NPS Have specific questions about Rocky Mountain National Park's Artist-in-Residence program? Check out the list of questions and answers below! Don't see your question listed? Contact the RMNP Information Office at 970-586-1206. Artist-in-Residence Program Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
Rocky Mountain National Park's Artist-in-Residence Program takes place annually during the summer season. Selected artists will serve in a two-week residency that will be scheduled between late-May thorugh early-October from a list of available dates.
Artists working in all mediums are invited to apply! Over the past 30+ years, AIR program participants have included painters, fiction writers, poets, photographers, textile artists, composers, sculptors, musicians, and more!
Selected artists will participate in a two-week residency sometime between late May and early October. Upon selection, artists will be able to choose a preferred time block from a list of available options.
No. RMNP's AIR residency cannot be extended beyond two weeks.
For summer 2026, the application window will be open beginning on December 15, 2025. It will close on January 15, 2026 or when the first 150 applications have been received. Requests for deadline extensions cannot be granted.
Yes. All selected artists are required to host and facilitate two public programs during their residency. One program must be a lecture-based program with a slideshow held in an indoor auditorium. The second program must be a drop-in interactive program where will engage with the public while working on a hands-on activity or craft. Members of the public should be able to depart from the program with a small piece of art they created during the program.
In 2026, six different artists will be selected to participate in RMNP's AIR program.
During the months of February and March, a panel of judges will review applications and select the program participants for summer 2026. Selected artists will be notified during the month of April.
Selected artists will stay at the William Allen White Cabin, or a similar property. The William Allen White Cabin is a rustic, historic wooden cabin. The cabin is small, but offers a full kitchen, a living/dining room, a single bedroom with a full-size bed, a bathroom with a claw-foot tub, and a newly refurbished covered porch.
The William Allen White cabin has capacity for no more than four people at any given time. Artists are welcome to bring friends/family to stay with them during their residency, but due to the historic nature of the building, no more than four people can be in the cabin at any given time. Selected artists are welcome to bring their spouses, children, family, friends, or other guests to stay with them during their residency. Be aware, due to the size and historic nature of the cabin, no more than 4 people (including the artist) can be in the cabin at any given time. The cabin has one bed.
Internet access is not available at the cabin. Depending on your cell phone carrier, cell phone service may be limited or not available. Expect spotty to no cell phone coverage anywhere inside Rocky Mountain National Park. WiFi service is available at the public library in the Town of Estes Park, and also at Beaver Meadows, Fall River, and Kawuneeche Visitor Centers. Yes. Participating artists will need access to their own personal vehicle for transportation to and around Rocky Mountain National Park. Public transportation is not available.
No. Pets and emotional support animals are not permitted in or around the William Allen White Cabin in RMNP. If an artist chooses to stay elsewhere with their pet, such as a local hotel, RMNP and the Rocky Mountain Conservancy will not cover the costs of accomodations. Pets are not permitted on any trails in Rocky Mountain National Park.
No. The William Allen White cabin is a rustic historic cabin that is located near Moraine Park. Public tours of the building are not available and artists cannot visit the cabin ahead of being selected as an Artist-in-Residence. A small stipend may be available. Stipends are not guaranteed and are subject to change, based on funding availability. In the past, honorariums were not available. Yes. As part of an artist's participation in this program, selected artists agree to produce at least one piece of high-quality art in the medium of their choice to be donated to RMNP's unoffical collection that is managed by the Rocky Mountain Conservancy.
No, RMNP does not offer any AIR opportunities during the winter season.
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Last updated: December 12, 2025