Together, the Yukon Arts Centre, Parks Canada and the US National Park Service are providing an opportunity for established visual artists to pursue their work amidst history and nature on the Chilkoot Trail. Artists will hike the entire trail during a two week backpacking trip, spending one to three days at each campsite. Each artist will be required to provide and carry all of their backpacking gear, food and art supplies for the journey (though food caches are available, provided artists arrange delivery in time for May flights). Bringing a support person, friend or family, is highly recommended. That person will help share the load and enhance safety while travelling, camping and working in bear country. Each of the artists chosen will travel during separate two-week periods. Artists will receive up to $100 USD support from Skagway Arts Council in purchasing necessary art supplies and will receive a $1000 CAD honorarium from the Yukon Arts Centre.

This residency is open to applicants of any nationality for the 2019 edition. Artists applying for the 2019 edition are required to apply before February 1st, 2018.

If you are not Canadian or American citizen, you may require a visa or another permit. We will assist you as much as we are able, but ensuring you meet the requirements of Citizenship and Immigration Canada and United States Citizenship and Immigration Services is ultimately your responsibility. Please check directly with www.cic.ca and www.uscis.gov for up-to-date information about your obligations.

All artists whose first language is not English must be able to provide recent evidence that their spoken and written command of the English language is adequate for the residency. This requirement is specified in order to ensure that communications to fellow hikers and Parks employees is not hindered by language difficulties. 

The required evidence may be one of the following:

A recently obtained acceptable English language qualification or test result. The qualification or test result must have been awarded no more than two years ago. Acceptable qualifications include: TOEFL (B1/B2), IELTS (5.5/6.5), Cambridge English Examinations (First Certificate), BEC, TOEIC.
Substantial education (minimum 12 months) or work experience (minimum 18 months) conducted in English in a majority English speaking country and undertaken no more than five years prior to the proposed date of the residency.
An assessment of English communication skills through an oral interview with Chilkoot Trail Artist Residency staff.
Deadline: February 1st, 2018 – at midnight (PST). All submissions must arrive by this date.

All applicants will be reviewed by a committee consisting of representatives from the Yukon Arts Centre, Parks Canada, US National Park Service and the Skagway Arts Council. Selections will be made within six weeks after the deadline.

To apply, click here.