News Release

Applicants Sought for 2026 Artist-in-Residence Program at Homestead National Historical Park

Living History Shoot

NPS/Rachael Sebastian

News Release Date: December 8, 2025

Contact: Dominic Dongilli

BEATRICE, Neb. - Homestead National Historical Park’s 2026 Artist-in-Residence Program is open for applications for artists seeking inspiration from Homestead National Historical Park’s rich cultural and natural resources. All visual (painters, photographers, sculptures, etc.), performing (drama, dance, music, composition, etc.) and literary artists are welcome to apply. 

Full program details are available on the website: https://go.nps.gov/HomesteadAIR. All applications must be received online or postmarked by January 31, 2026, for full consideration. Artists will be notified of selection results by the end of March 2026. 

Homestead’s Artist-in-Residence Program provides two-week residencies of uninterrupted time for artists to work on projects inspired by the homestead story and 160-acre prairie. The park also provides access to cultural and natural resources staff, the park library, and shared park housing at no cost. Artists are expected to conduct a public presentation related to their work during the residency.

Artists have been integral to America’s national parks since their inception when painters like Thomas Moran used his landscape art to lobby for the creation of Yellowstone National Park. Artists continue to play a crucial role in stimulating the interpretation, visitation, and appreciation of the country’s 430+ national parks. Homestead National Historical Park staff are proud to continue this rich tradition through the park’s Artist-in-Residence Program.

Homestead National Historical Park is a unit of the National Park Service, located four miles west of Beatrice, Nebraska. Hours of operation are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Trails are open daily from dawn to dusk, and admission is free. The park has a diverse schedule of events planned for 2025. For more information, please call [phone], or visit https://www.nps.gov/home/index.htm; Instagram (@HomesteadNPS) “X” (@HomesteadNHP), and Facebook (Homestead National Historical Park).

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About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 430+ national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov, and on Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube.