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Caution! Artist Crossing For this installment to our Residency Program Highlight we decided to feature not one residency program, but all of the National Park Residency Programs (NPRP). How did we find out about these amazing opportunities for artists? We found Minnesota artist Bonnie Fournier who has published an annual directory of these federally funded programs for artists since 1997. In Bonnie’s 2001 directory, she lists twenty-seven National Park Residency Programs, including two new sites. The applications, length of stay, number of residencies available, housing, work space and amenities varies widely for each NPRP. Most don’t offer a stipend, but do offer a place to live and work for a number of weeks in a beautiful, peaceful setting. For many artists it can provide a vacation-like setting in which they are able to get away from the daily grind. Residency programs can be just the ticket for artists who are seeking a concentrated period of time to focus on developing new ideas or completing a body of work. When asked, “Why do National Parks seek artists?” Bonnie responded, “…Parks are committed to teaching visitors about the resources being preserved. Artists are invited to live and work at a National Park to serve this “interpretive” goal. Residency programs are one of many methods employed by the Park Rangers in their ongoing efforts to educate the public.” As a part of this educational effort, many of the NPRP ask resident artists to present a public workshop or lecture for park visitors and/or are asked to donate art work to the Park’s art collection. More information visit www.nps.gov/volunteer. |