Bernheim Forest and Arboretum launches applications for the 45th year of the Artist in Residence Program
As one of Bernheim’s long-standing programs, the Artist in Residence Program remains as vibrant and relevant as when it began in 1980. In 2025 the program celebrates its 45th year of welcoming artists from around the globe to live on-site and create works that explore the connection between art and nature.
Arts Program Coordinator, Teresa Koester, reflects, “Our artists in residence tell the story of Bernheim like no other. They imbibe the forest 24 hours a day, intimately bearing witness to nature’s unfolding spectacle. They see a different side of the forest after the park closes and are clued into the minutiae of changes day to day. That level of observation and engagement with the natural landscape stimulates creativity in amazing ways.”
Annually, artists are invited to apply for one of four residencies, each providing a stipend of $2,500. One residency is reserved for a regional artist from Kentucky or Southern Indiana’s Clark and Floyd counties, while another is dedicated to an artist focused on environmental issues and climate change. Selected artists will live at Bernheim for six to eight weeks, where they are encouraged to explore new avenues in creating site-specific ecological and environmental artwork.
In exchange for comfortable rustic housing, studio space, financial support, and staff assistance, artists are expected to create a site-inspired artwork, temporary installation, or project as a donation to the Bernheim Foundation. Recipients are also required to engage the public with their work through activities such as demonstrations, workshops, lectures, or participation in Bernheim’s programs or annual events.
Bernheim Forest is now accepting artists’ entries through midnight EST on December 2, 2024. Visual and mixed media artists of all mediums, with the broadest range of diverse perspectives and experiences, are encouraged to submit work for consideration.
