Visiting Artist & Visiting Writer Programs

Overview of the Visiting Artist Program

Katahdin and the surrounding landscape have been capturing the imagination of visual artists since the mid 1800’s, when famed American landscape artist Frederic Church began his visits to the area.  Over the years, many have worked to capture the aura of Katahdin, the solitude of Russell Pond, the varied wildlife found across the Park. Artists such as Maurice “Jake” Day traveled throughout the Park to capture scenes and landscapes that embody the very soul of what the Park is to many people.  For many who visit the Park, the ever-changing beauty and often haunting grandeur of the northern forest and mountains form an emotional bond that can be both felt and recaptured through various forms of visual art and writing.

In recognition of this long tradition, and the richness it brings to the Park experience, Baxter State Park adopted the Visiting Artist Program. This program offers one visual artist two weeks of rustic cabin lodging in September to immerse themselves and draw inspiration from this 200,000+ acre paradise. The selected artists can shed the burdens and responsibilities of modern society for a brief moment while finding truth in nature and practicing their skills with few distractions.

In return, Visiting Artists are asked to hold one evening program and one open studio with the public during their stay, during which their skills and techniques can be explained and demonstrated.  Park staff will work with artists in designing and implementing their programs. Additionally, within one year of their stay, Visiting Artists are asked to provide the Park with professional quality images, prints, or documents representative of their style and resulting from their experience here. A $25, non-refundable fee is required when submitting an application to help offset administrative and operational costs. The Park will provide a one day orientation to the Park but no other transportation will be provided.

Guests: Because this program is intended to inspire creativity through immersion we allow a maximum of one guest to accompany the artist in the Park facility.

Application Details for Visiting Artists

Applications: will be accepted for September if postmarked by March 15. Notification will be made by April 15.

Fee: A $25 non-refundable application fee must accompany the application.

Application should consist of the following items:

  • A brief resumé and summary of your creative works.
  • A single page statement describing your artistic plan during your stay and your intended accomplishments while in Baxter State Park.
  • A description of the evening program(s) and open-studio session(s) to be provided to the
    public while in the Park.
  • Names and contact information of two references who know your work.
  • An appropriate sample of your recent work. Samples should be sufficient to display your
    style and talent, but reasonable in size or quantity to be reviewed by a panel. Materials will NOT be returned after the review process.

Checks should be made payable to: Baxter State Park Authority.

Mail applications and application fee to:

Baxter State Park Visiting Artist Program
Baxter State Park
64 Balsam Drive
Millinocket, ME 04462

For further information: Please review our FAQ’s; if your questions still aren’t answered, please e-mail Cassandra Knudsen.

Overview of the Visiting Writer Program

Words have the profound power to transform, inspire, and energize. Throughout history, writers such as Rachel Carson, Henry David Thoreau, and Aldo Leopold helped to transform the cultural landscape of America, fostering a love and care for the natural world that sparked the modern conservation movement. This work continues today with influential contemporary authors such as Robin Wall Kimmerer, Mary Oliver, and David George Haskell.

The visiting writer program honors the work of writers and the influence they have had on the culture of the Katahdin region. This program offers writers a chance to shed the burdens of daily society and escape into the wilderness for one week in June to focus on their writing.

The Visiting Writer will stay at a rustic cabin at Kidney Pond during the second full week of June. On the last night of their stay, they will host a one hour evening program that is open to the public at the Kidney Pond Library. During this program, the visiting writer will perform a reading of some of the works they have written during their stay in Baxter State Park, and they will discuss their inspirations and writing process with the public. Additionally, within six months of their stay, the Visiting Writer will be asked to provide the Park with finalized works representative of their style and resulting from their experience here. The Park may use this work with attribution to the author in publications such as holiday cards, newsletters, displays, etc.

Because this program is intended to inspire creativity through immersion, we allow a maximum of one guest to accompany the Visiting Writer in the Park facility.

Fiction, nonfiction, and poetry writers will all be considered, but all works should have an emphasis on nature. Submissions should align with the wilderness preservation values of Baxter State Park, with the celebration and protection of the natural world at their heart. We encourage diverse voices to apply.

Application Details for Visiting Writers

Applications: will be accepted for June 2026 if postmarked by March 15. Notification will be made by April 15.

Fee: A $25 non-refundable application fee must accompany the application.

Application should consist of the following items:

  • A brief resume and summary of your creative works
  • A single page statement describing your literary plan during your stay and your intended accomplishments while in Baxter State Park.
  • Names and contact information of two references who know your work.
  • Three copies of an appropriate sample of your recent work. Samples must adhere to the following guidelines:
    • No more than 10 pages
    • Size 12 font
    • Double spaced for prose, single spaced for poetry
    • 1” margins on all sides

Checks should be made payable to: Baxter State Park Authority.

Mail applications and application fee to:

Baxter State Park Visiting Writer Program
Baxter State Park
64 Balsam Drive
Millinocket, ME 04462

For further information: Please review our FAQ’s; if your questions still aren’t answered, please e-mail Cassandra Knudsen.

Lodging

The lodging provided is a comfortable, but rustic, cabin located in Kidney Pond Campground. The campground is approximately 12 miles from the southern entrance of the Park and approximately 20 miles from the nearest store. Visiting Artists & Writers will need to provide their own food, personal gear and transportation to and from the campground, as well as throughout the Park.

Water: There is cold and hot running water in the cabin, but it is not potable. Boil, filter, or treat all water before drinking.

Cooking: There is a propane stove and a refrigerator in the cabin but a cooler is recommended for transporting perishable items from town. Basic cooking utensils such as pots, pans, mugs, and cutlery are provided.

Heat: The cabin features a wood stove and an outdoor fire ring for cool nights. We recommend weather-appropriate clothing and bedding.

Lights: There is no electricity in the Park, but the cabin does feature propane lights. Bring lanterns and flashlights for supplemental lighting needs.

Restrooms: Outhouses are located throughout the campground.

Linens: You will need to bring your own bedding (beds are twin-sized bunks) and towels, etc. since linens are not provided anywhere in the Park.

We ask that you leave the lodging in the same condition (clean and neat) as when you began your stay.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I submit my application digitally?

No. For ease of review among a panel of judges, all application materials must be submitted as hard copies and mailed in to Baxter State Park at:

Baxter State Park Visiting Artist Program
Baxter State Park
64 Balsam Drive
Millinocket, ME 04462

or

Baxter State Park Visiting Writer Program
Baxter State Park
64 Balsam Drive
Millinocket, ME 04462

Can I pay the application fee by credit or debit card?

No. The application fee must be paid with either cash or a check.

When are applications accepted?

Applications are accepted January 15 through March 15. Notification of our selection will be sent out on April 15.

What kinds of artists are considered?

All kinds of visual artists and writers are considered. Unfortunately, due to rules and regulations regarding sound and the wilderness character of the Park, we do not accept applications from musicians. Artists who require special equipment (I.E. a kiln, a dark room, etc.) or electricity would also find their work impossible to complete in Baxter State Park.

Will my application materials be returned if I am not selected?

No, though applicants are welcome to stop by Park Headquarters in person to pick up their application materials if they are not selected.

What kind of program should I plan to host to fulfill the Visiting Artist’s obligations of public engagement?

Keep in mind that all programs will be hosted within Baxter State Park at the Kidney Pond Library. There is no access to electricity anywhere in the Park, so slideshows and other types of programs that require the use of electricity are not possible. The Visiting Artist must supply all materials used for the program. Simple, straightforward programs that allow the public to learn about the Visiting Artist’s craft and utilize their own creativity tend to be most popular.

What other contributions to the Park do the Visiting Artists and Visiting Writers make?

Traditionally, we utilize the Visiting Artist’s artwork and/or a verse from the Visiting Writer on our annual holiday card. Visiting Artists & Writers are encouraged to keep this in mind and should aim to prepare some art/written material that would be suitable for the holiday card during their stay in the Park. They should plan to submit an array of suitable works the week after their stay has ended. Their art/writing may also be used to promote the Visiting Artist & Visiting Writer programs in the future.

Am I allowed to have guests?

The Visiting Artist & Visiting Writer may have one guest stay in the cabin with them throughout the duration of their residency.

What should I bring if I am selected as the Visiting Artist or Visiting Writer?

  • Sleeping bag or bedding for a twin bed
  • Soap
  • A headlamp, flashlight, and/or lantern(s)
  • Mouse-proof containers for food and valuables
  • Vehicle with a full tank of gas
  • Food for two weeks
  • Potable water OR a water filter OR a means of treating water from within the Park
  • Art materials for planned projects, journals for writing
  • Additional art materials for use by the public during workshops
  • Anything else that may make your stay more comfortable or enjoyable!