Artist in Residence

A volunteer at a craft table as visitor make a firefly textile art piece. — Claire Stovall, one of the park’s 2025 Artists-in-Residence, led a visitor engagement program where participants created their own firefly-inspired textile art.
NPS

Art and Parks

Artists have profoundly shaped our perceptions of national parks, using artforms such as dramatic photographs, vibrant paintings, and immersive poetry to inspire and connect us to natural wonders. Their interpretations of the American landscape—through both traditional and contemporary lenses—help celebrate these special places. By sharing their national park experience, artists foster appreciation and a sense of connection, inviting us all to explore and cherish the beauty of the world around us, even if we may not have the chance to visit every park.

About the program

The Artist-in-Residence program at Great Smoky Mountains National Park offers two unique opportunities: for visitors, the chance to engage with artists through creative and engaging programs; and for artists, to pursue artistic endeavors while immersed in a rugged and beautiful landscape brimming with biological diversity and cultural heritage. During the residency, artists apply their skills to help interpret park resources for today’s visitors and for future generations.

Great Smoky Mountains seeks writers, musicians, crafters, composers, painters, sculptors, photographers, storytellers, performance artists, and videographers whose work is engaged in issues that are relevant to the park's interpretive themes.

Visiting between June and November? Check our calendar to see if a public Artist-in-Residence program is happening during your visit to the Smokies!

Gallery of Past Artist-in-Residence Works