When will applicants be notified of their acceptance to be the Death Valley National Park Resident Artist? At least two months prior to the commencement of the AIR term for which they applied, in this case.

What are the housing arrangements? Artists are housed inside the Park in a hotel room at Stovepipe Wells Village. The room has most of the usual amenities, such as a TV, air conditioning, etc. You will need to adapt to working plein-air as there is no studio space. 

Is there wifi here? Yes.   

Is there a preferred time to arrive at the AiR? Yes. For ease of coordination and communication with the Stovepipe Wells Resort, Artists or Artist couples must schedule their arrival between 10-3 on weekdays and must have their own transportation for the month of the residency.

What is the weather like in Death Valley in January? In January, the average high temperature is almost the same as in December - a still enjoyable 66.9°F (19.4°C). In Death Valley National Park, in January, the average low temperature is 39.9°F (4.4°C). In Death Valley National Park, in January, during 3 rainfall days, 0.39" (9.9mm) of precipitation is typically accumulated. Throughout the year, in Death Valley National Park, California, there are 20 rainfall days, and 2.36" (60mm) of precipitation is accumulated. Though the weather is almost desert-delightful during this month, you should dress for UV protection during the middle of the day if you are outside working.
Is a vehicle required for this residency? Yes, absolutely. Artists must have their own transportation for the month of the residency. This is the largest park in the continental US. 

Will I need to rent a car? Yes. As above, Death Valley is very isolated and you need to be inspired by places you can only get with a car or truck.

Is there a stipend available for this residency? Yes. There is a $3,000 stipend/reimbursement available for the selected artists. This is payable after the residency.

When will applicants be notified of their acceptance to be the Death Valley National Park Artist in Residence? Because of the high volume of applications, if you have not received a notice of acceptance or alternate status, then unfortunately you have not been selected this year. On the occasion that the decision has been delayed, we will email our applicants to give notice of this.
Can I bring my pet or my family? No, except as they fall into normal daily visitor guidelines.

Will there be chances to display my artwork outside of the Artist in Residence time period? Currently, we have no plans for a show or presentation at this AIR. However, such an event may develop as we get closer to the date of the AiR

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.

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.
Do we select artists whose work is specifically about the Park and its environs? We are interested in artists being inspired by the Park, its science, history, heritage..... and like our past artists, it is impossible not to be inspired in some way by Death Valley National Park. A performance artist with good artwork has just as much a chance at being selected as does someone who has been plein-air painting in the park for fifty years or someone who does Augmented reality Art as does a cultural practitioner. We have a full panel of judges, who are at the top of the arts professions looking at the portfolios. This is not about taste or any agenda, it is about great artwork and giving an artist a once in a lifetime chance to create fine art in a National Park and visitors and future generations to experience the artist interpretation of park resources.

Are the artists selected judged strictly on a scoring scale? Our curators, judges and panelists are top of their profession in the arts and their names may be posted on the website eventually but it has been prudent to keep them anonymous. 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 jurors able to give feedback on my submission? No. Neither NPAF nor the jurors have time to provide individual feedback.
Do you accept international artists? Yes, but 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 professionally made 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 Judges 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.

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 NPS and NPAF have 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 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.

Can I apply to other NPAF programs and while participating in them put me “ahead” for this AiR program? Yes, you can apply and though it doesn’t guarantee you will be accepted into our other NPAF programs such as AiRs, workshops, or museum exhibitions, our teachers are top of their field in showing you how to present your most cohesive body of work and be successful at it.

Is the application fee refundable? No. The application fee is non-refundable. Even in cases of changes in programming due to NPRS needs or other affiliate agencies.

You should further educate yourself about the ecology of the park, and water usage etc. Please see Death Valley National Park park information including a description of its fragile environment, the sanctity of the heritage and culture, rules and regulations, and how to conduct oneself in Death Valley National Park. NOTE: While the residency is located INSIDE Death Valley National Park it is not affiliated with or endorsed by the National Park Service (NPS).

(This link does NOT have an application to, or information on the NPAF Artist in Residence or any NPAF programs, you will be directed off of this page):

http://www.nps.gov/deva/index.htm

Don’t hesitate to email questions to: info@nationalparksartsfoundation.org