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South Rim Artist in Residence program on hold, artists re-scheduled for North Rim
South Rim Artist in Residence program temporarily on hold, park re-evaluates program after budget concerns and loss of coordinator

Blind sculptor and South Rim Artist-in-Residence Michael Naranjo touches one of his bronze pieces during his 2014 residency at Grand Canyon. Ryan Williams/WGCN

Blind sculptor and South Rim Artist-in-Residence Michael Naranjo touches one of his bronze pieces during his 2014 residency at Grand Canyon. Ryan Williams/WGCN

GRANDS CANYON, Ariz. - In order to create a stronger South Rim Artist in Residence program and to address a growing budget concern, the National Park Service has decided to put the South Rim Artist in Residence program temporarily on hold.

Artists scheduled for the 2015 South Rim program have been offered residencies on the North Rim over the next two years.

The Artist in Residence programs, offered on the North and South Rims of the Grand Canyon are considered one of the most prestigious residency programs in the nation.

Every two years the cycle for applicants begins with a four to five member jury panel selecting artists based on their excellence in art.

Throughout their residency, artists develop, display and present their works. One of the unique points of the South Rim's program has been the wide variety of artists and art forms featured. These have included contemporary and traditional artists, sculptors, fiber artists, jewelers, photographers, videographers, writers, composers, musicians, dancers, storytellers, and designers as well as many others.

In the past, artists in residents have addressed many present issues in the park, including - preservation of the Canyon, environmental and cultural awareness and park resources.

Artists are normally featured year round on the South Rim and seasonally on the North Rim. Recently, a struggling budget and the loss of the program coordinator for the South Rim's program have caused the park to re-evaluate the program as well as the program coordinator position.

Even as a part-time position, the park said the job of program coordinator would be phased out after it became vacant. Last fall, program coordinator for the South Rim, Rene Westbrook, moved leaving the position vacant.

"When Rene moved on with her husband, we no longer had that position to refill," said Chief of Interpretation for Grand Canyon National Park Donna Richardson. "We are re-looking at our whole division and looking at how we can continue the program."

The park said this allows the park time to re-evaluate the staffing, funding and future direction of the program.

"The way we look at it, we are temporarily putting on hold the South Rim program and continuing the North Rim program," Richardson said. "The program is continuing."

In order to fulfill their obligation to the South Rim artists scheduled for 2015, District Interpreter and program coordinator for the North Rim, Robin Tellis and environmental educator on the South Rim, SuZan Pearce, re-scheduled the remaining South Rim artist as residents on the North Rim.

Richardson said there were around six artists left on the South Rim program. These artists have not committed to specific dates and were asked by the park to relocate their residency to the North Rim.

"We are going to accommodate them by opening up 2016 and 2017 on the North Rim," Richardson said.

Because the North Rim program is seasonal - May through October -and each residency lasts around three weeks, the artists had to be spread out over a two-year time frame.

Additionally, the park had to fulfill their commitments to the 2015 North Rim artist in residents first. The remaining six South Rim artists were given first choice for the 2016-2017 season on the North Rim.

"We opened up both years because we didn't want to limit them too much," Richardson said.

For many artists one of the appeals of the South Rim program was the freedom of expression artists were allowed. The park said they plan to continue in that spirit as they make plans for future residencies.

"The types of art that are represented throughout the year is very diverse. It's not just a lot of painters or one or two different types of mediums," Richardson said. "At times, the park has been willing to take on programs that may be a little questionable. The Grand Canyon has always been willing to push the envelope and get people to think. We feel strongly about this and want to continue that in our program and make sure it stays there."

One change the park is considering in the program is offering residencies periodically or even seasonally instead of year round.

"Rene had the program running back to back with artists," Richardson said. "One thing we've considered is that maybe it would be year round but not quite so heavily scheduled."

Richardson said the historical Verkamp apartment, where artists stay during their residency, will remain in the park's art division. It will be made available when the program returns to the South Rim.

"It (Verkamps) will stay with the program," Richardson said. "We may have artists in for special programs or a guest speaker and we will continue to use it in that way - in the mean time."

The final artist in resident on the South Rim, a photographer from Taos, New Mexico, will continue as scheduled through the month of February.

After that residency is completed, the program will re-allocate the remaining 2015 artists to the North Rim.

"The program is not dead, the program is not going away," Richardson said. "Because of financial situations we have to step back and re-evaluate what we're doing."

In the case of vacant spots over the next three years, the park will be considering extending invitations to past artists.

The park said they hope to kick off the new South Rim program sometime in 2018- 2019.

"2019 would be a great opportunity, with the celebration of the park's anniversary, to do that," Richardson said.


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