The Program
The goal of Zion Canyon Mesa is to construct, promote, operate and maintain a residency center where, at any given time, eight writers and visual artists can work without outside intrusions. The program is patterned after other national residency centers such as the MacDowell Colony, Yaddo, Ucross, and Hedgebrook. Zion Canyon Mesa is distinguished by its spectacular world class setting with its expansive arts and humanities community programs.
Residents will spend two to eight weeks in environmentally and artistically designed studio apartments working on creative projects, which will be shared with the public through presentations and exhibits throughout the state of Utah, and in particular, Springdale, St. George, Cedar City, and the smaller communities of Washington, Iron, Kane, Garfield and Piute Counties. These programs will include readings, lectures, exhibits, demonstrations, workshops, public media interviews, and school (K-12) programs led by residents. We will make a special effort to reach out to the Ute, Navajo, and Paiute tribes in the state. Zion Canyon Mesa will sponsor some of these events, while approved outside groups may organize others. The programming will provide a flow of creative expression between the participants and the Utah communities.
COHORTS:
The residency periods are divided into eight-week blocks. The residents can choose to stay two, four, six, or eight weeks. In the shorter time slots a new resident will replace one who is leaving, thus maintaining full occupancy during each time block. With this rotating schedule, Zion Canyon Mesa can serve between seventy-five and eighty-five residents a year. From time to time, Zion Canyon Mesa will invite individuals or groups to be guests. Eventually, we hope to provide fellowships to experienced writers, advisors and others who contribute to the health of Zion Canyon Mesa and its programing. Residents are expected to observe certain guidelines while at Zion Canyon Mesa. First and foremost is that they work. They must respect the land, plants and animals as well as the spirit of the place. They are free to walk the land at any time. During evenings, they may choose to socialize, have readings, games, music, etc.
Meals: While we’re hopeful about being able to support you with meals someday, currently you are responsible for your own food. Your residency has a small kitchen with a hot pad, fridge, microwave, cookware etc., our OC Tanner Commons has a full kitchen you can access at any time. You will share the kitchen with our other residents.
Every effort will be made to ensure the solitude of the guests' workday.
Writers must provide their own writing equipment, pencils, paper and computer. We have printers. Likewise, artists must also bring their supplies. Easels are provided. They will have a work space in the artist studio separate from their living quarters. Everyone is expected to do their own housekeeping and laundry and at the end of their stay, leave their rooms as they found them.
Although residents may bring their cars to Zion Canyon Mesa, staff can pick them up in St. George for those arriving by air, shuttle, or bus, and return them at the end of their stay. There is a community library, restaurants, pharmacy, bookstore, grocery store and other small shops in Springdale within walking distance of Zion Canyon Mesa. Both the town of Springdale and Zion National Park provide free shuttle service through town and in the park.