Nestled along the St. Croix River, the Artist at Pine Needles Residency is a rare space where creative practice and scientific inquiry sit side-by-side. Offering time, solitude, and direct access to scientists, this residency allows artists to explore how art and natural sciences influence one another.  

Since 2002, the program has welcomed more than 80 artists across various mediums, from poets, musicians, and photographers to scientific illustrators, painters, and more. Each resident is encouraged to deepen their connection to the natural sciences by engaging with Science Museum of Minnesota scientists, exploring the J.W.G. Dunn Natural History Library, participating in field and lab experiences, gathering source materials, and immersing themselves in the natural world. The resulting artwork, stories, performances, and exhibitions illuminate the intersection of art and scientific research.

The Science Museum of Minnesota offers scientific expertise in environmental limnology, ecology, hydrology, aquatic-biology, archaeology and anthropology, paleontology, biology, and collections conservation. 

Explore the impact of past residents in the Artist at Pine Needles Gallery on Level 4 of the Science Museum of Minnesota.

2026 Residency Application Details

This year’s program is open exclusively to emerging artists and writers who are in the beginning stages of their creative practice. This focus provides early-career creatives with dedicated time, space, and resources to grow their artistic practice in a unique natural and scientific setting.

Stipend

$650/week and up to $600 in additional travel support

Eligibility

Applications are open to emerging artists of any discipline whose work focuses on connecting the complex world between art, the natural world, and the sciences. Eligible artists have fewer than six years of exhibit and/or publication history in their medium, demonstrate clear artistic achievement in their work, and are not yet widely recognized as established artists by other artists, curators, critics, or arts administrators. Applicants must be age 21 or older. 

Application Requirements

Interested artists must submit a completed application form, artist statement, program statement, community engagement proposal, and example works. Please review the application packet for specific submission instructions. Failure to submit all required materials within guidelines will disqualify applicant. If selected, applicants also agree to donate an original work developed from their residency within one year of completion.

Residency Dates

May through October. See annual application packet for specific 2- to 4-week residency windows.

Location

Marine on St. Croix, MN 55047, United States

Deadline

Postmarked or electronically received by 11:59 p.m. CST February 22, 2026. Notice to applicants by March 31, 2026.

For questions contact Senior Operations Manager, Alaina Fedie, at [email protected] or (651) 433-5953 x12.

The 2026 Artist at Pine Needles program is generously supported in full by the Mahle Family Foundation.