Chilkoot Trail Artist Residency: Now accepting applications for 2017 and 2018!

Photographer Dan Hudson - Chilkoot Trail Artist Residence 2016

Visual Artist Julie Zhu – Chilkoot Trail Artist Residency 2016

Visual Artist Andrea Nelson – Chilkoot Trail Artist Residency 2016

The Chilkoot Trail Artist Residency is a two-week residency program that provides artists with a fascinating opportunity to develop their artistic practice while exploring the tremendous sights of the historic Chilkoot Trail.

Entering its seventh season,  this unique program is extending its scope and is now accepting applications from artists worldwide for the 2018 edition! The deadline for submitting applications for both the 2017 and 2018 residencies is February 1^st, 2017.

The online application form and extensive program information may be accessed on the Yukon Arts Centre website here.

Parks Canada together with the Yukon Arts Centre and the US National Park Service have launched the 2017- 2018 Chilkoot Trail Artist Residency. This residency is a unique two-week backcountry experience for visual artists with a passion for the outdoors. The program invites artists to hike the historic route of Tlingit traders and turn-of-the-century prospectors from the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park in Alaska to the Chilkoot Trail National Historic Site in Canada and connect with the hundreds of hikers along the trail, while pursuing their artistic practice.

Each year, three artists are chosen to participate in this cross-border creative journey – one from Canada, one from the United States, and one regional (Yukon or Alaska). By creating art on the trail and leading workshops and art talks in nearby communities afterwards, the selected artists will bring contemporary art to new and wider audiences and inspire an appreciation for the legacy of the Chilkoot Trail across both nations.

The Chilkoot Trail, like all Parks Canada places, reflects the rich and varied heritage of our country and provides an opportunity for Canadians and visitors to learn more about our diversity, including the history, cultures and contributions of Indigenous Peoples.

As we near the 150th anniversary of Canada, the Government invites all Canadians to experience and learn more about our environment and our history. Canada’s national parks and historic sites enable Canadians to experience their heritage in special ways and will play a big part in the celebration of Canada 150.

Quotes from the Honourable Larry Bagnell Member of Parliament for Yukon:

“Parks Canada is pleased to announce the call for submissions for artists on the Chilkoot Trail. The Artist Residency program continues to enrich the travel experience of many visitors hiking the Chilkoot Trail. In 2017, as Canada marks its 150th anniversary, we look forward to celebrating the many varied and enduring stories inspired by the Chilkoot. We are especially excited to expand the program in 2018 to welcome artists from around the globe.”

Mary Bradshaw, Gallery Director/Curator Yukon Arts Centre:

“The Chilkoot Trail Artist Residency is a rare opportunity for artists to combine their love for wilderness with their artistic passion with such a spectacular backdrop. Past artists have worked in a wide range of mediums and have expressed their enjoyment connecting with hikers along the trail.”

Mike Tranel, Superintendent, Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, US National Park Service:

“The Chilkoot Trail Artist Residency helps more people connect to the park and to the many stories of the Klondike Gold Rush. The artists are ambassadors. They retrace the steps of traders, packers, and stampeders and translate that experience into visual art that transcends geography and language. Through their work, the artists reach people who may not be able to hike the Chilkoot Trail or who may never have heard of the site or story. The program not only raises public consciousness about the park, but also about art, public lands, and stewardship overall."

Quick Facts:

• Beginning at tidewater in Dyea, Alaska and ending on the shores of the Southern Lakes headwaters of the Yukon River, the Chilkoot Trail covers 53 kilometres (33 miles) and reaches an elevation of 1074 metres (3,525 feet) at the pass. Hikers typically take an average of four to five days to complete the trek, whereas artists in the residency program will spend up to two weeks on the Trail interacting with hikers, creating art, and engaging with the site’s heritage.
• The 2018 Chilkoot Trail Artist Residency will be the first time the program is open to artists from outside of Canada and the United States. The 2018 program will host three artists: one regional artist (Alaska or Yukon) and two from anywhere in the world.

Source: Yukon Arts Centre