Isle Royale National Park is accepting applications

HOUGHTON COUNTY — Isle Royale National Park begins accepting applications for the summer 2019 Isle Royale Teen Artist Exploration January 2, 2019. This artistic discovery is geared to all aspiring teen artists who want to develop their art through experiencing wilderness, and is open to all visual and performing artists, writers, and composers ages 13 to 18 at time of participation.

Elisha Houle, the 2016 teen artist said of her time on the Island: “Isle Royale and the Teen Artist Exploration has opened my life to so many amazing things. My art has taken on a new dynamic; I appreciate so much more the wild and natural ways of life the Island showed me.”

Over the course of a week, two selected teen artists will explore their art and the island–hike and backpack along wave-washed shores, canoe quiet bays of Lake Superior, or take boat tours. An artistic mentor will provide coaching during the artistic and wilderness exploration. Interested artists must be available for at least one of the two potential sessions:

·        Tuesday July 16 through Wednesday July 24, 2019

·        Tuesday July 30 through Wednesday August 7, 2019

Selected artists and their families (up to 6 people total) will receive complimentary transportation to and from the island provided on the Ranger III, a 165-foot ship operating from Houghton, Michigan. Housing will be provided by the park in the Rock Harbor Lodge Housekeeping Cottages. The cottages are equipped with kitchenettes including utensils and dishware, a private bath with tub, shower, and dressing room, one double bed and one bunk bed, linens, towels, electric heat, and a studio type living area.

Isle Royale and Keweenaw Parks Association, and the Copper Country Community Arts Council sponsor the program. The selected artists will be a park volunteer and be required to donate to the park a piece of artwork representative of their stay on Isle Royale.

If seventeen or younger, a legal guardian must accompany the teen artist.