Porcupine Mountains Artist‑in‑Residence Program

Porcupine Mountains Artist‑in‑Residence Program is sponsored by Friends of the Porkies / Michigan State Parks. Residency for visual, literary, musical, and performing artists in Michigan’s Porcupine Mountains State Park offering immersion in wilderness and public engagement.

Artist-In-Residence | Friends of the Porkies “To offer residencies to new and established artists of recognized excellence from around the world to pursue their creative process in a wilderness environment. ” We are looking for volunteers for the AIRP committee, including a couple of volunteers to lead the committee. If you have an interest in art - we'd love to talk with you to discuss these volunteer opportunities.

If you are interested in either of these opportunities, please email [email protected] with a brief description of your background and why you'd like to be considered. The Artist-in-Residence program at Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park is open to artists and artisans whose work can be influenced by this unique northern wilderness setting.

It offers writers, composers, and all visual and performing artists and artisans the opportunity to experience the natural beauty of the Porkies and express it through their particular art form. As part of the Artist Residency, the artists will provide a public presentation demonstrating some aspect of their art. The Artist-in-Residence application process is now closed: all artists have been contacted.

We sincerely thank everyone who applied for sharing their work and creativity with us. We encourage all applicants to apply again for our 2027 residency program. Congratulations to our 2026 artists!

Jake Ring — Ironwood, MI — Photographer Artist Ambassador | Presentation: May 21st Caroline Meehean — Merrill, WI — watercolor Artist Ambassador | Presentation: June 11th Caroline Baker Mazure — Royal Oak, MI — Acrylic Painter Residency: July 12–24 | Presentation: July 23 Mark Cavanaugh — Saint Paul, MN — Photographer Residency: July 30–August 13 | Presentation: August 6 Roxanne Everett — Seattle, WA — Landscape Acrylic Painter Residency: August 16–September 7 | Presentation: August 27 Katherine Sirvio — Naubinway, MI — Woodworking Residency: September 8–17 | Presentation: September 10 Anita McKeith — Freeland, MI — Macro Photographer Residency: September 18–October 2 | Presentation: September 24 Bill Wilson — Petoskey, MI — Musician Residency: October 4–18 | Presentation: October 8 All artist presentations are free and open to the public.

They are suitable for all age groups. Presentations will take place Thursday afternoons, from 4-6pm Eastern Time, at the Folk School Building. You will be able to view previous artist's work at the Visitors Center when it opens in the Spring.

Our Self-guided tour for Dan’s cabin, Visitors Center and the ski chalet to show case the art donated by the artists was a success and we plan to have another one next year. DAN’S CABIN RENOVATIONS 2025 Via a DNR Matching Partnership Grant volunteers replaced the two large windows in the cabin.

The DNR provided $5,000 in funds for the windows and with matching funds from the Friends which included volunteer labor time, Replaced gas stove and oven with counter cooktop stove DNR installed a new vault toilet under the existing outhouse structure. A rustic, timber frame cabin provides accommodations for the artist in residence.

"Dan's Cabin" was built as a tribute to Dan Urbanski, founding president of the Friends of the Porkies and award-winning photographer. We are enthusiastic in announcing this year's artists and hope that continued interest in the AIR Program and the Porkies remains high in coming years.

Artist-In-Residence Photo Gallery Porcupine Mountains Music Festival Trail Maintenance Committee General Donation Artist-in-Residence Program Porcupine Mountains Folk School Kurt Blake Helmet Fund Porcupine Mountains Music Festival (PMMF) Trails Youth Program Specific Needs - Add Note Below