kluane national park artist residency

The Kluane National Park Artist Residency provides an opportunity for established visual artists to pursue work that brings together science and art through connection with the spectacular landscape of Kluane National Park and Reserve in the southwest Yukon. With the support of the Yukon Arts Centre, Parks Canada and the Arctic Institute of North America’s (AINA) Kluane Lake Research Station (KLRS), artists are given valuable time to retreat, reflect, and focus on their work with access to researchers and scientists. The residency is the perfect setting to explore the interplay between science, conservation, and art, and give artists a chance to share and connect with people from all over the world.

About Kluane National Park and Reserve: The heart of Kluane National Park and Reserve is the St. Elias Mountains, among the youngest and largest mountains in North America. This vast wilderness area is part of a World Heritage Site and is home to some of the largest non-polar icefields and valley glaciers in the world. The park’s high mountain peaks, alpine tundra, montane forests and glacial fed rivers provide critical habitat for abundant wildlife and is the homeland of the Southern Tutchone people. Champagne and Aishihik First Nations and the Kluane First Nation, together with Parks Canada, cooperatively manage this special place.

About the Arctic Institute of North America (AINA): The Arctic Institute of North America is Canada’s first and longest-lived Arctic research institute. Our mandate is to advance the study of the North American and circumpolar Arctic through the natural and social sciences, the arts and humanities, and to acquire, preserve and disseminate information on the physical, environmental and social conditions in the North. We strive to meet that mandate through research, education and public engagement and through our data and information services. The Arctic Institute of North America operates the Kluane Lake Research Station (KLRS). Located on the south shore of Lhù’ààn Mân (Kluane Lake), KLRS is privileged to be situated within the Traditional Territory of the Kluane First Nation (KFN) and the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations (CAFN). Research in the region often occurs within the Traditional Territories of KFN, CAFN, and the White River First Nation (WRFN). The station was established in 1961 and has provided support to researchers from across Canada and around the world since that time.

About the Residency:

There are two seperate 2-week residencies available each year. These are to occur between late June to early September of 2026.

During the residency artists will be expected to present

• three public workshops, talks, demonstrations, or events
• two ‘artist at work’ drop in sessions

These programs will be planned and delivered in collaboration with Parks Canada and Kluane Lake Research Station staff. The possible locations for these programs are the Kathleen Lake day use area, the Thechàl Dhâl’ Visitor Centre, and the Kluane Lake Research Station.

Artists will provide Partners with at least one image of a work that was initiated or worked on during the residency (by November 31st