Join an Artist-in-Residence Visitor Engagement Activity in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

by Lauren Connolly
Artist-in-Residence 2024

When you visit Great Smoky Mountains National Park, you expect awe-inspiring views, abundant wildlife, and a peaceful escape into nature. But there’s another layer of magic you may not know about—one that invites you to connect, create, and be inspired through the eyes of artists who are living and working in the park itself.

Welcome to the Artist-in-Residence (AIR) Program — and why you should say yes when you see an invitation to participate in one of their public engagements.

What is the Artist-in-Residence Program?

Lauren Connolly sits on the steps in front of her Artist-in-Residence apartment in Great Smoky Mountains National Park — Lauren Connolly, a multidisciplinary artist and certified naturalist from Cincinnati, Ohio, was an Artist-in-Residence during November 2024. During the month of residency, Connolly stayed in an apartment in the park funded by Friends of the Smokies. “Staying at the apartment gave me the chance to immerse myself fully—walking the trails each day, noticing the daily shifts, and truly connecting with the land.” Courtesy of Lauren Connolly

Each year, a select group of artists — painters, photographers, writers, musicians, sculptors, and more — are chosen to spend dedicated time immersed in the Smokies. These creatives are not just here to create; they are here to share. Through public workshops, guided walks, demonstrations, and informal conversations with the artists, visitors are invited into the creative process.

Why Participate?

1. See the Park Through New Eyes
Artists help us see what we might otherwise overlook — the curve of a branch, the pattern of a salamander’s back, the way a turkey tail mushroom clings to a fallen oak tree. By joining an AIR-led activity, you’re stepping into a unique way of observing the park –one that blends science, storytelling, and soul.

2. No Experience Necessary
Whether you’re a practiced sketcher or someone who hasn’t held a paintbrush since grade school, AIR events are for everyone. You don’t need to be an artist — just curious. These experiences are about connection, not perfection.

3. Create a Lasting Memory
There’s something powerful about making something in the park. A simple watercolor painting, a journal entry, or even a poem inspired by your surroundings becomes a living souvenir — far more personal than anything you can buy at a gift shop.

Seven women add artwork and messages to a large art poster — Lauren Connolly took this photo (and the photo at the top of the blog) at Sugarlands Visitor Center of a group on a religious retreat who spent time drawing on Connolly’s giant canvas before borrowing her nature journal kits for journaling during their hike. Courtesy of Lauren Connolly

4. Be Part of Something Bigger: A Community Nature Journal Page
During my residency, I invited visitors of all ages to help create a giant 4-foot by 6-foot collaborative nature journal page — a visual love letter to the Smokies. Visitors painted bears, elk, wildflowers, ridgelines, and even jotted down heartfelt messages about what the mountains meant to them.

The result was a colorful mosaic of expression, filled with phrases like “Keep this beauty wild,” “These trails healed me,” and “Make a donation to the park… for the children!”

The resulting giant journal page wasn’t just art. It was a way for people to reflect, honor the land, and say, “This place matters to me.”

Everyone who participated — from 8 months to 80 years plus — contributed, whether it was a brushstroke or a message — and together it told the story of the park’s impact on our hearts.

These interactive experiences become shared memories — ones that honor both the individual and the collective connection to this wild and wondrous place.

Large poster with box of color markers — *Lauren Connolly provided art materials for visitors to use in creating the art journal. Courtesy of Lauren Connolly*

5. Support the Role of Art in Conservation
Art has the power to inspire stewardship. When you engage with the park through an artist’s perspective, you deepen your emotional connection to it. That connection is at the heart of conservation because people protect what they love.

6. Meet the Humans Behind the Canvas
Artists-in-Residence come from all walks of life, bringing unique voices and perspectives to their time in the Smokies. These encounters with the artists aren’t just about art — they’re about story, resilience, joy, and a shared love for the wild.

Consider making a gift to Friends of the Smokies to support the Artist-in-Residence program.

How to Join In

Visitor engagements are free, family-friendly, and happen monthly from June through November. Check the park’s social media, look for fliers at visitor centers, or ask a ranger what’s happening during your stay.

Become Inspired

When you join an Artist-in-Residence activity, you don’t just visit the park—you participate in its living story. You carry the inspiration with you, and maybe even pass it on.

You can read about my Artist-in-Residency in Great Smoky Mountains National Park in a blog post I wrote for Friends of the Smokies.

2026 Schedule of Artist-in-Residence Programs with Visitors

Great Smoky Mountains National Park announced the schedule for the visitor engagement programs of this year’s Artists‑in‑Residence. The programs are offered monthly from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at either Sugarlands or Oconaluftee Visitor Center.

June: Lauren Cason, Santa Fe, New Mexico
Dulcimerist, gouache painter, teacher and creative technologist
Program dates: June 20 at Sugarlands Visitor Center | June 27 at Oconaluftee Visitor Center
July: Tanya Qu, Durham, North Carolina
Abstract painter, punk musician and graphic designer
Program dates: July 18 at Sugarlands Visitor Center | July 25 at Oconaluftee Visitor Center
August: Amber Sparkle, St. Petersburg, Florida
Acrylic painter, muralist and arts event planner
Program dates: Aug. 22 at Sugarlands Visitor Center | Aug. 29 at Oconaluftee Visitor Center
September: Robert Palmerton, Saline, Michigan
Pastel and oil painter specializing in plein air landscapes
Program dates: Sept. 19 at Sugarlands Visitor Center | Sept. 26 at Oconaluftee Visitor Center
October: Jenna Marie Kesgen, Asheville, North Carolina
Oil and acrylic painter, muralist and environmental educator
Program dates: Oct. 17 at Sugarlands Visitor Center | Oct. 24 at Oconaluftee Visitor Center
November: Christopher “Chappy” Chaput, Nashville, Tennessee
Composer, music director and multimedia artist
Program dates: Nov. 21 at Sugarlands Visitor Center | Nov. 28 at Oconaluftee Visitor Center

Follow the park’s social media channels and website for artist-led activities throughout the season.

Interested in becoming an Artist-in-Residence? Submissions for next year’s program will be accepted from Nov. 1, 2026, through March 7, 2027. Learn more on the Artist-in-Residence Program webpage.

About Friends of the Smokies

Friends of the Smokies is the official nonprofit partner of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Through private donations, fundraising events, and specialty license plates in North Carolina and Tennessee, Friends of the Smokies raises money to fund needed projects and programs in the national park that would otherwise go unfunded.

Learn more about how to get a Friends of the Smokies license plate at BearPlate.org. You can make a direct tax-deductible donation at our website. We are also grateful for those who pitch in at our donation boxes throughout the park. Every gift makes a significant difference for our beloved Smokies.