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!
GRASPING at
Every year Light Work invites between twelve and fifteen artists to come to Syracuse to devote one month to creative projects. Over 350 artists have participated in the AIR program, and many of them have gone on to achieve international acclaim.
DEADLINE: Applications to the Artist-in-Residence Program are accepted throughout the year. 
