Indigenous Arts and Cultural Demonstration Program - How to Apply

 

Jointly hosted with Grand Teton Association, the Indigenous Arts and Cultural Demonstration Program was created to connect park visitors with the long history and rich cultures of the park's 24 Associated Tribes through traditional and contemporary art. As such, the Park, Association, and artists comply with the Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990, ensuring that every art and craft product is marketed truthfully to consumers regarding the heritage and tribal affiliation of the producer.

This program is made possible with funding from Grand Teton Association to cover costs like supplies, demonstrators' travel, and their time.

 

Application Deadline: March 20, 2025

The application period is open February 20, 2025 through March 20, 2025.

 

Application Process

The application period will be open from mid-February to mid-March (approximately four weeks). Interested artists will need to apply by submitting a program application. Thanks to Grand Teton Association for their overall support of this program, including the application process.

• The program will run for 18 weeks, from May 20 - September 22, 2025.
  • A residency week is considered Tuesday to Monday of the following week.
  • Applicants will only be considered for one residency week per summer (i.e. seven demonstration days).
• First year applicants need to be from one of the 24 Associated Tribes.
  • Past / former / returning artists will be grandfathered in, regardless of their Tribal affiliation.
• Applications will not be considered if they are received after the posted deadline.

For more information about the program or application process, please contact us by email: [e-mail].

Screen Out Selective Factors

Applicants will be disqualified if they do not meet the following criteria:

• Applicants must be 18 years of age or older.
• The art / handicraft / cultural demonstration MUST be something that can be shared in the demonstration space.
  • At least one portion of the art / handicraft / cultural demonstration must be demonstratable. It does not have to be demonstratable at each stage of the process, nor does every product need to be demonstratable. (example: if an artist does beadwork, flute making, and silversmithing, the artist needs to be able to demonstrate at least one portion of one of those crafts while in the demonstration space.)
• The art / handicraft / cultural demonstration MUST be the product of the demonstrating artist(s).
  • Artists may not sell pieces on behalf of other artists and may not sell pieces that they have purchased and are re-selling.
• First time applicants and artists who have applied before and not yet been admitted to the program MUST be from the 24 Associated Tribes.

 

Selection Process

Applicants will receive points based on the following metrics:

Qualifying Factor	Points
First Year Applicant	+1 point
Never Participated Before – Have Not Been Selected	+1 point for every year applied and not selected
Returning Artist	+1 point per year returning
Member of one of the 24 Associated Tribes	+5 points
Willingness to do evening programs	+2 points

Based on the point system detailed above, applicants will have their names entered into a lottery system the corresponding number of times. For example, if an applicant yields 13 points based on the metrics listed above, the applicant’s name will be entered into the lottery 13 times.

After all names are entered into the lottery system accordingly, the lottery will be drawn for the available weeks. For example, if nine weeks are available, nine names will be drawn from the lottery (no duplicates). The first nine names drawn will be offered their preference of weeks, starting with their first preference, second preference, third preference, and fourth preference, based on availability. In the event that an artist’s top four weeks are unavailable, they will be contacted, in order of selection, by phone, to choose from the remaining available weeks.

Legacy Artists

Legacy Artists are defined as artists who have been participating in the Indigenous Arts and Cultural Demonstration Program at least 10 years, prior to the 2024 season. Legacy Artists who are eligible for preferential scheduling will receive points based on the point system detailed and entered into a lottery system, accordingly. Once Legacy Artists are placed in their respective weeks for the upcoming season, the remaining available weeks will be made available to other applicants, based on a separate lottery draw system that follows the same pattern.

Notification

By the beginning of April, applicants will know the status of their application, including, if selected, the specific week of their residency.

 

Where Do I Stay?

Grand Teton National Park will supply a one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment in the Colter Bay Employee Residential Area for the artist(s) to utilize. This apartment will be made available through the generous support of Grand Teton Association, at no cost to the artist(s).

 

What Does a Residency Look Like?

Indigenous Arts and Cultural Demonstration Program participants will have one week where they are provided the demonstration space in Colter Bay Visitor Center, as well as the apartment in Colter Bay Staff Housing.

Supplies Provided by NPS

• Chairs (rolling computer chairs, and metal folding chairs)
• Tables (collapsible wooden and metal tables)
• One glass topped display case
• Carpet-walls coverings
• A variety of carpet-wall hooks and pushpins

Supplies Provided by Artist

• Table coverings
• Items that help create unique and personal table displays (specific leveling tools, jewelry display mannequins, additional display cases, etc.)
• Preferred wall hanging tools
• Preferred audio/visual equipment
• All art / handicraft / demonstration materials

Demonstration Expectation (twice a day – am / pm)

Artist(s) will be expected to demonstrate their art/ handicraft informally on a routine basis throughout the day as visitors enter the demonstration space. Artist(s) will follow visitors' social cues and engage in demonstration and exchange, accordingly. Artist(s) will also be expected to do more formal, organized demonstrations at least twice a day, once in the morning and once in the afternoon. These formal demonstrations can be flexible in their timing and format, based on visitation to the demonstration space. The intention behind these formal demonstrations is to convene small groups of people at opportune moments and share about the demonstration / practice with a broader audience. Formal demonstrations will occur at opportune moments that ideally do not conflict with pre-scheduled ranger presentations in the visitor center space.

 

Evening Programs / Speaker Series

Artist(s) will have the opportunity to give an evening program during their weeklong residency on Saturday nights at the Colter Bay Amphitheater. Other opportunities may become available in the future.

*Nights and locations are not negotiable as they are built into the summer schedule for each location. Evening programs should be 45-60 minutes in length and can vary in format and topic. For example, artists can do audiovisual slideshow presentations, speak in a lecture-style presentation, or even play music or perform on a topic of their choosing. Topics should be relevant to the person, culture, or connections to Grand Teton National Park. Artists might anticipate that 20-100 people could attend their evening program.