A Call for Artists!

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Zion National Park and the Zion National Park Foundation Are Seeking Applicants for the 9th Annual Plein Air Art Invitational

The Plein Air event helps fund the park's exemplary Junior Ranger program, each season, providing thousands of children once in a lifetime experiences at Zion National Park.

The Plein Air event helps fund the park’s exemplary Junior Ranger program, each season, providing thousands of children once in a lifetime experiences at Zion National Park.

SPRINGDALE, UT – Artist applications for the 2017 Zion National Park Plein Air Art Invitational are available beginning January 2, 2017. Zion National Park and the Zion National Park Foundation have hosted some of the country’s most recognized plein air artists over the festival’s past eight years. The event will be held from Monday, November 6 to Sunday, November 12, 2017.

“The Plein Air Event at Zion ties us to the park’s artistic heritage in a powerful and accessible way,” said Jeff Bradybaugh, Superintendent of Zion National Park. “Through the eyes of our contemporary artists, we constantly gain new perspective and understanding about why Zion matters, and the importance of its protection for everyone forever.”

Proceeds from the event support the park’s youth education initiative including the Junior Ranger program, funding for school field trips to the park, and ranger visits to schools unable to visit the park; Concrete to Canyons, a 3-day field experience for underrepresented schools in Las Vegas and Mesquite, Nevada; as well as the park’s Artist-in-Residence Program. The 2016 event raised more than $65,000 in support of these programs.

“As Zion National Park’s official nonprofit partner, we are proud to host the annual Plein Air Art event with our park partner,” said Mark Preiss, director of philanthropy, Zion National Park Foundation. “While federal appropriations provide for the park’s day to day operations and basic maintenance, we are here to provide Zion National Park’s margin of excellence. This project sustains the park’s heritage of art, while proceeds help us give thousands of our area school children once in a lifetime experiences in Zion National Park every season,” Preiss added.

For those who are interested in applying, the application is now available online. All application materials must be submitted ONLINE by Monday, February 13, 2017 by midnight. Additional information, including contract details are available on the NPS website. For questions, please call 435-772-3264 or email.

Your application will not be considered complete until you pay a $20 non-refundable application fee.

The fee may be sent to ZNPF as a check or money order or call 435-772-3264 and use a credit card. Mail checks or money orders to:

Zion Natural Park Foundation
Zion National Park
Springdale, UT 84767