Public Lands Art Residencies List
- Mar 25
- 10 min read
Updated: Apr 2
A list of current artist in residence programs that are land-focused or held on public lands across the United States. From National Parks to state parks, there are many amazing programs out there!
Land focused art residencies are some of my most cherished experiences. I participated in my first residency of this nature in 2019, and since then had the immense privilege of embarking on 18 of them. Some were formal residencies with public lands or research institutions, and others were less formal working alongside researchers in the field.
This list focuses on the official artist in residence (AiR) programs that anyone can apply to that are located on public lands or hosted by organizations with a land immersion focus. There are many other types of residencies out there that focus on time/space, studios, community, etc... this list emphasizes programs that invite us to be embedded artists in a natural landscape.
I am working on a separate blog post with tips for creating your own residency experience or making connections for an informal program, and you can find tips for applying and other helpful info about residences here. And, to add a little perspective; I applied to 5-8 residency programs for six years before I got my first invitation. Some programs receive hundreds of applications, and a rejection is not a comment on the quality of our work. It just means we didn’t align with the specific things the program or selection panel was looking for.
Official residency programs, especially on public ands, are sadly becoming fewer and fewer each year. So, to help folks find the programs that do exist, I made this list. It is not exhaustive, and while I will do my best to keep it updated, program availability shifts each year so check each AiR page for accurate application deadlines etc. I also want to keep growing this list, so please email me or leave a comment letting me know about any missing residencies or needed updates.
For any programs that I personally participated in, I share extra notes on the experience. To start, here’s a summary of residencies organized by agency/type. Scroll down for links to the program pages and a few details for each one, including typical application due dates.
National Parks
Grand Canyon National Park – Arizona
Great Basin National Park - Nevada
Great Smoky Mountains National Park – NC, TN
Hot Springs National Park - Arkansas
Indiana Dunes National Park – Indiana
Isle Royal National Park – Michigan
Joshua Tree National Park – California
Olympic National Park – Washington
Redwoods – California (also includes the state parks)
Rocky Mountains National Park – Colorado
Shenandoah National Park – Virginia
Zion National Park – Utah
National Forest Service
Voices of the Wilderness – Alaska
National Preserves & Recreation Areas (most are NPS managed)
Agate Fossil Beds National Monument – Nebraska
Whiskeytown National Recreation Area – California
Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve – Kansas
Valles Caldera National Preserve – New Mexico
Weir Farm National Historical Park – Connecticut
Cape Cod National Seashore - Massachusetts
Sawtooth National Recreation Area
BLM - Bureau of Land Management
Dalton Highway – Alaska
King Range National Conservation Area – California
(sometimes more programs, varies a lot year to year now)
State Parks
Alaska State Parks – Alaska
Arizona state parks - for AZ residents only
Centrum (Fort Worden State Park) - Port Townsend, WA
South Carolina State Parks
Private Organizations & Nonprofits
Andrews Forest – Oregon
Bernheim Forest & Arboretum - Kentucky
Bloedel Reserve - Washington
Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area (Peter's Valley)
Playa Summer Lake – Oregon
Wrangell Mountain Center - Alaska
Willapa Bay – Washington
At the bottom of the page I also list many of the residency programs that are on hiatus or suspended, in case some come back.
NATIONAL PARKS
Grand Canyon National Park – Arizona
Run by the Grand Canyon Conservancy, 4-10 week residency. They also now have an astronomer and educator residency program, plus specific spots for local and emerging artists. Housing at the south rim, stipend available. Applications May – July.
Great Basin National Park - Nevada
Two to three week residency. Depending on the season, it is a camping residency in the summer, and park housing in the winter. The application period is from September 1 - October 15
Great Smoky Mountains National Park – NC, TN
Four week residencies, applications open Nov-March.
Hot Springs National Park - Arkansas
Campsite with hookups only, no housing. Two residency sessions each year, applications due in March.
Indiana Dunes National Park – Indiana
Application for 2026 due April 30.
Isle Royal National Park – Michigan
This program is really cool because it has both a professional AiR program AND an emerging artist program! I haven’t don’t it personally but it looks like a great experience. Emerging artist is one week, regular AiR is 2-3 weeks. Applications usually due in early February. https://www.nps.gov/isro/getinvolved/artist-in-residence.htm
Joshua Tree National Park – California
Program running, accepts applications April 1-May for rest of that year and following spring. Housing is a mix – sleep in furnished studio space, but shared kitchen laundry nearby.
Olympic National Park – Washington
Unique program that started up recently. Each year they will host an artist for a two week residency that is oriented to a specific interpretation theme. In 2026 it was marmots! Applications were due early march. They also have a student artist program.
Redwoods – California
Consortium of the national park service, state parks, and Redwoods Conservancy. Appears to be offered twice a year, with two application windows for spring and fall. Two to four weeks, park housing.
Rocky Mountains National Park – Colorado
Status uncertain, site says “Check Back in April for Details on the 2026 Artist in Residence Program.” https://www.nps.gov/romo/getinvolved/artist-in-residence-program.htm
Shenandoah National Park – Virginia
Program active in 2026! Applications due early in the year or late in 2025.
Zion National Park – Utah
Applications open in the summer. Highly competitive, receiving hundreds of applications each year. I’ve applied more than 5 times. Housing in the park in a historic cabin, usually 4 weeks.
**note – there are additional national park residencies through the for-profit organization National Parks Arts Foundation. These residencies are not run or directly affiliated with the parks themselves. They are excluded from this list due to the very high application fees, mixed reviews, and lack of good communication with artists during the application process. With that said, I've heard that once folks get in they had a good experience and some come back for multiple residencies, so it sounds like most folks' issues are with the fees and lack of communication for applicants.
NATIONAL FOREST SERVICE
Voices of the Wilderness – Alaska
Various land agencies participate in this very unique residency program. Usually 5-8 residencies each year, and each is held at a different location across Alaska!!. Applications are usually due in Mid-March for the same year’s program.
This program is, in my experience, one of the most well-run I’ve ever done, with a super high level of support and engagement from the rangers and parks/forests. I participated in the Tracy Arm Ford’s Terror (Tongass National Forest) residency in 2024. And while each of the residencies is run by a different group of folks, I've heard excellent things from other artists who worked with differnet land agencies. I cannot recommend this program enough! The application allows you to specify your top three locations and your application is sent to each one. I personally chose to apply with only one program specified so I could tailor my application to that location, but that does diminish one's overall chances.
NATIONAL PRESERVES & RECREATION AREAS
Agate Fossil Beds National Monument – Nebraska
2026 applications were open in February, furnished seasonal housing in the park, two weeks residency.
Cape Cod National Seashore - Massachusetts
Unique residency staying for two weeks in a historic artist shack on the seashore. Applications are due by February 15, Fees range seasonally from $200 - $375 per week depending on the month.
Sawtooth National Recreation Area
Offered as often as possible, looks like about every other year or so, depending on housing and contingent on wildfires. In partnership with Sun Valley Museum of Art that provides $750 stipend. 2-week residency in October 2026, with a show of work created during or after at the recreation area in 2027. Applications for this year's program due April 6th. Artist Opportunities | Sun Valley Museum of Art
Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve – Kansas
Program is run by Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission. Housing is off-site in the nearby community, and looks like it has a goal of community engagement.
Valles Caldera National Preserve – New Mexico
Application for 2026 opened March 1, and park provides housing and also a vehicle for on-site use (vehicle is unusual to see provided).
Weir Farm National Historical Park – Connecticut
Call for Artists runs from November 1 to January 31 each year.
Whiskeytown National Recreation Area – California
Call for spring applicants was due in February 2026.
BLM – Bureau of Land Management
Overview of sites that have or had programs: https://www.blm.gov/get-involved/artist-in-residence/air-sites --- I looked through the list in March 2026 and only found two active locations at that time.
Dalton Highway – Alaska
Unique residency focused on the remote highway, and lodging varies location from one year to the next, from the Arctic Interagency center to Toolkit Field station. Applications usually due in late March or April. https://www.blm.gov/get-involved/artist-in-residence/air-sites/dalton-highway
King Range National Conservation Area – California
In Partnership with the Shelter Cove Arts and Recreation Foundation (SCARF), and the Friends of the Lost Coast (FOLC). Four weeks on the Lost Coast. Show of work and paintings for sale required at end of residency. Sometimes there is a special focus, like having the artist create restroom murals in 2026. In prior years there was a required art show/ sale of work created during the residency held by FOLC at the end of the residency period. Recommended that you have high clearance 4wd for the roads in the area.
STATE PARKS
Alaska State Parks – Alaska
Select from state park cabins. Applications usually due end of October for the following year. https://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/asp/artistinresidence.htm
Arizona residents only – Arizona State Parks - https://azarts.gov/news/apply-now-arizona-state-parks-artist-residency/
Centrum (Fort Worden State Park) - Port Townsend, WA
Various residency programs available from self-directed residencies where you pay to attend to options with funding and for local artists.
South Carolina State Parks
Housing in park cabins or campgrounds, applications open in the fall.
OTHER ORGANIZATIONS
Andrews Forest – Oregon
A special residency focused on creating a 200 year creative and humanities data set for the research forest. Run by PRAx, OSU, and the Andrews Forest. Residency applications open in the fall.
I did this residency in 2019 and it was life changing. Highly recommended!!! Great level of support, wonderful accommodations, and encouraged to connect with researchers and scientists studying the forest.
Bernheim Forest & Arboretum - Kentucky
Long-running program (45 years!) inviting artists to stay and work at the forest and arboretum. Residencies are 6-8 weeks, and have a $2500 stipend (higher than most!). Private housing in a cabin, and studio space available as well. Applications usually released in fall for the following year. Artist in Residence Program | Arts in Nature | Bernheim Forest
Bloedel Reserve - Bainbridge Island, WA
Unique residency at the Bloedel reserve in a stunning architecturally significant building on the reserve grounds. Very competitive. Applications usually open later in the year.
Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area / Peters Valley School of Craft- Pennsylvania
Hosted by the arts organization, various residencies and deadlines each year.
Playa Summer Lake – Oregon
Mix of residencies available at the campus, from self directed where you pay to stay at the campus to funded residencies like the Art/Sci residency for “artists and scientists actively working to promote dialogue and positive environmental change.” Also themed cohort residencies. Various deadlines to apply. https://playasummerlake.org/apply-for-residency/
Willapa Bay – Washington
Place and time residency but set on 20 acres and parks nearby. Monthlong residencies, long-running and highly regarded from people I’ve talked to. Other artists present at the same time, so a creative community is encouraged. Emerging and established artists eligible.
Wrangell Mountain Center - Alaska
"Invite applicants with creative and inquisitive minds who will both add to and benefit from the interdisciplinary efforts at our community hub in McCarthy, Alaska and the surrounding Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve. Artists and writers of all genres and stages in their career are encouraged to apply for our two-week residency." 2026 applications were due March 1st.
Yukon Arts Center - Whitehorse, Yukon
Stay at the historic Jenni house along the Yukon river in Shipyard park. Particular emphasis on folks who have not received a residency in the last three years- super cool! Application deadline for 2026 was in mid-February.
SUSPENDED OR ON HIATUS
Capitol Reef National Park - “Temporarily suspended” starting in 2024 dues to staff and housing shortages. https://www.nps.gov/care/getinvolved/artist-in-residence.htm
I participated in this program in 2021, and it was one of the top programs I did. Superb housing central to the park, a good level of support, and reasonable number of public programs. A lot of the park is also readily accessible with a short drive. I hope it comes back someday!
Crater Lake National Park – Oregon
Program currently on hold due to staffing shortages. So sad to see that this program is not running, I loved it! They had an emerging artist category that was amazing and so supportive of earlier career artists, as I was when I participated.
Petrified Forest National Park (Arizona) – As of 2025 “due to a large construction project, the Artist-in-Residence program will be on hiatus.” Unknown return date, check website for updates. https://www.nps.gov/pefo/getinvolved/artist-in-residence.htm
I participated in 2021. Amazing housing (private unit), right in the heart of the park. Less hiking and trail options than other parks, and gets really hot in the spring. Unique and beautiful in it’s own way, and 2 weeks felt like the right amount of time.
Glacier National Park – Last cohort was in 2025, selected on a two year cycle. Per the NPS site, “the future of this program in Glacier is uncertain. Updates will be posted on this page as information becomes available.” - https://www.nps.gov/glac/getinvolved/air.htm
Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument – there is no current website or call for applications since 2024, and I believe the program is either on hiatus or no longer running after the Trump administration staffing cuts eliminated the wonderful individual who spearhead this unique program that was a partnership with the BLM monument and the Escalante Canyons Art Festival and Glen Canyon Conservancy.
I participated in this program in 2022, and it was also wonderful. High level of support from the BLM. High clearance vehicle helpful for some sites but not necessary. The art festival and show of work created did add a layer of unexpected stress to the experience, plus more public events than normal.
Herbert Hoover National Historic Site (Iowa) – on hiatus beginning 2026 https://www.nps.gov/heho/getinvolved/supportyourpark/artist-in-residence-program.htm
Denali National Park (Alaska) – “The Artist-in-Residence program is currently suspended due to the closure of the Denali Park Road at Mile 43.” https://www.nps.gov/dena/getinvolved/arts-program.htm
Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve – Idaho
Last held in 2024
Acadia National Park – Maine
The park is “currently reviewing plans for Acadia's Artist-in-Residence program in 2026” return date or plan not stated.
Timucuan Preserve – Florida
Last held in 2024, no current info or contacts on the page.
Great Sand Dunes National Park – Colorado
Program terminated, but you can apply to lead artist workshops (check on that info, could be out of date, last memo for this was 2025).
Canyons of the Ancients National Monument - Colorado
Application form not accepting submissions as of 3/25/26
John Day Fossil Beds National Monument - Oregon
Currently not accepting applications for 2026, says check back later in the year for 2027 updates.
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