Land Line: Denver Botanic Gardens' Artist Residency Program - Botanical Illustration

Land Line is a low-residency artist program at Denver Botanic Gardens for scientific and botanical illustrators. Artists use the Gardens' collections, landscapes, and resources to create artworks exploring nature and the relationship between humans and the natural world. The residency lasts a full calendar year, with artists creating most work independently in their own studio spaces. Artists are required to visit the Gardens at least once during a predetermined two-month Focus Period for meeting with staff collaborators, exploring gardens and collections, conducting research, and conceptualizing work. Artists are responsible for arranging their own travel, lodging, food, and supplies and receive a $3,000 honorarium.

Artists must attend four virtual cohort meetings during the residency year to share progress and connect with other artists, including a final meeting to share completed work. At least one artwork must be completed by the end of the residency year. Denver Botanic Gardens may acquire one artwork proposed by the artist for consideration, though the residency does not culminate in an exhibition. The program does not accept applications proposing onsite installations, public programming, or exhibitions. Selected botanical illustrators will be paired with a staff collaborator from the School of Botanical Art & Illustration.

Eligibility is open to professional and emerging scientific and botanical illustrators located in the United States, age 21 and over. Artists working in 2D and 3D media are welcome. The program does not accept applications for video, audio, installations, literary work, exhibitions, or public programming. Application deadline is January 31, 2025. Submit artist bio, artist statement, residency statement, project proposal, preferred Focus Period timeframes, and three to five representative images (1200 pixels or greater on longest side, under 5MB, JPEG format).