Artists have created art in national parks since the late 19th century when famed Hudson River painters captured the majestic views of our nation’s western parks. Today, the sights and sounds in national parks continue to inspire artists in more than 50 residency programs across the country.
Whether staying in a remote wilderness cabin at Denali National Park and Preserve in Alaska, or contemplating history at the Herbert Hoover National Historic Site in Iowa, or working in a contemporary studio overlooking the stone-lined fields at Weir Farm National Historic Site in Connecticut, these programs provide artists with unique opportunities to create works of art in varied natural and cultural settings.
There are programs for visual artists, writers, musicians and other creative media. Programs vary, but residencies are typically 2-4 weeks in length and most include lodging. Often artists are invited to participate in park programs by sharing their art with the public.
Each park in this directory has its own application process and timeline so visit the park’s website for further information.
Acadia National Park, ME
Agate Fossil Beds National Monument, NE
Badlands National Park, SD
Big Cypress National Preserve, FL
Cape Cod National Seashore, MA
Catoctin Mountain Park, MD
Congaree National Park, SC
Crater Lake National Park, OR
Denali National Park, AK
Devils Tower National Monument, WY
Ellis Island National Monument, NY
Everglades National Park, FL
Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve, AK
Glacier National Park, MT
Golden Gate National Recreation Area / Headlands Center for the Arts, CA
Grand Canyon National Park, AZ
Great Basin National Park, NV
Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN
Guadalupe Mountains National Park, TX
Herbert Hoover National Historic Site, IA
Homestead National Monument of America, NE
Hot Springs National Park, AR
Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site, AZ
Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, IN
Isle Royale National Park, MI
John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, OR
Joshua Tree National Park, CA
Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, AK
Marsh Billings Rockefeller National Historical Park, VT
Mesa Verde National Park, CO
Mount Rushmore National Memorial, SD
North Cascades National Park Complex, WA
Petrified Forest National Park, AZ
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, MI
Rocky Mountain National Park, CO
Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site, NH
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, MI
Weir Farm National Historic Site, CT
Whiskeytown National Recreation Area, CA
Zion National Park, UT