NPS Photo: Artist-in-Residence program at Beaver Meadows Visitor Center
The 2025 Artists-in-Residence Have Been Selected
Rocky Mountain National Park and Rocky Mountain Conservancy are pleased to announce that seven artists have been selected to serve in a two-week residency at Rocky Mountain National Park during the park's 2025 AIR Program. These residencies will take place this summer, between late May to early October.
Rocky Mountain National Park's 2025 Artists-in-Residence are:
Pierre Jalbert
Hunter Goan
Jillian Roper
Ben Banet
Kite Davenport
Deborah Jojola
Jennifer Ball
During their residency, each artist will host two public programs:
Each artist will present one 60-to 90-minute-long lecture-based program. These presentations will take place at 1 p.m. in the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center Auditorium and will be similar to the presentations featured during the 2025 Winter Speaker Series.
Resident artists will also facilitate a drop-in style interactive program during a four-hour time slot, where visitors can drop in, visit with the artist, and participate in a hands-on activity. These programs will take place at Fall River Visitor Center from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Expect to spend approximately 15-30 minutes at these programs. All drop-in programs will be family friendly and designed for visitors of all ages. Art supplies will be provided and participants will not need any previous knowledge or skills to participate.
The 2025 Artist-in-Residence Program Schedules are still being finalized and will be posted here soon!
Kait Evensen, Textile Artist and an RMNP 2024 Artist-in-Residence, displaying embroidery at a drop-in program at Fall River Visitor Center
NPS Photo
Additional Program Details:
At the completion of their residency, each artist will donate a fully furnished piece of work representative of their stay in Rocky Mountain National Park to the park’s unofficial collection managed by the Rocky Mountain Conservancy. Rocky Mountain Conservancy will hold the rights to each piece of work and the National Park Service will have the rights to share the donated works with the public.
NPS Photo
Brief History of the Relationship Between Arts and National Parks
Since the late 1800s, there has been a special connection between our national parks and the arts. Artists like George Catlin, Thomas Cole, Thomas Moran, Albert Bierstadt, and more played a key role in helping to draw attention to the beauty and wonders found in many national parks.
Recognizing the important role that art has played in the history of our national parks, Rocky Mountain National Park was among the first national parks to offer an Artist-In-Residence Program. Since 1984, Rocky Mountain National Park has hosted over 200 artists through this program. They have included authors, composers, jewelry makers, musicians, painters, photographers, poets, quilters, sculptors, textile artists, and more.
This impactful program is generously supported by the Rocky Mountain Conservancy.
Rocky Mountain National Park, in partnership with the Rocky Mountain Conservancy, is one of over 50 NPS sites that currently host an Artist-In-Residence program. The AIR program looks different at each participating/hosting park, so be sure to check the park's official website for specific program details.
