Apply For the RMNP Artist-in-Residence Program

 

RMNP AIR John Hulsey

NPS Photo

The Application Window Has Closed for the 2026 Program

The application window for the summer 2026 AIR program closed on January 15, 2026. Applications for the summer 2027 program will open in November or December 2026.

The application window for this program is approximately one-month long, but dates can vary year to year. Final selections for the upcoming summer season are historically announced in April.

Interested Artists Are Encouraged to Apply Early!

*Due to the competitive nature of this program, only the first 150 applications will be accepted for consideration.

*When this number is reached, the application window will close.

About the RMNP Artist in Residence Program

Rocky Mountain National Park's AIR program is open to artists of all creative disciplines. Selected artists will serve in a two-week residency on the east side of Rocky Mountain National Park. During their residency, selected artists will reside in a rustic cabin located near Moraine Park where they can gain inspiration and create artistic works.

The closest community is the town of Estes Park, Colorado. Services and grocery stores are available in Estes Park.

An artist's residency in RMNP will take place during a two-week window of time that is scheduled during the summer season.

During their residency, participating artists will be required to facilitate two different public programs:

• The first program must be a lecture-style program that includes a slideshow presentation. This 60-90 minute long program will be delivered indoors in an auditorium on the first Sunday of the artist's residency.

• The second public program must be a drop-in style program that includes an interactive or hand-on activity. If possible, during this program, participants should be able to create a small piece of art that they can take home. This 3-hour program will take place indoors within a classroom-style facility on the second Saturday of the artist's residency.
  • Expect repeated short interactions anywhere from 15-30 minutes at a time.
  • Members of the general public will be invited to drop into this program at anytime during the available window of time to meet and engage with the resident artist.
  • During this program, the resident artist will repeat, multiple times, a fun and hands-on experience in a medium of the artist's choice.
  • All supplies and materials used by the public in this interaction will be provided by the AIR program.

• During their residency, there may be opportunities for an artist to facilitate a 3rd workshop-style program in collaboration with the Rocky Mountain Conservancy. This would be an optional program.

As part of the park's AIR program, selected artists will be enrolled as NPS volunteers.

Additionally, selected artists agree, within a year of their residency, to create and donate a fully furnished high-quality piece of work (or collection of works) that is representative of their time in RMNP.

Note for final projects during a selected artist's residency

• Selected artists are expected to work on new, original pieces of art inspired by Rocky Mountain National Park during their 2-week residency.
• Existing projects (such as a screenplay, movie, composition, novel, or a collection of drawings/painting) should not be the focus of your residency. Your final deliverable to Rocky Mountain Conservancy cannot include such works.

Final art submissions should reflect artistic inspiration gained while participating in the RMNP AIR Program. This artistic piece will be added to the park’s unofficial collection managed by our non-profit partner, the Rocky Mountain Conservancy.

 

Hunter Goan, a 2025 Artist-in-Residence, is seen facilitating an interactive program in the Fall River Visitor Center Discovery Room

NPS Photo

How to Apply for the Artist in Residence Program at Rocky Mountain National Park

Application Details: An Artist in Residence application includes two important steps that must be completed before the application window closes.

• Step 1: Fill out and submit the required web application. Only submit one web application per artist.

• Step 2: After submitting the web form portion of this application, you must send an email to [e-mail] with the required supporting documentation attached.
  • The AIR program email box is not regularly monitored outside of the open application window.
  • Please review the AIR application guidelines, listed below, prior to sending in your email portion of this application.
  • Required materials and guidelines vary based on artistic medium.
    • See below for medium-specific guidelines.

• Only the first 150 applications will be considered.

The park's AIR email box, listed above, is primarily used during the application window. This mailbox is not regularly monitored. For general Artist-in-Residence program questions and general questions about Rocky Mountain National Park, contact the RMNP Information Office at [e-mail]

Incomplete Applications Will Not Be Considered. Application Extensions Cannot be Accommodated.

 

Rules and Instructions for Submitting Supplemental Application Materials by Email

Exactly 3 PDF documents should be submitted as attachments within a single email. Submit these documents by email to: [e-mail].

All PDF attachments must be readable and downloadable. Cloud-based links cannot be opened or followed. Applications with cloud-based links will be considered incomplete.

Submit the document in a PDF format. All other formats cannot be accepted.

PDF Document 1 - Resume/CV and Summary of Creative Works

• In this document, include both the applicant's Resume/CV and a brief Summary of Creative Works (up to 4 pages total).
• Submit this document in a PDF format. Other formats will not be accepted.
• Title the document using this format: First Letter of First Name_Last Name_Resume/CV. For example "J.Smith_Resume".

PDF Document 2 - Statement of Purpose and Concept Proposals for Required Public Programs

• On page 1, Include the applicant's statement of purpose (up to 500 words). On the next page, share concept proposals for the two required public programs. List each public program concept on its own page.
• This combined PDF document should not exceed 4 pages.
• Additional guidelines are listed below.
• Title the document using this format: First Letter of First Name_Last Name_Purpose and Public Programs. For example, "J.Smith_Purpose and Public Programs".

PDF Document 3 - Samples of Recent Artistic Works

Important - Files shared in cloud-based platforms are not supported. External links cannot be followed. Content in zip files, cloud files, or any other sharable links cannot be accepted.

• In one combined PDF document, share up to six samples of recent artistic works.
• Share one artistic work on each page.
• See medium-specific guidelines below.
• Title the document using this format: First Letter of First Name_Last Name_Samples of Works. For example, "J.Smith_Samples of Works".
• At the top of each page, include the following information:
  • Title of Piece
  • Medium of Piece
  • Year Created
  • Dimensions or Format of Work

Additional Guidelines for a Resume/CV

• Include a resume/CV, not to exceed 2 pages.
• Do not include headshots, personal photographs, or any other images
• Focus on relevant experience as an artist and any relevant experiences, like experiences public speaking, interacting with members of the general public, hosting workshops/lectures, or teaching a large group in a classroom setting.

Additional Guidelines for a Summary of Creative Works

• Share a summary of creative works, up to two pages.
• List relevant creative works in the artistic medium of your choice. If you work in multiple mediums, what is your preferred 1 or 2 artistic mediums that you will focus on during your residency?
  • Examples of creative works include recent exhibits, gallery shows, performances, book readings, recordings, publications, live shows, etc.

Additional Guidelines for a Statement of Purpose

In your Statement of Purpose, outline how your work contributes to the National Park Service values of stewardship, education, recreation and preservation, what environmental issue(s) you are interested in highlighting, and how your art aligns with Rocky Mountain National Park's "sense of place."

Also describe your ability to work independently and how you plan to engage with members of the public both during your facilitated programs and while out exploring RMNP.

Additional Guidelines for Public Program Concepts:

In the public program concept, share a brief concept outline for what you would do for each of the required public programs. At the top of the page, share a draft title for your programs. In the body of the page, share a general overview of your draft program concept, anticipated program materials (include any materials you are able to provide and a list of any materials you would need the program to purchase - up to $200 per artist). Also share any key messages, takeaways, and final products the public would get to create.

All materials purchased by the park will be for the use of the public during the artist's drop-in style program.

Lecture-Based Program:

• Know that this program should include a slideshow presentation followed by a facilitated Q&A session with the public. This program should be 60-90 minutes in length, with up to 15 minutes at the end for questions and answers with the public.

• If you are a performance artist, know that this program should not solely feature a performance. A dance or in-person musical performance can be included as an aspect of the final presentation.

• In the lecture-based program, applicants should focus on a topic of their choice that highlights the artist's background, their art, the artist's vision for their residency, and connects with RMNP's sense of place. This program should highlight a topic that the artist is skilled in or knowledgeable about.

• This program will take place beginning at 1 p.m. on the first Sunday of the artist's residency inside the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center Auditorium.

Interactive Drop-In Program:

• This is a 3-hour, drop-in style program that will take place indoors in a classroom-style setting at Fall River Visitor Center from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the second Saturday of an artist's residency.
• These programs allow artists to interact with members of the public through an interactive medium. Members of the public will be invited to drop-in anytime within the 3-hour program. Expect repeated 15 to 30-minute interactions over a 3-hour block of time.
• This program is not intended to be a workshop. If you have a workshop idea, please submit an option third program proposal.
• This program should offer the public an opportunity to engage with an artist in a medium of their choice. During this program, members of the public will be able to learn about your art medium and walk away with a small piece of art that was created during the drop-in program.
  • For example, a language artist could teach members of the public about poetry through writing prompts and help participants write their own poems.
  • For painters, members of the public could learn about watercolor painting and take a small painting home.
  • For musical and performance artists, members of the public could learn about dance or music composition.

For artistic mediums where the public cannot take anything tangibly home, ideally, the public would be able to interact with a form of dance or music and try different musical instruments in the classroom.

This is an opportunity to engage with members of the public in group or one-on-one settings, as the public comes to learn more about an artist and their medium of art.

*Optional: Workshop-based Program

An additional workshop-based program can be scheduled after approval and coordination with the Rocky Mountain Conservancy. A workshop could include a half-day or full-day workshop experience located indoors for a small group of attendees at the Fall River Visitor Center.

 

Medium-Based Instructions for Sample of Artistic Works:

Notes for All Interested Artists:

Samples of Works Must Be Appropriate for All Ages

• All samples of works must be appropriate for general audiences of all ages. Do not include works with curse words, vulgarity, nudity, gore, or scenes of violence.
• Submission of such works will not be considered.

Communal Pieces or Large Installations and Any Works that Involve the Collection of Found Objects or Natural Materials Cannot Be Considered

• Due to space constrictions, applications with communal pieces or installations cannot be considered.
• Do not include works with found objects or natural materials. The collection of objects and natural materials is illegal inside national parks.

 

Guidelines for Visual, Textile, and Sculpture Artists:

Provide up to six images embedded within a PDF document. At the top of each page, list the name of works, medium, dimensions of a piece, and year the work was created.

Images must be high resolution and should focus only on the actual artwork; extraneous backgrounds, mattes, or frames should not be included.

Guidelines for Written Language Artists:

Share up to six short works or excerpts of longer written works. Each work should be no longer than one page in length.

Written artistic samples can include up to six different poems or short writing samples or up to six excerpts from different longer works. Excerpts can be from a book, essay, or short story.

Are you a non-fiction writer? This program is not intended to feature science writing (studies, research papers, articles, etc.) travelogues, journalistic features, interviews, or job-related documents such as memos or legal briefs.

Such submissions will not be considered.

• If you are a science or non-fiction writer, have you considered applying for the Scholar in Residence program?

Guidelines for Musicians, Composers, Performing Artists, and Videographers:

Submit up to six different short pieces highlighting your works. Each work should be up to 2 minutes in length.

Do not share images of yourself, unless necessary as a performance artist.

On each separate page, include the title of work, medium of work, year created, and a brief description of the work. Also include a YouTube or Vimeo link to each work, embedded in the PDF. Uploads may be public or private. Do not include any other cloud-based files or links. Other formats cannot be accepted.