Artists have created art in national parks since the late 19th century when famed Hudson River School painters captured the majestic views of our nation's western parks. Today, the sights and sounds in national parks continue to inspire artists in more than 50 residency programs across the country.
Whether staying in a remote wilderness cabin at Denali National Park and Preserve in Alaska or contemplating history at Herbert Hoover National Historic Site in Iowa or working in a contemporary studio overlooking the stone-lined fields at Weir Farm National Historic Site in Connecticut, these programs provide artists with unique opportunities to create works of art in varied natural and cultural settings.
There are programs for visual artists, writers, musicians, and other creative media. Programs vary, but residencies are typically 2 to 4 weeks in length and most include lodging. Often artists are invited to participate in park programs by sharing their art with the public.
Whether staying in a remote wilderness cabin at Denali National Park and Preserve in Alaska or contemplating history at Herbert Hoover National Historic Site in Iowa or working in a contemporary studio overlooking the stone-lined fields at Weir Farm National Historic Site in Connecticut, these programs provide artists with unique opportunities to create works of art in varied natural and cultural settings.
There are programs for visual artists, writers, musicians, and other creative media. Programs vary, but residencies are typically 2 to 4 weeks in length and most include lodging. Often artists are invited to participate in park programs by sharing their art with the public.
Artist-in-Residence at National Park Service Sites
Artist-in-Residence opportunities are offered directly by individual National Park Service sites. Use one of the following two methods to look for and explore Artist-in-Residence Programs:
Visit the Artist-in-Residence Webpage for a Specific National Park Service Site
To find out of a specific site offers an Artist-in-Residence Program, visit that specific site's website. Find a site by state and then on the navigation bar for the site, click Get Involved and then look for Volunteer or Artist-in-Residence. Many sites provide information about their Artist-in-Residence Programs within that site including the application process and selection. Note that not all sites have an Artist-in-Residence webpage.
Search for "Artist-in-Residence" in the NPS.gov Search Tool
Select "All NPS" to view a list of webpages for site-level Artist-in-Residence Programs as well as Artist-in-Residence stories. See image below for reference.
Meet Artists-in-Residence and See Their Work
Last updated: October 16, 2024