Acadia National Park Artist-in-Residence Open Call for 2019

The Artist-in-Residence program at Acadia National Park encourages accomplished, professional artists to create fresh and innovative new ways for visitors to experience the park through the arts. Selected artists travel to and take part in the program at their own expense at the invitation of the park superintendent. There is no stipend or support provided beyond park housing and the possibility of collaborative opportunities with some park staff. Local transportation is not provided. Participants must possess a valid driver's license and personal vehicle.

In exchange for 14 nights in park-provided housing over a residency year, participants are asked to host a public outreach activity with park visitors and to donate within a year one finished work of art that depicts a new perspective of Acadia. Pieces donated to the program collection are included in a permanent online catalog on the park website and displayed seasonally in public spaces within the park, surrounding communities, and beyond. The application fee of $25 directly benefits program operational costs, such as participant housing, supplies for public display spaces, and staffing assistance with public outreach activities.

Applications are reviewed by juries consisting of past program participants, subject matter experts, local community members, and park staff. The jury period typically spans from January 1 through March 1 each year. Applicants are notified of outcomes preferably before March 31 each year. The total number of Artist-in-Residence participants at Acadia is capped at eight each year: four for Visual Arts (painting, textiles, sculpture, fine art photography, etc.), two for Writing (essays, poetry, drama, etc.), and two for "At-Large" categories (music, dance, indigenous arts, emerging technologies, etc.). Selected participants may request designation as a Resident Artist if they have a home or vacation property within commuting distance of the park and do not require park housing. Other participants receive a maximum of 14 nights during their residency year in park-provided housing options: up to five nights in a rustic and remote ranger cabin on Isle au Haut (June through October) or up to ten nights in a one-bedroom apartment on the Schoodic Peninsula (year-round). Participants may be accompanied by a spouse, adult companion, or one child age 16 or older, who must complete paperwork to become a formal park volunteer and contribute 32 hours of work each week. Wheelchair-accessible housing is available. Pets and smoking are not allowed in park housing.

Each public outreach activity is planned on a case-by-case basis, often in collaboration with local libraries, colleges, community groups, and art galleries. Participants may be reimbursed up to $150 with receipts for supplies and materials for activities with as many as 15 visitors. All artworks donated to the program are cataloged online and displayed in public gallery spaces within the park and beyond. Visual artists creating physical pieces are limited to 48 inches on any side for two-dimensional pieces and a footprint of roughly 18 inches square for three-dimensional pieces intended for indoor display. Finished works must be donated with frames or cases appropriate for secure public display, transportation, and storage. Artists retain copyright ownership but are asked to grant permission for limited ongoing use to the park and its partner Eastern National for program promotion, public outreach, and development of sales items in park bookstores, with proceeds benefiting program operational costs.