Agate Fossil Beds Artist In Residence Program

Deadline: {UNSPECIFIED}


Artist In Residence Program
Agate Fossil Beds
Niobrara River Valley
U. S. National Park Service
Harrison, NE




The solitude and open spaces of the Niobrara River Valley represent a multi-generational mixing and evolution of life forms and life-styles, from millions of years ago to the present. Artists may find this landscape and the park museum collections inspiring for their work, and discover new ways to convey the mysteries of deep time and this special corner of the globe to the public. The park will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2015 and hopefully the medium of art can contribute to those festivities.

Agate Fossil Beds National Monument is located in Sioux County in the northwest corner of Nebraska. The Wyoming border is 17 miles to the west, and the South Dakota border 42 miles to the north. The county's only town, its county seat, is Harrison, population 251. The 2,000-square mile county itself has a population of only 1,500 people. Much of the area's land is used for ranching and has a carrying capacity of at least 25 acres for each cow-calf pair.


Program Description:

Artists of all mediums (visual, musical, theatrical, literary) are invited to apply to stay from two to four weeks in furnished park housing (either a modern 3 bedroom, shared house, or a more remote 1950s ranchstead). Artists provide their own materials and expenses and produce, at least, one product (along with its copyright) to be donated to the park for any and all future uses. Artists will also actively engage the public in some manner (occasional demonstrations, talks, school programs, or exhibits) during and possibly after their visit.


How to Apply:

Contact the park (tel. 308-668-2211, or 308-436-9760); email: e-mail us) and be ready to share your statement of purpose and portfolio. Artists will be enrolled as park volunteers, which provides worker's compensation insurance. The artist should be self-sufficient and ready to work closely with park staff and the local community.


Complete details (including additional program opportunities for artists with American Indian heritage): www.nps.gov/agfo/artist-in-residence-program