Every artist I know needs a break from their chicken finger and fries world occasionally. I accidentally tripped across some great residencies where only the extraordinary is likely to be on your daily menu of activities.

There are thousands of opportunities for artists to get a break from their daily routine and a get a fresh look at motivation and point of view…but most of these are opportunities for a special look at one of the United States many National Parks.  Take a look at these great Artist Residency Opportunities.

Denali National Park and Preserve
Artist-In-Residence Program, Denali National Park and Preserve, P.O. Box 9, Denali Park, Alaska USA 99755
Residencies open to: Two-dimensional visual artists, sculptors
Residency period: Mid-June through mid-September; up to three – 10 days each.
Contact: Denali Headquarters at (907)474-8133, e-mail: aduffy@alaskageographic.org or http://www.alaskageographic.org/category/17/arts

Gates of the Arctic National Park and Reserve
Artist-In-Residence Program, Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve, 4175 Geist Road, Fairbanks, AK 99709-3420;
Residencies open to: Two and three-dimensional visual artists, photographers, filmmakers and artisans.
Application deadline: February 1 (received).
Residency period: July or August. Artists must have excellent backcountry skills and physical abilities. One, generally for a two week period; actual patrol typically 7-10 days.
Contact: Tracie Pendergrast, winter 907-457-5752, summer 907-692-5494; email: tracie_pendergrast@nps.gov  or http://www.nps.gov/gaar/

Buffalo National River
Artist-In-Residence Program, Buffalo National River, 402 N. Walnut, Suite 136, Harrison, Arkansas USA 72601
Residencies open to: Two-dimensional visual artists, photographers, sculptors, performers, writers, video/filmmakers, composers
Application deadline: January 31 (postmarked)
Residency period: March – November; four of up to three weeks each
Contact: Artist-In-Residence Coordinator at 870-741-5443 CST or buff_information@nps.gov or  http://www.nps.gov/buff

Hot Springs National Park
Artist-In-Residence Program, attn: Volunteer Coordinator, Hot Springs National Park, P.O. Box 1860, Hot Springs, AR 71902
Residencies open to: Two-dimensional visual artists, photographers
Application deadline: February 1 for June, July, and August; May 1 for September, October, and November
Residency period: June through November; Six of two to four weeks each
Contact: Jeff Heitzman at 501-624-3383, ext. 652 or jeff_heitzman@nps.gov

Grand Canyon National Park
Artist-In-Residence Program, P.O. Box 129, Grand Canyon, AZ 86023
Residencies open to: Two-dimensional visual artists, photographers, sculptors, video/filmmakers.
Application deadline: January 1 – April 1
Residency period: Late September – early October, mid-May – end of May, mid-July – end of July ; Three in total, three weeks each.
Contact: Jennie Albrinck at 928-638-7739 or Jennie_albrinck@nps.gov

Soaring Gardens Artists’ Retreat/Ora Lerman Charitable Trust Artists’ Residency
160 Erica Way Portola Valley, CA 94028
http://www.lermantrust.org
Soaring Gardens Artists’ Retreat, in beautiful dairy country near Laceyville, Pennsylvania, provides 3-6-week residencies to visual artists between May and September. The Trust particularly encourages applications from emerging women artists. Artists are encouraged to apply in groups of 2 or 3.

Joshua Tree National Park
Artist-In-Residence Program, Joshua Tree National Park, 74485 National Park Drive, Twenty-Nine Palms, California USA 92277
Residencies open to: Two-dimensional visual artists, photographers, sculptors, writers, video/filmmakers
Application deadline: Accepted year-round Residency period: October through May; Four to six of four weeks each
Contact: Tim Terrell at 760-367-5539 PST or artmojave@aol.com

Yosemite National Park
Yosemite Renaissance, PO Box 767, Yosemite, CA 95389.
Residencies open to: Two-dimensional visual artists, photographers, sculptors
Application deadline: September 2 (received)
Residency period: Year-round; Four to ten of up to one month each
Contact: info@yosemiterenaissance.org

Golden Gate National Recreation Area
Headlands Center for the Arts, 944 Fort Barry, Sausalito, California USA 94965
Residencies open to: California, North Carolina, New Jersey, and Ohio two-dimensional visual artists, photographers, sculptors, video/filmmakers (Each state has individual eligibility requirements)
Application deadline: First Friday in June
Residency period: Febraury through November; Thirty of 1 to 11 months each
Contact: Holly Blake at 415-331-2787, ext. 24, PST or hblake@headlands.org

Rocky Mountain National Park
Artist-In-Residence Program, 1000 Highway 36, Estes Park, Colorado USA 80517
Residencies open to: Professional Two-dimensional visual artists, photographers, sculptors, video/filmmakers
Application deadline: December
Residency period: Early June through late September; Five to eight of two weeks each
Contact: Artist-In-Residence Coordinator at 970-586-1206 MST

Artists’ Enclave at l-Park
428 Hopyard Road, P.O. Box 124, East Haddam, CT 06423
Residencies open to: visual (including digital) artists, environmental artists, landscape and garden designers and architects.
Application deadline: January
Residency period: Year-round
Contact: ipark2002@ureach.com. Phone: 860-873-2468.
http://www.i-park.org

Weir Farm Art Center
Artist-In-Residence Program, Weir Farm National Historic Site, 735 Nod Hill Road, Wilton, CT 06897 (include a stamped, self-addressed envelope)
Residencies open to: Visual artists (including printmakers & painters), photographers, sculptors, video/filmmakers
Application deadline: January 15, July 15 (postmarked)
Residencies for visual artists from 2 weeks to 1 month, studio and furnished cottage for 1 artist at a time (or, artists may apply as collaborative teams), located 60 miles from NYC. Visit website, http://www.weirfarmartcenter.org  for application.
Contact: 203-761-9945, email: allen@weirfarmartcenter.org

Didn’t find the perfect residency for you?

Check out MesArt.com’s Artist in Residence resource list searchable by state!