Artist-in-Residence Program

Artist-in-Residence (AiR) programs invite artists to live within an NPS site to create place- or theme-based art that provides new ways for the public to experience parks. The residency and resulting artwork provide a channel for self-expression and opportunities to engage with a site's interpretive themes. More than 57 NPS units offer an AiR program.

Core Elements of an Artist-in-Residence Program

• Artists reside on or near a site for a specified period of time.

• Artists are provided dedicated time and space for creative work.

• Residencies are provided at a minimal cost to the artists. Some supplies allowances are typically provided.

• Artists often participate in some form of public engagement and may donate a work of art connected to their residency.

Artists in National Parks

Artists have had a long influence on the formation, expansion, and direction of America's national parks. By painting landscapes of the American West, artists publicized natural wonders little known to an eastern populace. Their work helped stimulate the establishment of parks and to foster an appreciation of them.

Today, artists continue to document the landscapes of our national parks with contemporary techniques. These artists translate the park's purpose, as a place of pleasure and preservation, into artwork that brings insight, enjoyment, and understanding.

Vital Intersections- Where Science and Art Meet

The main goal of this popular program is to create awareness of finite natural and cultural resources and encourage our artists to capture the beauty of the park creating works of high-quality art that interprets the Olympic National Park experience. This unique volunteer program will also inspire visitors, partners, students, teachers, and enhance public enjoyment of Olympic National Park through artistic expressions.

Each year we will recruit one established volunteer artist and one emerging volunteer student artist (18 years or older) for the Olympic Vital Intersections program. We will provide artists with unique opportunities to create works of art in varied natural and cultural settings.

We will continue to prioritize partnering with tribal artists and create ways to be accessible to all in our community. We are also creating opportunities that include Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK). Traditional ecological knowledge is a cumulative body of knowledge, practice, and belief, evolving by adaptive processes and handed down through generations by cultural transmission, about the relationship of living beings (including humans) with one another and with their environment.

We are hosting Vital Intersection AiR volunteers who will engage the public and Olympic visitors about their art as they work with Olympic managers who introduce a resource in crisis and work collaboratively with the Olympic managers. The artist will be able to interpret the vital science story and then showcase, teach, and demonstrate the art medium while they learn about Olympic National Park.

Vital Intersections will continue to build off the Terminus art program launched in 2023 and 2024. Programs vary, but residencies are typically 2 to 4 weeks in length and will include lodging. Often artists are invited to participate with the visiting public in park programs, with our Park Partners, and our local communities.

Olympic Artist Programs

Established Volunteer Artist-in-Residence
Each year Olympic will host a volunteer artist for 2 weeks in an immersion volunteer program at a unique location that aligns with the resource they are interpreting. The critical resource that will be highlighted will change each year. The Olympic manager and the artist will create the intersection and tell an artist story about the experience. (Application open and currently recruiting)

Emerging Volunteer Student Artist

Each year we will recruit for one volunteer student artist (18 years or older up to 30 years) who is enrolled in an art program through an accredit college. We will work with the student and create a schedule that is flexible. (Application closed)

Volunteer Artist-in-Residence Accommodations

Park housing will be used but is dependent on availability. Local housing will be used to accommodate artist if Park housing is full. This accommodation will be covered for the volunteer.

Vital Intersections Eligibility

Open Application for Summer Residency Due 04/07/2025
Summer Residency will take place 07/07/2025-07/18/2025

Vital Intersection Critical Resource Art Description:

Artist application will be evaluated against the following criteria:

50% 1. Artistic Merit. Artistic quality and merit of the work submitted.

25% 2. National Park Service (NPS) Mission & Themes. Artist's proposals should be site-specific to Olympic National Park, support the park’s interpretive themes and focus on issues such as ecology, the environment, conservation, historic and/or cultural topics, and other themes relevant to the park and the program managers they engaged with.

15% 3. Statement of Intent. The quality of the artist’s Statement of Intent including the importance of the National Park service experience to the artist’s work.

10% 4. Opportunities for public enjoyment. The volunteer artist’s proposed vision for an outreach program or programs which will highlight the artist skill and what they gained from the experience.

Artist Application Package:

Click here to fill in volunteer application

1. Two Recommendations: Provide written recommendations from two professionals in your field who are familiar with your past work and the proposed project. Each recommendation should include contact information and be submitted with your application.
2. Statement of Intent: Write an essay detailing what you hope to achieve from a residency at Olympic National Park and how your work aligns with the program's selection criteria. This essay is open-ended and offers you a chance to express your passion. Include clear project goals (with a timeline) about this year's theme Vital Intersections theme, as well as a statement on how you, as the artist, plan to give back to the park.
3. Current Curriculum Vitae: Submit a one- to two-page document listing your professional works, exhibitions, or performances.
4. Examples of Recent Work: Please send examples of recent work and/or provide a link of your work.

Applications are due by April 7, 2025