Arizona State Parks and Trails and the Arizona Commission on the Arts are pleased to announce that applications are now being accepted for the 2025 Artist in Residence program at Patagonia Lake State Park. This award-winning initiative allows Arizona artists to immerse themselves in one of the state's most inspiring natural settings while creating new work.

The 2025 Artist in Residence program offers Arizona-based creatives a transformative opportunity to live and create art at Patagonia Lake State Park for approximately three weeks during October-November 2025. Open to all Arizona residents 18 years and older, the selected artists will receive a paid stipend for their time in the program. The application window is now open through May 6, 2025, providing interested artists a chance to join this prestigious program.

The Arizona State Parks Artist Residency Program creates a unique space where art and nature intersect in meaningful ways. Through this initiative, artists are encouraged to develop work that fosters a deeper connection between creativity and our natural world. The residency aims to enhance public appreciation of Arizona's diverse landscapes through artistic interpretation while simultaneously providing new perspectives on environmental education. By bringing artists into our state parks, the program creates opportunities for community engagement and dialogue about the importance of preserving Arizona's remarkable natural and cultural heritage. Each residency contributes to a growing body of work that celebrates and documents the unique character of our state's protected natural areas.

In March 2025, this collaborative program received an Award of Distinction in the Art in Public Places category at Arizona Forward's 43rd annual Environmental Excellence Awards, recognizing its contribution to environmental education and appreciation through artistic expression.

How to Apply

Interested artists can submit applications through May 6, 2025, at the Arizona Commission on the Arts website. Download the Artist Residency Guidelines for additional details.

Hear from participating artists in last year's pilot program in the video below. Don't miss this opportunity to create in one of Arizona's most beautiful natural settings while contributing to the artistic and environmental legacy of our state parks!