Everglades Artist in Residence Program

Artist in Residence in Everglades (AIRIE)

Spanning the southern tip of the Florida peninsula and most of Florida Bay, Everglades National Park is the only subtropical wilderness in North America. It is known for its rich wildlife, particularly large wading birds, and it is the only place in the world where both alligators and crocodiles coexist. The Everglades National Park Artist in Residence in Everglades (AIRIE) program offers artists the opportunity to live and work in this unique environment for a period of up to one month. The works completed under this program will contribute to the public understanding and appreciation of Everglades National Park. It is hoped that these works will characterize the Everglades for present and future generations, giving park visitors and the general public an opportunity to see our heritage through the eyes, and ears of the contributing artists.

Introduction

Artists have been an important part of the national park system for over a century. In fact, the writings, paintings, photographs, and public outreach of artists have not only created a permanent record of, but in many instances, helped preserve national parks. From landscape architect Jens Jensen to painter Frank V. Dudley to poet Carl Sandburg, many have understood the connection between unspoiled natural settings and artistic pursuit.

The Artists in Residence in Everglades (AIRIE) program offers artists, writers and composers the opportunity to live and work in this unique environment for a period of up to one month. Works completed under this program contribute to the public understanding and appreciation of Everglades National Park, characterizing the Everglades for present and future generations and giving park visitors and the general public an opportunity to see our national treasures through the eyes and ears of contributing artists.

A National Park Residency isn't for everybody. It is for serious professionals who wish to work alone and unfettered in the challenge and beauty of the American wilderness. It is for those who deeply care about the environment and wish to contribute to it as well as benefit from it. The park can accommodate twelve residents per year.

To learn more about AIRIE follow the link to their website.

Eligibility

This program invites visual artists, composers and writers to seek both solitude and solidarity in the inspiring environment of Everglades National Park. Artists are provided a furnished apartment for the length of the residency, usually four weeks. Visual arts include painting, sculpture, photography, video arts, and mixed media. Writers will include poets and authors of both fiction and non-fiction. Work submitted should be of professional quality. No student work will be eligible.

Expectations

In return, the park asks each artist to donate a piece of art, representative of their style and reflecting their residency, to the park for the park collection, granting the park the right to reproduce the work for its use. Similarly, the park would require one-time publication rights to a portion of a literary work produced during a residency. Each resident must be willing to volunteer a few hours to interact with interested park visitors and staff during the residency. These interactions may take the form of slide lectures, exhibitions or "art walks" armed with cameras or sketchbooks, or even workshops.

Housing

The Everglades has seasons: The dry winter season begins in October and ends in April. The hot, wet summer season also brings mosquitoes. A furnished apartment, large enough to provide studio space, is available in the Royal Palm area, near Park Headquarters, the Ernest Coe Visitor Center, the Anhinga Trail and approximately 15 minutes (by car) from the nearest towns of Florida City and Homestead.

Accepted residents will need to bring personal gear, food and supplies. The artist is expected to leave the accommodations neat and clean and to comply with all park regulations and standards governing park employees and visitors. The artist should be self-sufficient and expect to work closely with park staff and the local community to achieve program goals.

Selection Process

A prominent panel drawn from varying fields of expertise as professional artists, curators, or educators in the designated disciplines, along with park personnel, will review materials submitted. Selections will be made on the basis of merit and how a candidate's work can advance the mission of Everglades National Park and the National Park Service as well as enhance the growth of the artist's work. Selections will be made without regard to race, religion, sex, disability, marital status, age or national origin.

A USEFUL TIP: Although quality and suitability are always the primary criteria for selection, AIRIE is a small and highly competitive program. The most competition is for the prime months of winter for comfort in the Glades. Therefore, applicants have a better chance of selection if they make their second and third choices during the warmer months.

 

The artists in residence program at Everglades National Park is funded entirely by contributions to the National Park Service from individuals and private foundations. Please contact us if you would like to support this worthwhile and important cause.

For further information contact:

Everglades National Park at 305-242-7752

For additional information on the program, contact our AIRIE partners via e-mail