Breathtaking from the moment you first cast eyes on it, Grand Canyon is just that –Grand.  The natural and cultural significance of Grand Canyon makes it one of the Natural Wonders of the World and a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is a sacred place of serenity and reflection that invites exploration and adventure, instilling both gratitude and humility. Grand Canyon is a cultural touchstone for those who came before and those who have yet to come. It is home to 11 native tribes who still occupy the land and help manage the park’s resources, in addition to the staff of the Grand Canyon National Park Service, Grand Canyon Conservancy, and Grand Canyon Village. Grand Canyon National Park sees approximately six million visitors every year.

The Grand Canyon Conservancy (GCC) Artist-In-Residence program is designed to host individual artists with a well-developed body of work that engages contemporary themes -- especially those tied to conservation, cultural identity, and community. The residency embraces an artist-focused, open-ended model that prioritizes on-site research and exploration in the interest of creating deeper personal and public relationships with the Grand Canyon. While the residency is a highly immersive experience and community outreach is an important aspect of the engagement, artists can spend time on-site as they wish. We hope that the work that comes from this freedom will—through future on- and off-site exhibits, publications, and presentations—advance the world's fundamental connection with Grand Canyon.

Three Artists-In-Residence will be invited to stay at the South Rim of Grand Canyon in 2023. Residents will be provided with fully furnished accommodations in the historic Verkamp's artist residence directly overlooking the canyon, and a stipend of $2500 for eight weeks. An artist may be in residence from Jan 4 - Mar 1, Jun 14 - Aug 9, or Aug 16 – Oct 11, 2023. Artists are responsible for their supplies, meals, toiletries, and transportation. *Please note that shorter residency periods will be considered and stipends will be pro-rated accordingly.

The proposal deadline for 2023 is October 7th, 2022.

Artists will be notified of their acceptance by the end of November.

The application fee is $45. A limited number of financial hardship grants are provided to those for whom the entry fee would be unmanageable. Please send an email explaining your need to cmorell@grandncanyon.org to request a partial waiver. 

For more information about Grand Canyon Conservancy, the official nonprofit partner of Grand Canyon National Park, please visit grandcanyon.org.

If you have any questions or require support with completing your proposal, please contact Clover Morell, Residency Programs Manager, at cmorell@grandcanyon.org. 

Application Requirements

Proposals should include:

1)   Brief BIO

2)   CV 

3)   Artist Statement (optional)

4)   Work Samples: 3-9 images, pages, and/or minutes of media that show the depth and breadth of your current creative practice with titles, dates, medium, and descriptions.

5)   Press / Media

6)   Residency Plan addressing each of the following outcomes: 

•    Self-guided research and development: What questions will guide your research at the Canyon?

•    Community engagement (through presentations, performances, and/or workshops): Please briefly describe 2-3 events you’ll facilitate with the community. Who are the participants? What will you need to deliver each event successfully? (Consider location, duration, staffing needs, and supplies.)

•     Creative Contribution: Above and beyond documentation of your residency and a visual representation of your experience*, is there any specific piece of work you hope to contribute to the Grand Canyon Conservancy and partner archives after your residency? (Please note: this is entirely optional.) 

*As a part of each residency, an artist is asked to provide publication-quality, digital representations of their works-in-progress, public presentations, and final work from the residency. However, GCC will assist with the collection of some documentation. 

While in residence, artists are encouraged to work collaboratively with NPS staff and to make use of the many resources available to them, including but not limited to access to park staff, researchers, collections, library, trails, and backcountry opportunities.

Eligibility Criteria

Artists from a wide variety of disciplines are encouraged to apply, including:

• Social Practice
• Land-based / Site-Specific / Environmental Art
• New Media / Video / Sound / Film
• 4-D Visual Art (Performance-Art Based)
• 2- or 3D Visual Art (Photography, Printmaking, Sculpture, Painting, Fiber, Drawing, Collage)
• Text-Based (Fiction / Nonfiction / Poetry / Prose)
• Inter-disciplinary / multi-disciplinary
• Theatre / Playwriting
• Dance / Choreography
• Music / Songwriting

Applications are reviewed by a panel of professional artists and curators. Residents are chosen for their demonstrated commitment to creative practice, history of working with the public, clarity of the project proposal, and overall potential for their residency to impact the meaning, history, and people of the Grand Canyon.