Apply for Residency
Residencies available at the State Game Lodge and Sylvan Lake Lodge.
Request an ApplicationResidency Overview
The Residency:
Custer State Park Resort Artist in Residency programs are hosted by The State Game Lodge and Sylvan Lake Lodge, in historic Custer State Park of the Black Hills of South Dakota.
We provide artists from a range of disciplines a 2 – 9 week residency with the goal of engaging with guests of The State Game Lodge and Sylvan Lake Lodge and celebrating the surrounding 71,000 acres of beauty through art. We accept residencies from May through October with just a 10-day minimum. There is no fee to apply.
What We Offer:
- Private on-site housing
- Complimentary meal program
- Dedicated space as the exclusive Artist in Residence for the duration of your stay
- Opportunity to sell your custom artwork to our 2 million+ annual visitors
- Online and/or app exposure provided a gallery of hi-res images, full bio, and artist headshot are provided a minimum of 2 months prior to arrival
What We Expect:
Our aim is for independently driven artists to explore and grow their craft while creatively engaging with guests. We politely ask that an artist's dedicated space be manned daily from dawn to dusk, with limited time away for breaks & meals. All transactions must process through the lodge Front Desk. While all artwork does not specifically have to be Custer State Park themed, having a collection of work that is applicable to Custer State Park is highly favored.
Selection Process
Applications will be reviewed as they are submitted. Selections will be based upon artistic integrity, volume of show-ready work, proven sales, and the ability to connect with visitors and children. Late applicants with flexible schedules are encouraged to apply, as shorter timeslots may still be available.
All art forms are considered except those that manipulate or disturb the environment, or that could be considered disrespectful and offensive. Special consideration will be given to artists who have a portfolio of work involving or related to Custer State Park & the Black Hills.
Custer State Park Resort Exclusive Artist-in-Residence (AiR) 2026: Open Call
Location: Sylvan Lake Lodge, Custer, SD
Duration: 10 days - 3 months
Application Deadline: Ongoing
The Opportunity
Custer State Park Resort is seeking visionary creators for our seasonal Artist-in-Residence program. Situated in Custer State Park, a breathtaking 71,000-acre wildlife preserve in the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota, our resort offers artists a unique intersection of grass roots hospitality and natural inspiration.
We provide the space and the silence; you provide the vision.
What We Provide
- Accommodations: A private cabin for the duration of the residency.
- Workspace: A dedicated indoor workspace with high visibility, right next to the Front Desk, Restaurant & Lounge.
- Stipend/Support: Daily meals provided.
- Exclusivity: Only one resident artist per lodge at a time. Lodges are 30-minutes drive apart.
- Exhibition: Permanent installation of work throughout the residency.
What We Look For
We welcome eager applications from talented emerging, mid-career, or established artists working in nearly all disciplines that are available for take-home purchasing on-site. We are particularly interested in artists whose work engages with & celebrates the natural landscape & diverse topography that can be found throughout Custer State Park and the Black Hills.
Residency Requirements
- Dedication to your practice daily, with short & reasonable time away for lunch & breaks.
- Portfolio of work: Pieces will remain for sale on display throughout the duration of your time here.
- Legacy Piece: Requested contribution of one original work to lodge's permanent collection.
- All transactions process through the Front Desk & are paid out monthly, with commission deducted prior to payout.
How to Apply (Free Submission)
Please send the following in a single PDF or word document to jkrulish@custerresorts.com or info@custerresorts.com:
- Artist Bio & CV, if applicable (Max 2 pages).
- Portfolio: 5–10 high-quality images or links to recent work.
- Project Proposal: A brief statement (approx 300 words) on what you intend to create and how this specific destination influences your work.
Limited wi-fi is available at the lodges.
We are happy to discuss the possibility of accommodating your pet. Please introduce them to us in your application.
Residencies can range anywhere between 10 days to 9 weeks; with an average of 4 weeks. Tenured artists have first option for available dates the following year. Once accepted to the program, residents will coordinate with the Residency Coordinator to find a suitable span of time. We encourage our residents to explore all calendar openings and acclimate and integrate into the community.
No. Schedules are meticulously coordinated so that artists are exclusive at each lodge. We ask that prearranged schedules are followed accordingly so that this can be executed seamlessly.
Yes. Couples & other collaborators who wish to tag-team manning the space & selling their work are encouraged to apply. Space is limited to approximately 250-500 square feet, depending on the lodge.
Request an application to our Residency program by emailing: jkrulish@custerresorts.com
We will consider all mediums! We encourage painting (oil, acrylic, watercolor), drawing (charcoal, graphite, pastels), sculpture (clay, metal, wood, etc.), and even digital tools. Due to the nature of the program, writers are not currently being considered.