Grand Canyon National Park: Artist in Residence

Deadline: April 1, 2012 (ONLINE)

Artist in Residence
Grand Canyon National Park
Grand Canyon, AZ
South Rim: 2012 - 2013 Season
North Rim: 2013 Season



The parks have always welcomed artistic interpretations in support of land advocacy. Thomas Moran’s evocative and astounding paintings directly influenced the establishment of our first National Park (Yellowstone, 1872). This tradition continues today with more than 50 Artist-in-Residence programs throughout the National Park Service system.

The Artist-in-Residence Program offers professional artists the opportunity to spend three weeks on either the North or South Rim of Grand Canyon in housing provided by the National Park Service. The North Rim AiR program is seasonal, with six residencies during the spring, summer, and fall. The South Rim AiR program is year-round, providing twelve artist opportunities.

Grand Canyon National Park’s Artist-in-Residence Program seeks artists whose work is engaged in issues that are relevant to the Park Interpretative Themes, while challenging the visitor to become an active participant in preservation and environmental and cultural advocacy. We are pleased to host artists who communicate complex and contemporary issues through their chosen medium. Artists in all genres and in all disciplines, contemporary, traditional, or folk who have a genuine interest in contributing to our on-going national discussion on these issues will be of special interest to our program.


Artist opportunities: Contemporary, folk and traditional forms, including but not limited to:

Visual arts: painters, sculptors, printmakers, new media artists, muralists, designers, ceramicists, artisans, multi-discipline artists, fiber artists, mixed media artists, jewelers

Media: photographers, film makers, videographers

Writers: fiction and non-nonfiction writers, poets, playwrights

Performing arts: composers, musicians, dancers, performance artists, storytellers, dramatic artists


AiR artist proposals should be site-specific to Grand Canyon National Park, support the park’s Interpretative Themes, and will focus on such issues as ecology, the environment, park advocacy, conservation and other themes relevant to the parks.


Grand Canyon Artist-in-Residence program is using the Western Arts Federation (WESTAF) CaFE electronic application process this year.

In order for artists to access our application, you'll have to register as a WESTAF CaFE user.

Visit website for complete details: www.nps.gov/air

Visit WESTAF for more information and application: www.callforentry.org/festivals_unique_info.php?ID=813

For more information concerning the programs on either rim, contact South Rim AiR coordinator René Westbrook or call 928-638-7324