For Release: Immediate
Contact: Tessy Shirakawa
Phone: 970-529-4628

Mesa Verde Announces 2007 Artist-In-Residence Program

Mesa Verde National Park is proud to announce its Artist-In-Residence (AIR) program for 2007. This program provides accomplished writers, composers, and visual and performing artists the opportunity to pursue their particular art form while being surrounded by the inspiring ancient architecture and natural landscape of the park. The park provides a historic, rustic residence to selected participants for four two-week periods:

• April 30 through May 12

• May 13 through May 26

• September 2 through September 15

• September 16 through September 29

All participants will be required to attend a short orientation session before being allowed to enter backcountry areas. Also, participants will be required to be a “Volunteer In Park” (VIP) during their residency. No stipend is provided. Participants in the Artist-In-Residence program will find the cabin fully furnished including linens and kitchenware.

In return, participating artists are asked to donate to the park an original piece of work from, and representative of, their residency, and present a public program in conjunction with the Cortez Cultural Center during their residency.

Entries are accepted for the 2007 program with postmarks dated February 1, through March 31, 2007 . Applications postmarked after the deadline will not be considered. Notifications of finalists will be made by April 07, 2006 .

For further information about this exiting program and application forms, please see the Mesa Verde National Park website at www.nps.gov/meve or contact Frank Cope, AIR Program Coordinator at 970-529-4607, or meve_air@nps.gov.

~ NPS ~