Artist Information & FAQ

Applications will be accepted from September 15 to October 31, 11:59 p.m. MDT. Applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered.

Application is free and submitted online via Call for Entry (CaFE). Applications for the 2024 Land Line residency will open on September 15, 2023.

Yes, artists receive a $3,500 honorarium.

Artists in residence use Denver Botanic Gardens’ collections, landscapes and other resources to create artworks that explore nature and the relationship between humans and the natural world. Land Line has a unique low-residency format: artists create most of their work in their own studio spaces, but are required to visit the Gardens at least once within a pre-determined timeframe. Time spent on-site at the Gardens is geared towards meeting with staff, exploring gardens and collections, research and conceptualization. Artists are responsible for arranging their own travel, lodging, food and supplies, supported by the honorarium.

Artists are additionally required to attend three virtual cohort meetings to share progress and connect with other artists. Artworks must be completed by the end of the residency year. As part of the residency, Denver Botanic Gardens may acquire one artwork, which is proposed by the artist for consideration.

Land Line artists are paired with a Gardens staff member relevant to their proposed residency focus—this staff member acts as a knowledge resource for the artist’s research. Available staff include those specializing in horticulture, botany, agriculture, digital media, art history, mycology and much more. Artists may also arrange for access to the Gardens’ collections and other resources, including the living collections, fungi and vascular plant herbaria, art collections and the School of Botanical Art & Illustration. Land Line artists additionally receive free entry to Denver Botanic Gardens’ multiple locations during regular hours of operation for the duration of their residency. General admission does not include special events.

Yes, we understand that artmaking is just one of many priorities in an artist’s life. Land Line’s low-residency format is designed to allow artists to conduct research, visit the Gardens and create artworks within flexible timeframes.

No. Artists outside of Colorado or the Denver metro area can conduct most of their residency remotely but will be required to visit the Gardens at least once. However, artists outside of the United States are not eligible to apply.

Expect to hear back about eight weeks after the deadline.

Yes. We receive applications every year from many talented artists but are not able to select all; artists who have previously applied are encouraged to apply again.

No. Visual art in any style or media is welcome, as long as it explores the natural world or the relationship between humans and nature in some way. This emphasis on nature may be executed through concept, subject matter, choice of media or other avenues.