The National Park Art Residency Program
Weir Farm Studio
UPDATE AS OF 10/15/2022* While many residencies suspended their programs in the last 2 years, I was pleased to find a few that were suspended in 2020 are now up and running. This page has lead to some great conversations with other artists- which is one of the big reasons I decided to revamp it. Feel free to reach out to me at the bottom of this page with questions or if you need help with proposals and application materials.
What you will find on this page:
- My history with National Parks Artist in Residencies
- Frequently asked questions
- Contact form at bottom of page
What you will find on other pages:
- List of deadlines and links to artist in residence pages
- Links to other artists and places to find more residency info.
My History with artist residencies
A little about me and the National Parks (NPS). I am a bachelor of fine arts wielding plein air landscape painter who decided my best path to protect my subject matter was to become a park ranger. I worked summers and fall in a few parks over the years (ranging from NY to AZ, SD, MT, CA, and HI) and did art residencies (AIRs) in the winter (Fire Island National Seashore, Weir Farm National Historic Site, Joshua Tree National Park, The Vermont Studio Center, The Center For Book Arts (NYC), and was accepted into a few others that I could not attend due to my park life. While my job has not allowed me to participate in any residencies recently, I continue to paint in National Parks and show my work at the Ansel Adams Gallery in Yosemite Valley.
In 2016 Weir Farm appointed me the Centennial Art Ambassador for the National Park Service Centennial. I spent the year reaching out to artists and trying to find residency matches for them. I am from the NYC art world, and I did not know about these opportunities until after I was working out west. I see that many amazing residencies have small application pools and I want to make sure word gets out about these opportunities.
The programs are always on the line with budget cuts so those who are willing to contribute back to the park are the best residents. Contribution can range from being willing to open your studio door a couple of times a month to leading a plein air event to giving a talk in the community. A few of the residencies (especially in Alaska) ask for regular volunteer assistance with day to day park operations.
I can try to help you with your proposal. For artists who work outside in other mediums besides 2-d I can help explain the rules and regulations that may be involved with installation and performance. And if I do not know the answer I will try my hardest to find it out.
Below you will find a generic list of things I think makes a good resident, from the park's perspective as well as what artists may get out of the experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Parks have National Park Residencies?
-A lot! My list of deadlines does not include them all yet, but you can find access to the official National Park Residency map on my Links page. I have found the map helpful for searching by location but the links are not always the most direct in getting you residency info.
How do I apply?
-Some parks run their residencies, some use outside non for profits to handle things. The NPS map at the bottom includes links with information for each site. The National Park Art Foundation handles several AIRs from one place.
-Most applications are online or by email, however there are a few that still ask for mailed materials so do not wait till the last second. Most will ask for a resume, images, a cv, and likely a proposal about what you plan to do while a resident. These are often publicly funded so many parks expect you to have read the goals of the park and to work your proposal into them. Some parks are focused on wildlife, some on cultural resources, but no matter what parks want artists to let the place influence their work.
-Expect that many applications will be handled by cooperating groups who can handles the money involved with residencies.
When do I apply?
-Usually a year in advance. For example Weir Farm runs a single deadline for the following year. A few run quarterly or trimester deadlines for those trying to plan at the last minute.
What do I get out of it?
- What you get: space, sometimes so much of it. A new landscape. A chance to interface with a lot of people (depending on your medium and the park.) Some parks will ask for a piece of art for their permanent collection.
- Something you will not necessarily get is the networking you might get from some other residencies. You may meet a lot of people, but they mostly are not artists. The focus of these is making new work and interacting with the park.
- For me Park Residencies have given me a chance to paint a lot without distractions (often no reception.) My sense of self developed as I found home in a new environment. I loved sitting in a park and the conversations I would have with passerby. They are about you and your work.
- Though rare, some residencies offer stipends to help cover the artist's costs.
What kind of artist application are they looking for?
- At the end of the day, no matter what medium you work in, the selection official will want to see that you are going to let the surroundings influence you. This is not the residency for someone looking for space to complete an unrelated project.
- Each park does its own selection/deadlines. Look at what the park or historic site has as resources. Look at the history. Look at the landscape. There is nothing wrong with saying "I paint where I am, and I look forward to seeing how my style is influenced by living in this place for a time."
- The best artists for a National Park Residency are those who want to interact with the public. But I know some artists are recluses- and in the parks there are more than a few that would be good for you. But parks are public funding so the public factor is important. They need to justify the costs of the program (ranging from the time it takes to schedule artists to the cost of rent for the artist.) This often is through promoting the artist as someone the public will be able to experience.
- Read the application carefully- some parks have themes and your proposal may need to reflect that. When a park funds residencies through education funds your work needs to support the larger goals. As far as I have seen these applications are up front about what is expected.
- Some residencies have really modern studios. Some don't. When you write a proposal try to understand what you have to work with and be realistic in what you intend to do. Most websites give an idea of the housing at the location on the application.
Can I sell my art in the parks?
-Selling work directly within national parks is illegal without a permit, but depending on the place there can be a work around. Weir Farm did an off-property artist talk where I was able to make sales. I know other artists who arranged in advance with a venue to do a show of the work they created while a resident. Some parks have galleries run by third parties who are sometimes involved with the residency.
Ask me more! Contact form at the bottom of this page. I try to get back within the week.
Here are some future topics/questions that I am currently researching for future updates (as of November 2022)
What residencies accept international applicants?
Do any residencies allow families/children/spouses?
Expand to other federal and local public lands.
Label AIRS by medium.
Stipends.
What you will find on this page:
- My history with National Parks Artist in Residencies
- Frequently asked questions
- Contact form at bottom of page
What you will find on other pages:
- List of deadlines and links to artist in residence pages
- Links to other artists and places to find more residency info.
My History with artist residencies
A little about me and the National Parks (NPS). I am a bachelor of fine arts wielding plein air landscape painter who decided my best path to protect my subject matter was to become a park ranger. I worked summers and fall in a few parks over the years (ranging from NY to AZ, SD, MT, CA, and HI) and did art residencies (AIRs) in the winter (Fire Island National Seashore, Weir Farm National Historic Site, Joshua Tree National Park, The Vermont Studio Center, The Center For Book Arts (NYC), and was accepted into a few others that I could not attend due to my park life. While my job has not allowed me to participate in any residencies recently, I continue to paint in National Parks and show my work at the Ansel Adams Gallery in Yosemite Valley.
In 2016 Weir Farm appointed me the Centennial Art Ambassador for the National Park Service Centennial. I spent the year reaching out to artists and trying to find residency matches for them. I am from the NYC art world, and I did not know about these opportunities until after I was working out west. I see that many amazing residencies have small application pools and I want to make sure word gets out about these opportunities.
The programs are always on the line with budget cuts so those who are willing to contribute back to the park are the best residents. Contribution can range from being willing to open your studio door a couple of times a month to leading a plein air event to giving a talk in the community. A few of the residencies (especially in Alaska) ask for regular volunteer assistance with day to day park operations.
I can try to help you with your proposal. For artists who work outside in other mediums besides 2-d I can help explain the rules and regulations that may be involved with installation and performance. And if I do not know the answer I will try my hardest to find it out.
Below you will find a generic list of things I think makes a good resident, from the park's perspective as well as what artists may get out of the experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Parks have National Park Residencies?
-A lot! My list of deadlines does not include them all yet, but you can find access to the official National Park Residency map on my Links page. I have found the map helpful for searching by location but the links are not always the most direct in getting you residency info.
How do I apply?
-Some parks run their residencies, some use outside non for profits to handle things. The NPS map at the bottom includes links with information for each site. The National Park Art Foundation handles several AIRs from one place.
-Most applications are online or by email, however there are a few that still ask for mailed materials so do not wait till the last second. Most will ask for a resume, images, a cv, and likely a proposal about what you plan to do while a resident. These are often publicly funded so many parks expect you to have read the goals of the park and to work your proposal into them. Some parks are focused on wildlife, some on cultural resources, but no matter what parks want artists to let the place influence their work.
-Expect that many applications will be handled by cooperating groups who can handles the money involved with residencies.
When do I apply?
-Usually a year in advance. For example Weir Farm runs a single deadline for the following year. A few run quarterly or trimester deadlines for those trying to plan at the last minute.
What do I get out of it?
- What you get: space, sometimes so much of it. A new landscape. A chance to interface with a lot of people (depending on your medium and the park.) Some parks will ask for a piece of art for their permanent collection.
- Something you will not necessarily get is the networking you might get from some other residencies. You may meet a lot of people, but they mostly are not artists. The focus of these is making new work and interacting with the park.
- For me Park Residencies have given me a chance to paint a lot without distractions (often no reception.) My sense of self developed as I found home in a new environment. I loved sitting in a park and the conversations I would have with passerby. They are about you and your work.
- Though rare, some residencies offer stipends to help cover the artist's costs.
What kind of artist application are they looking for?
- At the end of the day, no matter what medium you work in, the selection official will want to see that you are going to let the surroundings influence you. This is not the residency for someone looking for space to complete an unrelated project.
- Each park does its own selection/deadlines. Look at what the park or historic site has as resources. Look at the history. Look at the landscape. There is nothing wrong with saying "I paint where I am, and I look forward to seeing how my style is influenced by living in this place for a time."
- The best artists for a National Park Residency are those who want to interact with the public. But I know some artists are recluses- and in the parks there are more than a few that would be good for you. But parks are public funding so the public factor is important. They need to justify the costs of the program (ranging from the time it takes to schedule artists to the cost of rent for the artist.) This often is through promoting the artist as someone the public will be able to experience.
- Read the application carefully- some parks have themes and your proposal may need to reflect that. When a park funds residencies through education funds your work needs to support the larger goals. As far as I have seen these applications are up front about what is expected.
- Some residencies have really modern studios. Some don't. When you write a proposal try to understand what you have to work with and be realistic in what you intend to do. Most websites give an idea of the housing at the location on the application.
Can I sell my art in the parks?
-Selling work directly within national parks is illegal without a permit, but depending on the place there can be a work around. Weir Farm did an off-property artist talk where I was able to make sales. I know other artists who arranged in advance with a venue to do a show of the work they created while a resident. Some parks have galleries run by third parties who are sometimes involved with the residency.
Ask me more! Contact form at the bottom of this page. I try to get back within the week.
Here are some future topics/questions that I am currently researching for future updates (as of November 2022)
What residencies accept international applicants?
Do any residencies allow families/children/spouses?
Expand to other federal and local public lands.
Label AIRS by medium.
Stipends.
|
|
Weir Farm Studio
|