2006 Artist-In-Residence Program

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is pleased to announce that in 2006 it will host the fourteenth annual Artist-In-Residence program.
Artists have had a long-standing influence on the formation, expansion and direction of our National Parks. By painting landscapes of the American West, nineteenth century artists publicized many of the natural wonders of a land little known to eastern residents. This body of work helped to stimulate the establishment of many of our National Parks and to foster a continuing appreciation of them.
Today?s artists continue to document the resources of the National Park system with contemporary approaches and techniques, drawing upon the scenic, historic, and cultural elements of the parks for inspiration. These artists translate the parks? purpose as places of pleasure and preservation, into images that bring other people new insights, enjoyment, and understanding.
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is located in the northwest corner of Michigan?s Lower Peninsula. It stretches 57 kilometers along Lake Michigan?s east coast between the towns of Frankfort and Leland. Traverse City lies 40 kilometers to the east. North and South Manitou Islands lie a few kilometers offshore.
The picturesque National Lakeshore is ideally suited for an Artist-In-Residence program. It is a hilly region fringed with massive coastal plateaus and sand dunes, and dotted with clear lakes. It is a diverse landscape, with many features derived from the glacial times when vast ice sheets covered the land. It embraces quiet, tree-lined streams, imposing beech-maple forests, and rugged bluffs towering as high as 140 meters above Lake Michigan.
The National Lakeshore?s cultural history includes prehistoric use by American Indians, lake steamer fueling stations, logging, farming, commercial fishing, lighthouses, U.S. Life-Saving Stations, and other maritime activities. Because Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore offers so many varied cultural and natural resources, it is an ideal location for creative endeavor. The beauty and serenity of the land and water inspire creativity.
How the Program Operates
The Artist-In-Residence program is open to professional American writers, composers and visual artists, including photographers, whose work can be influenced and enhanced by this superb Michigan scene. It provides resident artists the opportunity to capture the moods of Sleeping Bear Dunes in their particular medium.
The program provides rent-free use of either a campsite in one of the developed mainland campgrounds, or a park house located in the vicinity of the village of Empire. For the 2006 fall season, two 3-week time blocks are available: the period from September 9 through September 30, and the period from October 7 through 28.
The artist is asked to donate to the park an original piece of work (that has been framed or mounted) representative of their medium, produced during the residency, and to contribute to the advancement of the park?s mission. This is done by sharing knowledge with the public during the final week of the residency through a demonstration, reading, slide talk, etc. In addition, the artist must be willing to interact with park visitors when contacts are made in the field while working.
Donated works will be displayed in the park or shared with the public through other appropriate means. These works will characterize the Lakeshore for present and future generations. Offering the public an opportunity to experience our national heritage through the eyes, ears and talents of the contributing artists fulfills one of the program?s main purposes.
The artist will be enrolled in the Volunteers In Park (VIP) Program of the National Park Service.
Accommodations
The Artist-In-Residence chooses between two options. The first is a park house, which may be either in or just south of Empire, depending upon availability. The house has modern amenities, and an adjacent garage. Stove, refrigerator, and cooking/eating utensils are provided. An outbuilding with natural light which serves as a rustic studio may also be available.
The second option is a campsite at one of the two developed mainland campgrounds. The Platte River Campground is located in the southern half of the park along the Platte River and provides a modern environment. It has paved roads and parking, electrical and water hookups, flush toilets and hot showers. The D.H. Day Campground is located in the northern half of the park near Lake Michigan and the historic village of Glen Haven. It provides a more primitive environment, with unpaved roads and sites, cold water faucets, and vault toilets.
The artist needs to bring personal gear, bedding, food, and supplies appropriate to the medium of expression. Food is available in stores in Empire and other nearby towns. Art, photo and other supplies are available in Traverse City. The artist is expected to leave the accommodations neat and clean, and to comply with all park regulations and standards governing employees and visitors. The artist should be in good health, self-sufficient, and expect to work closely with the park staff to achieve the goals of the program.
Selection Process
A jury of park representatives and local subject matter experts will select from the pool of applicants. Selections will be made solely on the basis of merit and how their work can advance the mission of the National Park Service and Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Selections will be made without regard to race, religion, sex, marital status, age or national origin.
How to Apply
Applications for the program must be postmarked or delivered to the park no later than April 15, 2006. The selections will be made and all applicants notified of the outcome as soon as possible. An application must include the following items, contained in a single envelope or padded mailer:
1. Your resume of no more than two pages (4 copies).
2. An appropriate sample of your recent work:
? For visual artists - eight 35mm slides in standard mounts or eight images on a CD or DVD (PC compatible) which must be labeled. Label slides with your name, medium, image size, and indicate the top of the slide.
? For composers - a cassette, CD, or DVD (PC compatible) recording.
? For writers and journalists - 4 copies of a brief (6-page maximum) manuscript excerpt, short story, essay, poem or other work.
3. A statement of what you hope to gain from a residency at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, and a statement of your willingness to present a program for the public and to interact with visitors while at work in the field(4 copies).
4. Your preference for period of residence ( 9/9-9/30 or 10/7-10/28) and accommodation (house or campsite).
PLEASE NOTE - No submissions sent to the park will be returned to the artist.
For further information, or to submit an application, please write: Artist-In-Residence Program Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore 9922 Front St.,Empire, Michigan 49630, or call: (231) 326-5134