy assisted in transitioning Yaddo from an all-paper application to a fully electronic platform. The work at Yaddo was a perfect blend of her strengths, education, and artistic passion. Alongside her work at Yaddo, Christy pursued a career as a professional dancer, performing in the Capitol Region and New York City. Her dance career has taken her to stages in Boston, Philadelphia, Martha’s Vineyard, New York, Brisbane, and Adalaide Australia.
After several years performing and generating choreography, Christy returned to Yaddo where she now serves as the Director of Program. In this role, she manages the admissions process, schedules artists to maximize Yaddo’s facility use, coordinates the use of residency endowments and access grants, and oversees the overall residency experience. In addition to her responsibilities at Yaddo, Christy shares her artistic expertise as an adjunct lecturer in the Dance Department at Skidmore College.
Beyond professional pursuits, Christy enjoys outdoor actives such as skiing, hiking, bowhunting, ice fishing, and cruising on her Indian Scout. On weekends, she can be found working with her flocks of sheep, chickens, and bee hives on her farm in Argyle, NY.
Kristina Marie Darling: Tell us more about Yaddo, its mission, and its history.
CW: The Trask family, deeply affected by the loss of their children, turned their grief into hope by dedicating their home to the future of creative artists. They envisioned Yaddo as a sanctuary where writers, composers, visual artists, and others could retreat and pursue their work. Shortly after the turn of the century, Yaddo welcomed its first artists. Our mission remains simple yet necessary: to nurture the creative process by providing uninterrupted time and space for artists to create.
KMD: How did you first become involved in Yaddo’s administration? What has been the greatest reward and the greatest challenge of your role there?
CW: I began working under Candace Wait, our former Program Director, in a part-time role during the January 2010 admissions cycle. My primary task was copying and mailing manuscripts to readers and judges. From the start, it was a great fit: my background in dance performance, choreography, and visual arts complemented Candace’s guidance as a wonderful mentor. A highlight of those early days was sending an invitation to my high school hero, Laurie Anderson.
The biggest challenge was transitioning from the highly physical demands of the studio and stage to the structured environment of an office—something no Conservatory training prepares you for!
KMD: I’m impressed and heartened by Yaddo’s commitment to fostering cross-disciplinary collaboration. Can you speak to some specific features of the residency program and application process that are designed with this goal in mind?
CW: Over the years, many talented collaborators have come through our doors. One recent duo that stands out is James Lapine and Michael Korie. The uninterrupted environment we provide is a tremendous asset for artists working across disciplines, especially given the hectic schedules many face today. Yaddo’s unique quiet and focus create the ideal space for collaboration, giving artists the time and freedom they need to truly connect and create.
KMD: What is one artist success story you’re especially proud of and why?
CW: It is hard to pinpoint one, but the many artists who had their dates postponed because of the pandemic and our ability to work with them and get each and everyone rescheduled was such a gratifying process. Each one was so grateful and everyone on our team felt so good to finally get those artists the time they deserved after going through so much.
KMD: Can you share an anecdote that–for you–encapsulates Yaddo’s vision and legacy?
CW: I love hearing from artists after their residencies about what they were able to achieve—not just in terms of volume, but in the quality of their work. One artist, a full-time working mother balancing her creative career, shared how the simple act of not having to plan, prepare, or clean up meals freed up immense mental space. It reminds me of the value of what we provide: a quiet room with fresh bedding, three meals a day, and the removal of daily responsibilities, creating the freedom to fully focus on their art.
KMD: What’s next for Yaddo? What can writers and artists look forward to?
CW: The continual renewal and improvement of spaces with sustainability at the forefront of all buildings plans is exciting for me and the artists we serve. We have big plans and sound practices to maintain and steward both the older buildings that were handed down to us by the Trasks and their predecessors, and also creating new and relevant spaces within our beautiful landscape here.