Artist-In-Residence Program

 

Painting titled "El Amanecer"

Courtesy Hunter Goan, 2025 Artist-in-Residence

Interested in Applying for the 2026 Artist-in-Residence Program?

Applications Will Be Accepted Beginning on Monday, December 15, 2025

Rocky Mountain National Park's AIR program is open to artists of all creative disciplines. Selected artists will serve in a two-week residency within Rocky Mountain National Park. During their residency, selected artists will reside in a rustic cabin located inside Rocky Mountain National Park where they can gain inspiration and create artistic works.

For application guidelines and instructions on how to submit your AIR application, visit Rocky Mountain National Park's AIR Application Webpage

 

Artist-in-Residence program at Beaver Meadows Visitor Center

NPS Photo

Artists From Many Different Artistic Mediums Have Participated in Rocky's Artist in Residence Program!

During Their Residency, Each Artist will Host Two Public Programs

• Each artist will present one 60-to 90-minute-long lecture-based program. These presentations will take place at 1 p.m. in the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center Auditorium and will be similar to the presentations featured during the 2025 Winter Speaker Series.

• Resident artists will also facilitate a drop-in style interactive program during a four-hour time slot, where visitors can drop in, visit with the artist, and participate in a hands-on activity. These programs will take place at Fall River Visitor Center from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Expect to spend approximately 15-30 minutes at these programs. All drop-in programs will be family friendly and designed for visitors of all ages. Art supplies will be provided and participants will not need any previous knowledge or skills to participate.

 

An example of collecting sound recordings next to a lake

Courtesy Kite Davenport - 2025 AIR

Additional Program Details:

At the completion of their residency, each artist will donate a fully furnished piece of work representative of their stay in Rocky Mountain National Park to the park’s unofficial collection managed by the Rocky Mountain Conservancy.

Rocky Mountain Conservancy will hold the rights to each piece of work and the National Park Service will have the rights to share the donated works with the public.

 

For those with Scholarly Inspiration, the Scholar in Residence Program is also Accepting Applications

• Inspired by the Artist in Residence program, the Scholar in Residence program follows the tradition of connecting scholars, writers, historians, scientists, and other professionals to Rocky Mountain National Park.
• Scholar In Residence proposals should be specific to the natural and cultural resources of Rocky Mountain National Park, but could include projects from social science, history, natural science, or communications.
• If you think your artistic work is a better fit for the Scholar in Residence program, visit https://rmconservancy.org/work-with-us/employment/ for details and to apply.

 

2025 AIR Pierre Jalbert

NPS Photo

Brief History of the Relationship Between Arts and National Parks

Since the late 1800s, there has been a special connection between our national parks and the arts. Artists like George Catlin, Thomas Cole, Thomas Moran, Albert Bierstadt, and more played a key role in helping to draw attention to the beauty and wonders found in many national parks.

Recognizing the important role that art has played in the history of our national parks, Rocky Mountain National Park was among the first national parks to offer an Artist-In-Residence Program. Since 1984, Rocky Mountain National Park has hosted over 200 artists through this program, including authors, composers, jewelry makers, musicians, painters, photographers, poets, quilters, sculptors, and more.

Both the Artist in Residence and Scholar in Residence programs are generously supported by the Rocky Mountain Conservancy!

Rocky Mountain National Park is one of over 50 NPS sites that currently host an Artist-In-Residence program. The AIR program looks different at each participating/hosting park.

 

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  Apply for the RMNP AIR Program

  Interested in being an Artist-in-Residence? Click here for application details.

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  History of Artist-in-Residence Program

  Learn about the history of RMNP's Artist-in-Residence Program

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  See Frequently Asked Questions & Answers

  Have questions about the Artist-in-Residency program? Explore the frequently asked questions and answers.