About the Program

How does one apply to the Persimmon Creek Writers and Artists Residency?

Currently, participation in the Persimmon Creek Writers and Artists residency is by invitation of the advisory board. If and when the program transitions to an open application format, details will be announced on this website.

What is the mission of the Persimmon Creek Writers and Artists Residency?

The mission of the residency is to provide a creative space for writers, visual artists, scholars and musicians to live and work in Arrow Rock; to introduce the Village of Arrow Rock to a wider creative audience and encourage engagement with a broader spectrum of visitors; to recognize the historic presence of African American lives in the Village of Arrow Rock; and to enrich the present-day connection to those one-time residents, thus reflecting the past and projecting the future.

Who founded the Persimmon Creek Writers and Artists Residency?

The residency program was established by an advisory board of private citizens, including current and former residents of Arrow Rock, Marshall, and Kansas City, Missouri.

When did the first residencies take place?

Inaugural residency sessions took place in June and July of 2021.

Where does funding for the residency come from?

Funding for the program has been provided through the generosity of private donors and a grant from the Arrow Rock Improvement Committee. In addition, the program’s advisory board collaborates with the nonprofit Experience Arrow Rock to ensure continued funding and resources.

Why the name “Persimmon Creek”?

The residency is named for the novel Persimmon Creek, a 1938 publication by Marshall author and native Nellie Page Carter. Designed for young readers across races, the book tells the story of two Black children who visit their grandmother in a settlement near Arrow Rock called Persimmon Creek. It was the first of Carter’s four novels, and the author based her work on three years of research in and around Arrow Rock.

Practical Details

Where do Persimmon Creek residents stay?

Persimmon Creek residents stay in a cozy renovated private cottage on Arrow Rock’s High Street. The residence features a bedroom, living room, kitchen, full bathroom, and half bath. It also has a front porch and back deck with seating.

Why this particular cottage?

The cottage sits in the footprint of the parsonage for Brown’s Chapel Free Will Baptist Church, an historic place of worship for Arrow Rock’s Black community. Brown’s Chapel has itself been renovated and stands next to the cottage.

What are the features of the cottage?

The cottage is fully furnished. It has electricity, running water, gas, and central AC and heat. The kitchen includes a refrigerator, stovetop, oven, microwave, dishwasher and washer/dryer unit. Sheets, blankets, and towels are provided for residents by the program. The Village of Arrow Rock has garbage and recycling pick-up once a week; these cans are in front of the cottage.

Does the cottage have Wi-Fi?

Yes, it does.

I have pet allergies. Are there animals present in the cottage?

No, although visitors to the cottage have brought cats and dogs to stay in the past. However, the cottage is cleaned thoroughly by a professional cleaner prior to each residency session.

How long does each residency session last?

Persimmon Creek residents live in the cottage for two weeks.

Do residents receive anything in addition to housing?

Yes. Each Persimmon Creek resident receives a generous honorarium and travel funding. In addition, the program stocks the cottage with food and supplies prior to the resident’s visit. If a resident does not have a car, the program can provide transportation between Arrow Rock and nearby locations that offer grocery and dining options, such as Marshall, Boonville, Columbia, Kansas City, and the Kansas City Airport.

What is main expectation for residents and their use of time?

The primary hope for the Persimmon Creek Writers and Artists Residency is that residents engage creative work while getting to know the Village of Arrow Rock. To that end, residents may use their time in the cottage and the village however they see fit.

Are there any social obligations associated with the residency?

Yes, but only light ones. Shortly after arriving in Arrow Rock, residents will be welcomed to the village with an introductory dinner, where fellow guests will include advisory board members and Arrow Rock community members.

Does the residency include any public events?

Yes. The culminating event for each two-week stay will be a public presentation. Residents can read from their work and discuss their projects, their creative process, or whatever subject they prefer. This presentations take place in community spaces in Arrow Rock and are open to the public. A public reception follows each event, offering residents the chance to engage with attendees. There is live music at each reception, including from Kansas City’s J Love Band.

How does the residency offer connection to Arrow Rock’s one-time African American community?

There are multiple opportunities for residents to engage the historical African American presence in Arrow Rock and greater Saline County. The cottage is located next door to the restored Brown’s Chapel Free Will Baptist Church, which is open to visitors. Nearby is Arrow Rock’s Black History Museum, located in the former Brown Lodge and featuring a detailed exhibit on Arrow Rock’s African American residents. Furthermore, the program can provide directions and/or transportation to other historic locations around Saline County, including the Sappington African American Cemetery State Historic Site and the Free Will Baptist Church of Pennytown.

Is there an opportunity for residents to interact with descendants of Arrow Rock’s African American community?

Yes. All participants in the Persimmon Creek residency will have the opportunity — but not the obligation — to speak with descendants of Arrow Rock’s African American community and learn about their relationship to the village.

About Arrow Rock

Where is Arrow Rock?

The Village of Arrow Rock is located on Highway 41 in Saline County, Missouri, approximately 13 miles north of Interstate 70.

How big is Arrow Rock?

Currently, the village has a population of approximately 60 people.

Does Arrow Rock feel very small?

No, especially during the summertime, when the Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre is in session and the village receives significant tourist traffic. That said, Arrow Rock is generally a sedate, peaceful community.

Is Arrow Rock a quiet place?

Yes, it can be. Please be aware that nights in Arrow Rock can be very quiet and very dark.

Do I need a car to get to Arrow Rock?

Yes. Because of its distance from the highway, ground transportation is a good idea. That said, the residency program can provide transportation to and from Arrow Rock, nearby cities, and the Kansas City airport for residents traveling without a car.

Is Arrow Rock walkable?

Yes, the village is very walkable.

Are there restaurants in Arrow Rock?

Yes. We recommend the historic J. Huston Tavern and Catalpa for dining; the Arrow Rock Coffee Company for coffee and baked goods; and the Badger’s Hideaway for ice cream. There are also multiple dining options in the nearby communities of Blackwater, Marshall, Boonville, and Columbia.

Is there a grocery store in Arrow Rock?

No. However, the cottage will be stocked with residents’ preferred foods before guests arrive. Also, should residents need it, the program will provide transportation to grocery options in the nearby communities of Marshall, Boonville, and Columbia.

Are there gift shops and other stores?

Yes. The Arrow Rock 1829 Gift Shop is run by the Friends of Arrow Rock and is open year-round. There’s also the Arrow Rock 1929 Home Store, located in the Miller-Bradford Building, and numerous antiques and gift shops throughout the village.

Are there hotels or B&Bs?

Yes. We recommend Borgman’s Bed & Breakfast and the MRF Inn, both of whom support the Persimmon Creek residency.

Is there access to nature?

Yes! Arrow Rock is a state historic site with ample green and wooded spaces. There are three hiking trails, including the Lewis & Clark Trail of Discovery, which leads to the Missouri River. Arrow Rock is also home to the Missouri River Bird Observatory.

Is there live entertainment?
The community of Arrow Rock hosts public events throughout the year. We also recommend the Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre, one of the country’s premiere repertory theater destinations, during its production season.

Does Arrow Rock experience extreme weather?

In the summer, thunderstorms and strong winds are not unusual, which can sometime lead to tornado warnings. While the cottage does not have a basement, it does have a secure interior room, and there are multiple places to shelter in surrounding residential homes. Upon arrival at the residency, the program will make sure the residents are informed of all these options.