Southwest artist residencies in Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and some beyond with Summer 2023 deadlines.
It has finally warmed up. We’re out of our hermit caves. And we’re soooo close to basking in the summer sun and outdoor adventures. The residencies on this list must be in the same frame of mind.
Whether it’s living and creating inside of Chaco Canyon or engaging with the community in beautiful Breckenridge, Colorado, the artist opportunities in this roundup take place in some of the most gorgeous spots in the world.
In case you’re concerned about potentially creating at a national park in Joshua Tree or Zion during the hottest seasons, don’t be. These artist opportunities just have application deadlines this summer. Selected artists will be able to fulfill their residencies in the much more hospitable temperatures of spring and fall.
While you’re deep into checking your calendar, researching, and applying, you can also take a look at Southwest Contemporary’s past residency articles, organized seasonally, from spring 2023, fall 2022-winter 2023, and spring 2022.
Arizona Artist Residencies
Grand Canyon Conservancy’s Artist-in-Residence Program
Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
The residency is conducive to solo contemporary solo artists exploring concepts of conservation, cultural identity, or community, and who want to contribute to the cultural and aesthetic legacy of the Grand Canyon. Selected artists live and work in provided housing, a private one-bedroom apartment above the historic Verkamp’s Visitor Center overlooking the Canyon near the south rim. Each artist is asked to provide at least two public programs lasting a minimum of forty-five minutes each during their stay.
Deadline to apply: July 31, 2023 via the Grand Canyon Conservancy website.
Application fee: $45.
Stipend: $400 per week.
Length: Four to eight weeks.
Petrified Forest Artist-in-Residence
Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona
The residency inside of the entrancing Petrified Forest, located in northeast Arizona near Holbrook, is open to many creative folks—past residents have included composers, dancers, performance artists, painters, musicians, sculptors, photographers, felters, quilters, and poets. Housing is provided. And it’s pretty special—it’s a historic 1930s casita two miles from the north entrance of the park at the rim of the Painted Desert. Selected resident artists are asked to donate an original piece of work from and representative of their residency, and are also required to present at least one thirty-minute or longer public program.
Deadline to apply: August 31, 2023.
Application fee: unknown.
Stipend: none.
Length: typically two weeks.
California Artist Residencies
Joshua Tree Artist in Residence Program
Joshua Tree, California
The Joshua Tree National Park Artist in Residence Program is open to visual artists, performing artists, musicians, and writers. The residency is an opportunity for artists to explore the park, pursue their own creative practice, and share their unique perspective of the park’s resources with others—resident artists are required to present one visitor outreach experience. Housing is provided at Black Rock in the northwest corner of the park.
Deadline to apply: May 31, 2023.
Application fee: $35.
Stipend: none.
Length: One month in fall or spring.
Colorado Artist Residencies
Breck Create’s Artist-in-Residence Program
Breckenridge, Colorado
This residency program, which encourages artists to focus on process rather than product, is open to regional and national artists of all disciplines. Chosen artists spend up to four months in a live/work studio in the Breckenridge Arts District campus while engaging the local community. Resident artists are expected to facilitate two weekly open studios, teach weekly lessons in schools and on campus, participate in on-campus public events, and collaborate with a community partner. Artists with teaching experience will be given priority.
Deadline to apply: September 1, 2023.
Application fee: none.
Stipend: $600 biweekly; artists can also attend on-campus classes and open studios for free.
Length: two to four months.
Nebraska Artist Residencies
Bemis Center Fall 2024 Artist-in-Residence
Omaha, Nebraska
Bemis Center’s open-call residency is an independently minded, process-based residency in a communal environment that fosters creative growth, experimentation, and exchange. Artists in residence have twenty-four-hour access to extensive installation and production spaces, a 9,000-square-foot sculpture and ceramics facility, and a sound studio for rehearsing and recording.
Deadline to apply: August 1, 2023.
Application fee: $40.
Stipend: $1,250 per month plus a $750 travel stipend.
Length: September 11–November 15, 2024.
Nevada Artist Residencies
Buffalo Creek Art Center Residency
Gardnerville, Nevada
Sculptors who make traditional figurative and abstract three-dimensional works in metal, ceramics, wood, stone, or mixed media are eligible to apply for this summer residency that’s located on a thirty-four-acre property at the foot of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
Deadline to apply: ongoing.
Application fee: none.
Stipend: none, but residents are provided with free room and workspaces as well as access to shop equipment.
Length: Residents can choose between four-, six-, or eight-week stints.
New Mexico Artist Residencies
Chaco Canyon National Historical Park Artist in Residence
Chaco Culture National Historical Park, New Mexico
Solo artists, writers, musicians, and performance artists are eligible to apply for this in-park residency that consists of pre-Columbian pueblos, ceremonial structures, and additional sacred and preserved sites. In addition to a $2,000 stipend, the selected artist—who will be able to offer a public event, reading, concert, or workshop—will be provided free housing.
Deadline to apply: July 8, 2023.
Application fee: $60.
Stipend: $2,000.
Length: November 1-30, 2023.
Parse Seco
Arroyo Seco, New Mexico
Parse Seco, an experimental creative outlet and residency space north of Taos, offers thirty- to ninety-day residencies for “individual underrepresented artists, students, or artists who have not previously curated a show to critically engage issues of underrepresentation of specific race/demographics in art, controversial subject matter, and accessibility of art to all groups.”
Deadline to apply: ongoing.
Application fee: none.
Stipend: none.
Length: one to three months.
Utah Artist Residencies
Zion National Park 2024 Artist in Residence
Zion National Park, Utah
This residency in stunning Zion National Park offers professional artists rent-free, furnished housing in the main canyon for four weeks to pursue their artistic discipline. Each artist is required to present two public presentations and also must be self-sufficient and provide all of their necessary supplies. There are two available sessions: February 2024, and mid-October to mid-November 2024.
Deadline to apply: July 17, 2023.
Application fee: $25.
Stipend: $500 reimbursement to assist with travel and supply expenses.
Length: four weeks.
Wyoming Artist Residencies
Ucross Residency Program
Ucross, Wyoming
The residency on a 20,000-acre working ranch, located approximately forty minutes southeast of Sheridan, is currently accepting applications for its spring 2024 general residency, 2024 fellowship for Native American visual artists, and 2024 fellowship for Native American writers. (The general residency is open to visual artists, writers, composers, choreographers, interdisciplinary artists, and performance artists, as well as collaborative teams.) Selected residents are given uninterrupted time and space on the peaceful grounds as well as a private studio, living quarters, meals prepared by a professional chef, staff support, and community.
Deadline to apply: July 15, 2023.
Application fee: none for the Native American fellowships; $40 for the general residency.
Stipend: $1,000.
Length: one to three months.
