Saguaro National Park Artist in Residence Frequently Asked Questions:

What are the housing arrangements? Artists are housed outside the park in a good-sized 3 bedroom, 1 bath house. Bedroom 1: 1 Queen Bed; Bedroom 2: 2 Twin Beds; Bedroom 3: Trundle Bed with 2 Twin Beds, Sun/Yoga room, Full Kitchen, Office, Laundry, Dining, Living and outdoor patio. Air Conditioning. There is no official studio but plenty of room to make a decent workspace for most projects. The house is centrally located and about 30 minutes to each district of the park. 

Can Couples/Partners Apply? Yes. And Families and Small Groups. All people staying at the residency MUST BE LISTED on the original application.

What is June like in Tucson? The Sonoran Desert gets hot. Generally, June in Arizona tends to get the record highs -- up to 115 F (46 C)! Average highs just over 100 F degrees (37C). Dehydration is a danger. Plenty of water, and adequate sun protection is a necessity. Work outside is best done from Sunrise to 10am and from 3:30 to Sunset.  Starting in mid-to-late June, Monsoon storms can bring dangerously heavy rain, localized flash flooding, damaging wind, lightning, and dust storms. There is nothing quite like the experience of a desert monsoon! 

Is there a stipend available for this residency? Yes. There is a $2000 stipend available for the selected artists. This is payable after the residency.

Can an applicant apply for other NPAF Artist-in-Residence programs and workshops simultaneously? Yes. You can even apply with the exact same proposal but fitted for a different opportunity or park. Who knows, it may work better in other parks.

May an applicant apply just with their Nom-de-Plume, pseudonym, faux-nom, or exhibit name? No. The name on the application must be the individual’s legal name. However, please include the above on your application if you prefer to be addressed and credited by them/it.

Is this residency open to non-artists? Yes, but on the condition that there must be a minimum of one artist in the applicant group. Non-artist spouses, family members, partners, friends are welcome, but must be noted as applicants.

Do I need to have transportation? Yes. The Park is quite isolated and is located on both sides of the Tucson metro area. It takes 30 minutes or more by car to reach each district of the park, depending on your destination. The park itself is quite large, a total of 92,000 acres. IN ADDITION, in the interest of the environment, please consider using a bicycle or ebike, if you choose, where allowed by the park, and with consideration to NPS guidelines and regulations. This last item is not a requirement but a suggestion.  

Where do I apply?

https://nationalparksartsfoundation.submittable.com/submit

What are the guidelines for submitting my digital images? We basically accept most file types and are looking for files no more than a resolution of 72 PPI, no more than 3MB, and no less than 1920 pixels. We basically need to see them clearly on a full screen.
 

Are the artists selected judged strictly on a scoring scale? Our curators, judges and panelists are top of their profession in the arts. We may also consider input from cultural experts and the NPS. So, the answer is, no, because knowing and judging what art is and choosing appropriate candidates, goes far beyond just knowing a numbers scoring system. 

Are you or the panelists able to give feedback on my submission? No. Neither the selection panel nor NPAF can offer portfolio or other reviews, provide feedback or advice or act as an artist agent or manager. 

Do you accept international artists? Yes, but US and international laws must be adhered to and they must have all of the proper paperwork for the program of their own accord. They may have to obtain a visa, and likely a J-1 visa.

I want to include more pieces of art because I feel like only a few works won't adequately represent my body of work. Can I do this? If you were to submit only one fabulous piece of work, its greatness would be recognized and not overlooked. You are not judged on volume. On the other hand, you may consider presenting a video or audio clip (3 minutes or less only) if you so choose. Whatever you do, please present a cohesive body of work that represents your excellence in style.

Why can’t the selection panel just go to my website, Pinterest, Instagram, or Facebook page, instead of my having to do all of this? Good point, but we don’t like to be influenced by anti-aesthetic platforms or how the framing of social media presents artwork. Sure, they can be viewed there but placement in social media or obscure curation is an influential factor, and we would like to see your work stand on its own. Also, we must present a full "package" to interested parties.

Will I be considered an employee of the National Park service while I am there? No. This residency is not an NPS affiliated residency this year.

What if I am accepted to the program but my availability changes? We will do our best to accommodate your schedule but, unfortunately, because the NPAF has scheduled other dependent things around an artist committing to the AiR, we may not be able to and will have to ask one of the alternately selected artists to be the NPAF Saguaro National Park Artist in Residence.

Can I reapply even if I have been accepted in previous years? Yes..... we are happy to report that we continue to work with 95% of the artists we have as park AiRs.

(All terms herein may change and are subject to the approval of the NPS, NPAF, and other governing entities. All AiR participants may be required to accept further conditions contracts and agreements including but not limited to; codes of conduct, special use permits, rules and regulations, housing agreements, volunteer in the park’s contract, and any other apparent and unforeseen agreements required of any governing entity, namely the NPS, NPAF and/or NPS concessionaires.)
 
Don’t hesitate to email questions to (please ONLY contact NPAF about this opportunity, not the park) : info@nationalparksartsfoundation.org