This video, produced by Amanda Trudell, shares more about the artists, the program, and the winter beauty of the park itself. Many thanks to her for creating this lovely piece!

Since 2018, Golden Hills has worked with Iowa Department of Natural Resources and 
​Friends of Waubonsie State Park to host Iowa's first State Park Artist Residency program.

​Learn about the past artists here: 2024 | 2023 | 2020-2021 | 2019-2020 | 2018-2019 

Information regarding artist residencies in 2025 will be available soon.

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Mission
To facilitate an artist in residency program that will house at least one artist at Waubonsie State Park to engage with the natural resources of the park through a visual arts lens. The goal of the residency is to reach a broader audience of park-goers, thus increasing the number of visitors per annum and ultimately educating more people about the Loess Hills ecosystem.
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Dates
Varying dates by year
 
Duration
2 to 4 weeks per artist
 
Waubonsie State Park provides

• A cabin for the artist to live in
• 1 studio space
• Access to park trails and amenities
• Connections to potential collaborators 

 
Artist agrees to the following:

• Donate one artwork to the park after the residency period
• Develop public programming in collaboration with the Park Manager, hosting at least one in-person event per residency or social media engagement 
• Reside on site during the residency period
• Engage with the natural environment of Waubonsie State Park
• No permanent damage to the buildings or site​

​About the Program
Waubonsie State Park awards multiple residencies to visual artists per year. Residencies range from 2 weeks to 4 weeks in length. Artists may work in a variety of media. Residency awards include living and studio space in Waubonsie State Park, which is in the southern Loess Hills region of Iowa. The studio location is identified together with the park manager based on the needs of the artist. The artist has access to work tables, hand tools, and a fully equipped woodshop. Artists are encouraged to deliver at least one public program during their residency and to donate one piece of art to the park at the conclusion of their stay. 

Learn more about Waubonsie State Park here.

Contacts
Matt Moles, Park Manager, Waubonsie State Park
Seth Brooks, Project Coordinator, Golden Hills RC&D
Shelly Eisenhauer, Friends of Waubonsie State Park

​Timeline for 2025

Coming soon!

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