Artists-in-Residence

 

Lise Greil, of Indianapolis, IN, shares this image from September 2017 of a painter using a smartphone to snap a photo of the coastline in Acadia. "Hiking the path along Otter Cove I spotted this artist out on the rocks. Nevermind what he was painting, but was more impressed with his climbing skills to get out there and the balancing act with all his gear.  I never spoke to him, but hope one day he discovers this photo so I can say thanks for the image and send him a copy."

Photo by Lise Greil @lisegreil. Used with permission.

 

Creating New Ways For Visitors to Experience Acadia

Art and artists played a key role in the history of Maine’s Downeast Region, and the founding of Acadia National Park. The Artist-in-Residence program is dedicated to creating new ways for visitors to experience Acadia through the arts. Since 2023, the program's operational costs have been funded fully by donations from sales proceeds at America’s National Park Stores (Eastern National) stores throughout the park.

Jury Process Underway

For five residency opportunities in 2025, the program received 243 applications from 40 states and five foreign countries. A press release to announce selections is expected by the end of the calendar year. The next open call for applications for opportunities in 2026 is expected to be from July 1 through Sept 30, 2025.

Learn more at Program Operations

 

"Schoodic Point" by Nancy Haver

Online Catalog

This is an extensive and ever-evolving online catalog of participants and the artwork they have created through this program for more than 30 years. See for yourself how Acadia continues to inspire accomplished painters, illustrators, photographers, metalsmiths, textile artists, poets, essayists, composers, digital animators and dancers as well as a playwright, food writer, and stand-up comic. Enjoy.

Ask an Artist Blog

Got a question about any of the art or artists in Acadia's Artist-in-Residence Program? We'll find an answer and post it here.

 

Portrait of the artist with a wearable sculpture courtesy of Rachel Suzanne Smith

Audio Description Tour of Acadia Artwork

Visual Made Verbal

More than a dozen visual art pieces from the Artist-in-Residence program currently are displayed in public spaces in Acadia. To make the gallery experience more inclusive for people who have visual impairments, a recorded audio description and transcript are offered at the top of each artwork's entry in the program's online catalog. In this tour, each displayed artwork is presented in sequence along with directions to navigate the physical space.