For many outdoor-lovers in the arts, an artist-in-residency at a national park would be the ultimate destination. It’s easy to imagine why being surrounded by some of the most beautiful outdoor spaces while creating art would be so amazing.
If this sounds like a dream, here’s how the process works for the most recent park to open applications—Isle Royale National Park.
The park will accept applications from January 2 through February 16, 2024. From there, a panel made up of park officials and people in the arts will select a finalist.
The panelists will look for people based on these key factors:
- Artistic integrity
- Ability to reside in the wilderness
- Willingness to donate the finished artwork
- The artist’s ability to express the park through his/her artwork
Each artist selected gets to spend two to three weeks in the national park, living in a cabin on the shoreline. When the artwork is complete, the artists are allowed to present the art to the public at the park.
Here’s where you can submit your application to become an artist-in-residency at Isle Royale National Park.
Other National Park Artists-in-Residency Programs
Around 50 National Park Service sites offer similar programs for artists. Others locations include popular destinations like Acadia, Great Smoky Mountains, and Yosemite National Parks. Each program varies. Those interested should check in regularly with the park of their choice and ask when they will start the application process.
Several national parks, like Death Valley and Big Bend, run their programs through the National Parks Arts Foundation, which regularly updates its website with updates about applications.