Community Artist in Park Program Begins at Colorado National Monument – Apply Now!

Colorado National Monument Association (CNMA) is thrilled to announce the inaugural Community Artist in Park program at Colorado National Monument.

Colorado National Monument has long been a source of inspiration, with its towering red rock formations, deep canyons, sweeping vistas, and rich cultural history. We are excited to celebrate this landscape through the perspective of our first ever Community Artist in Park. Whether it’s painting, music, dance, sculpture, the written word – all artistic mediums are welcome to apply.

Through live demonstrations and community events, the Community Artist in Park program invites both our local community and its many visitors to engage with Colorado National Monument in a fresh and interactive way. By connecting local artists and the community with the land they call home, the program fosters a deeper appreciation for the monument’s natural beauty, history, and cultural significance.

We are incredibly grateful to the Grand Junction Commission on Arts & Culture for awarding CNMA a grant to help support this new program!

Application Criteria

The applicant must meet the following criteria:

• Reside in Mesa County, Colorado. Must be willing and able to show proof of residency with the following accepted documents: driver’s license, utility bill, or bank statement.
• Have a portable medium that invites visitor curiosity and engagement and is easily performed outside of a studio setting.
• Create a friendly, approachable environment to encourage visitor interaction.
• Engage in 12 hours of art creation per month within the monument, spending at least 8 hours in a “front-country” location with visitor interaction.
• Provide a detailed schedule of locations and dates of visitor contact work in advance. Adhere to the proposed schedule as firmly as possible.
• Attend all required training and orientation as assigned.
• Conduct a minimum of one event in the city of Grand Junction, aiming to engage with the local community about the Community Artist in Park program.
• Work alongside CNMA staff in developing products for sale at the CNMA Bookstore that feature artwork created during the program.

Additional information regarding the program, requirements, and compensation can be found in the Community Artist in Park FAQ document. 

Key Dates

• May 15, 2025 – Call for applications opens.
• June 12, 2025 – Application materials due.
• June 13 – June 20, 2025 – Applicant selection process.
• July 2025 – Community Artist in Park programming begins.
• November 30, 2025 – Community Artist in Park programming ends.

How to Apply for the Community Artist in Park Program

Applicants must prepare written answers to the following questions:

1. What is your medium? How does this medium work in the Community Artist in Park context?
2. What specific experience do you have as an artist working with the public?
3. What is your proposed schedule to meet the 12 hours of visitor contact work per month requirement? Are you available on the weekends?
4. What is the significance of public lands to you? Please describe any personal experience(s) you have had with them.

Additionally, please include the following with your application packet:

• 3 examples of your works in the following file formats: .jpg or .mov. (Digital portfolios and websites are welcome for submission.)
• Artist bio
• Contact info: mailing address, daytime phone number, email address, and preferred method of contact -phone call, text, or email.

Send your digital application materials by June 12th via email to:

Jes Rich, CNMA Program Coordinator

programs@coloradonma.org

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Have questions or would like more information? Please reach out to Jes Rich, programs@coloradonma.org