RAM/Joshua Tree National Park Artist-In-Residence & Affiliate Artist Programs
Mission Statement: The purpose of the Joshua Tree National Park Artist-In-Residence & Affiliate Artist Programs is to provide artistic and educational opportunities to promote deeper understanding of and dialogue about the natural, cultural and historical resources of Joshua Tree National Park and the deserts of Southern California.
Joshua Tree National Park
Joshua Tree National Park contains a variety of dramatic landscapes that offer a wide range of opportunities to experience the desert. These federal lands were set aside by presidential proclamation in 1936, when Franklin D. Roosevelt established Joshua Tree National Monument. The California Desert Protection Act, passed by Congress in 1994, designated the former monument as Joshua Tree National Park, ensuring that this part of the California desert would be preserved and protected for many generations to come. There are 585,000 acres of designated wilderness within the park's boundaries-well over half of its 794,000 acres.
The northern region of the park contains the Wonderland of Rocks, a twelve-square-mile area of monzogranite for which the park is known worldwide. Rock climbers, hikers, campers, and equestrians are among the 1.2 million people who visit the park annually. In addition to its spectacular geology, visitors may get a glimpse of the park's wildlife: Joshua Tree is home to over 320 species of birds, mammals, and reptiles, including desert tortoises, bobcats, foxes, mountain lions, golden eagles, hawks, rattlesnakes, and bighorn sheep.
More than seven hundred species of plants grow in the park, including, of course, the iconic plant of the Mojave Desert: the Joshua tree. Two large desert ecosystems adjoin each other in Joshua Tree National Park. Below 3,000 feet, the Colorado Desert (a subsection of the Sonoran Desert) is dominated by creosote bushes, Mojave yuccas, cholla cactus, as well as palo verde, ironwood, and smoke trees. Above 3,000 feet, the Mojave Desert is moister and slightly cooler, providing the conditions required by the park's 5.5 million Joshua trees. Some ecologists argue that Joshua Tree National Park is a transition zone between the two deserts. One of the many interesting things a visitor to the park can do is compare the features of the two zones and develop a deeper and broader understanding of deserts.
History of Artists in National Parks
Artists were the first to record the visual beauty and the drama of the American West on canvas and in photos. Ansel Adams, Thomas Moran, William Henry Jackson, and others awakened a nation to the magnificent waterfalls, geyser basins, and wildlife found in what would become some of our nation's most revered national parks. John Muir and Henry Thoreau touched people the world over with their writings. Musicians, composers, and other performing artists have likewise found inspiration in our national parks. They looked beyond nature as a raw resource; they spoke in defense of disappearing wildlife. They saw beauty and virtue in places promised to the future. Their works continue to foster pleasure and appreciation in others generating support for the appreciation, protection, and preservation of our national resources. Today, artists continue to document national parks, landscapes, and resources with contemporary approaches and techniques.
JTNP Artist-In-Residence & Affiliate Artist Programs
Joshua Tree National Park, in partnership with the Riverside Art Museum, offers two different artist residency programs:
The Artist-In-Residence Program offers lodging at the Lost Horse Ranger Station for a 2-6 week time period* during the months of March, April, October, and November each year.
The Affiliate Artist Program offers one-year residencies* without lodging (camping is available). This residency program is particularly suited to Southern California and Desert Community artists executing projects and opportunities
*Applications requesting a variation on the standard length of time for each residency program are considered.
RAM/JTNP Artist-In-Residence (AIR) Program
The Joshua Tree National Park Artist-In-Residence Program, operated by the Riverside Art Museum, offers visual, performing and literary artists a residency preferably from 2-6 weeks long (special requests are considered on a case-by-case basis). The accommodations within the park are located at the Lost Horse Ranger Station, a rustic and self-sufficient cabin with nearby panoramic views of the park. In exchange for the adventure of living and working in a national park, the resident artist will have the opportunity to create a body of work and to share their work with the surrounding regional and Southern California communities. AIR artist proposals should be site-specific to Joshua Tree National Park, yet are encouraged to pursue better understanding and dialogue about our national parks, natural resources, environmental, and desert issues.
AIR Residency Times
Selected artists for the Artist-In-Residence Program may propose to stay for a residency term preferably ranging from 2-6 weeks during the months of March, April, October or November at the Lost Horse Ranger Station inside Joshua Tree National Park. No stipend is provided. Artists are responsible for their own expenses, such as travel, meals, transportation, and insurance coverage.
AIR Accommodations/Working Conditions
In addition to the accommodations of the Lost Horse Ranger Station - approximately 600 sq. ft. - and the overall park itself, artists may utilize an indoor studio and outdoor patio workspace for the production of their art projects. Although conditions inside the Lost Horse Ranger Station are more temperate, artists must be prepared for more extreme conditions outside in the high desert that include high winds, low relative humidity and temperatures that can range from 100 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and as low as 30 degrees at night. Visiting artists are subject to the same Park Service regulations as all visitors-permanent and temporary alterations or manipulations of the landscape are strictly prohibited. Artists will be provided a park pass to allow free access of the park during the residency.
Donation to Joshua Tree National Park Collection
As per agreement with acceptance into the residency programs, selected artists are asked to donate to the park an original piece of artwork and/or appropriate professional documentation of their writings, music, or performance from their residency in Joshua Tree National Park. Donated artwork must be received no later than one year after an artist's residency. Artwork from visual artists should be framed with plexiglas and prepared for hanging before donation. Artists are also required to provide the copyright for this artwork to the National Park Service. Artwork becomes the unrestricted property of the Joshua Tree National Park and may be used in exhibits, educational programs, fundraising efforts, and by the Joshua Tree National Park's nonprofit association for their products. The artist retains a royalty-free, nonexclusive use license under the copyright of the art. The National Park Service owns the artwork and the rights to reproduce it. Under those rights, the artist has a license to make use of the artwork's image for his or her purposes. When artists reproduce artwork for their own purposes, publication information will include the the language: "This artwork was produced under the Artist-In- Residence Program at Joshua Tree National Park."
Public Presentations
Dependent on the specifics of each individual residency, artists are expected to do at least two public presentations during their residency with the Joshua Tree National Park Affiliate Artist Program (potential public presentation venues/partners include the Riverside Art Museum, the Desert Institute, Copper Mountain College, Morongo Basin Cultural Arts Council, Basinwide Foundation, and regional cultural and community partners, etc).
Calendar
Entries are accepted for the 2008-09 AIR and Affiliate Artist programs with postmarks dated no later than July 15, 2008. Applications postmarked after the deadline will not be considered. Notification of selected artists will be made by August 15, 2008.
The Selection Process
A panel of prominent artists, arts professionals, community representatives, National Park Service personnel, and Riverside Art Museum curatorial staff will choose finalists. Final selections are based on artistic merit, professional resume, the Statement of Project/Purpose, public presentation proposal(s), and relevance to the JTNP Artist-In-Residence & Affiliate Artist Programs mission.
Program Management
Joshua Tree National Park"s Artist-In-Residence & Affiliate Artist Programs are exclusively owned and operated by the National Park Service, and managed in partnership with the Riverside Art Museum. Additional partnerships with arts, cultural, and community organizations will be utilized to support specific collaborations, projects, exhibitions, performances, and/or opportunities for selected artists.
How to Apply:
Artists must submit application materials and art samples exactly as indicated on the application form. Insufficient, or excess materials, are causes for application rejection.
Required Application Checklist/Materials:
- Application Form (please fill out Application Form and include in Application Packet)
- Resume: Please provide professional resume, including exhibition record, bibliography, public & private collections, artist fellowships and residencies, and other honors. (6 copies)
- Statement of Project/Purpose (6 copies), maximum of 2 pages in length (min. of 11 pt. font size):
- Specific focus of work to be done and its relevance to Joshua Tree National Park.
- Relevance of residency proposal to your overall professional development/interests.
- Proposal of program, performance, project and/or lecture that can presented during residency.
- Samples of work (Do not send originals.)
- Visual Artists: (painters, sculptors, etc.): 1 CD or slide sheet of 12-20 images (.jpg or .tif).
- Videographers: 1 CD or DVD of at least two productions not to exceed 5 minutes total.
- Writers, Poets: 10 pages of written examples (6 copies)
- Musicians, Composers: 1 CD or cassette of at least two compositions not to exceed 5 minutes total.
- Performing Artists: 1CD or DVD of at least two performances not exceeding 5 minutes total.
- Application Fee of $35 (Checks payable to: Riverside Art Museum)
- A self- addressed, stamped envelope (SASE), if you would like the samples returned to you.
Postmark deadline is July 15, 2008.
Notifications of Selected Artists on August 15, 2008.
Artist-In-Residence Program - JTNP
Riverside Art Museum
3425 Mission Inn Avenue
Riverside, CA 92501
For further information: www.riversideartmuseum.org or www.nps.gov/jotr/
RAM/JTNP Affiliate Artist Program
The Joshua Tree National Park Affiliate Artist Program offers visual, performing, and literary artists an Affiliate Artist status for a one year time period (special requests are considered for longer residencies) to access the Joshua Tree National Park for research and development of projects related to the park. The Affiliate Artist program does not provide lodging/accommodations at the Lost Horse Ranger Station, but does support year-round access and/or camping in the park. All selected artists to the Affiliate Artist program will receive a one-year access pass to JTNP, and eligibility for a special one-year Individual Artist membership with benefits from the Riverside Art Museum.
Residency Times
Selected artists for the Affiliate Artist Program will receive a one-year residency inside Joshua Tree National Park, beginning in July, 2008 and ending in June, 2009. No stipend is provided. Artists are responsible for their own expenses, such as transportation, materials, meals, and insurance coverage.
No Accommodations/Camping Allowed
Affiliate Artists may utilize the park's public camping sites via the reservation procedures of the JTNP). Affiliate Artists must be prepared for more extreme conditions outside in the high desert that include high winds, low relative humidity and temperatures that can range from 100 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and as low as 30 degrees at night. Visiting artists are subject to the same Park Service regulations as all visitorsÑpermanent and temporary alterations or manipulations of the landscape are strictly prohibited. Artists will be provided a one-year park pass to allow free access of the park during the residency time period.
Donation to Joshua Tree National Park Collection
As per agreement with acceptance into the residency programs, selected artists are asked to donate to the park an original piece of artwork and/or appropriate professional documentation of their writings, music, or performance from their residency in Joshua Tree National Park. Donated artwork must be received no later than one year after an artist's residency. Artwork from visual artists should be framed with plexiglas and prepared for hanging before donation. Artists are also required to provide the copyright for this artwork to the National Park Service. Artwork becomes the unrestricted property of the Joshua Tree National Park and may be used in exhibits, educational programs, fundraising efforts, and by the Joshua Tree National Park's nonprofit association for their products. The artist retains a royalty-free, nonexclusive use license under the copyright of the art. The National Park Service owns the artwork and the rights to reproduce it. Under those rights, the artist has a license to make use of the artwork's image for his or her purposes. When artists reproduce artwork for their own purposes, publication information will include the the language: "This artwork was produced under the Artist-In- Residence Program at Joshua Tree National Park."
Public Presentations
Dependent on the specifics of each individual residency, artists are expected to do at least two public presentations during their residency with the Joshua Tree National Park Affiliate Artist Program (potential public presentation venues/partners include the Riverside Art Museum, the Desert Institute, Copper Mountain College, Morongo Basin Cultural Arts Council, Basinwide Foundation, and regional cultural and community partners, etc).
Calendar
Entries are accepted for the 2008-09 AIR and Affiliate Artist programs with postmarks dated no later than July 15, 2008. Applications postmarked after the deadline will not be considered. Notification of selected artists will be made by August 15, 2008.
The Selection Process
A panel of prominent artists, arts professionals, community representatives, National Park Service personnel, and Riverside Art Museum curatorial staff will choose finalists. Final selections are based on artistic merit, professional resume, the Statement of Project/Purpose, public presentation proposal(s), and relevance to the JTNP Artist-In-Residence & Affiliate Artist Programs mission.
Program Management
Joshua Tree National Park"s Artist-In-Residence & Affiliate Artist Programs are exclusively owned and operated by the National Park Service, and managed in partnership with the Riverside Art Museum. Additional partnerships with arts, cultural, and community organizations will be utilized to support specific collaborations, projects, exhibitions, performances, and/or opportunities for selected artists.
How to Apply:
Artists must submit application materials and art samples exactly as indicated on the application form. Insufficient, or excess materials, are causes for application rejection.
Required Application Checklist/Materials:
- Application Form (please fill out Application Form and include in Application Packet)
- Resume: Please provide professional resume, including exhibition record, bibliography, public & private collections, artist fellowships and residencies, and other honors. (6 copies)
- Statement of Project/Purpose (6 copies), maximum of 2 pages in length (min. of 11 pt. font size):
- Specific focus of work to be done and its relevance to Joshua Tree National Park.
- Relevance of residency proposal to your overall professional development/interests.
- Proposal of program, performance, project and/or lecture that can presented during residency.
- Samples of work (Do not send originals.)
- Visual Artists: (painters, sculptors, etc.): 1 CD or slide sheet of 12-20 images (.jpg or .tif).
- Videographers: 1 CD or DVD of at least two productions not to exceed 5 minutes total.
- Writers, Poets: 10 pages of written examples (6 copies)
- Musicians, Composers: 1 CD or cassette of at least two compositions not to exceed 5 minutes total.
- Performing Artists: 1CD or DVD of at least two performances not exceeding 5 minutes total.
- Application Fee of $35 (Checks payable to: Riverside Art Museum)
- A self- addressed, stamped envelope (SASE), if you would like the samples returned to you.
Postmark deadline is July 15, 2008.
Notifications of Selected Artists on August 15, 2008.
Affiliate Artist Program - JTNP
Riverside Art Museum
3425 Mission Inn Avenue
Riverside, CA 92501
For further information: www.riversideartmuseum.org or www.nps.gov/jotr/
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