We're looking forward to a great month of May here in Southeastern Utah.

This month's newsletter features many great updates from our partner agencies! The Bureau of Land Management is accepting applications for its 2024 Artist in Residence Program. There's also a great documentary from Bears Ears Partnership, and an interview from Moab radio station KZMU with the new Southeast Utah Parks Group Superintendent, Lena Pace. 

As always, we appreciate your support! Have a great month.

The BLM is now accepting applications for the 2024 Canyon Country Artist in Residence Program. In its third year, the Canyon Country Artist-in-Residence program is intended to promote appreciation of the varied public lands within Canyon Country District and increase knowledge about the BLM’s mission. This year’s residency is hosted by the Moab Field Office and is open to visual artists.

“We developed this program to inspire, educate, and promote stewardship of public lands," said BLM Moab Field Manager Dave Pals. “We look forward to receiving applications from artists who will engage visitors and help foster understanding of need to preserve our public land resources for future generations.”

“The Artist in Residence Program pairs well with our mission of assisting our federal agency partners with educating public land visitors,” said Canyonland Natural History Association Operations Manager Joleen Thornsberry. “We have enjoyed the work of the past artists and can’t wait for this year’s residency."

The 2024 BLM Canyon Country Artist in Residence will be hosted by the Moab Field Office. The residency, open to visual artists, will last two to four weeks between Sept. 11, 2024 and Oct. 29, 2024. To apply, artists should submit samples of their work along with a community engagement proposal, resume, and answers to additional questions, as outlined on the application form. Artists may choose to stay at one of the campgrounds managed by the Moab Field Office. The artist will agree to scheduling one or two sessions that will be advertised to locals and visitors. The selected artist will conduct at least one public event during the residency. The public event could be in the form of a workshop, demonstration, tour, presentation, capstone, or other creative activity.

Applications are being accepted through June 1, 2024. For detailed information about the residency, please visit the BLM Canyon Country District Artist in Residence webpage. The BLM would like to thank Canyonlands Natural History Association for their continued support of this program.

Learn more here.

Artwork is shared with permission from the artist. Rights reserved by Pine Bones/Walck 2023. 

Focus Group Project

The Bureau of Land Management Monticello Office has been working with a team from the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) on a Focus Group Project funded by CNHA with the objective to gather insights for enhancing support to currently underserved communities.

This information will allow the BLM to better meet the needs of indigenous and underserved communities, while informing our interpretation, visitor services, and management of Bears Ears National Monument. In March, the research lead, Rachel Garza, came to the Four Corners area to start making additional connections and getting a feel for the landscape as this project starts up.

During her recent visit, Garza drove up to the Navajo Nation and worked with individuals there to develop questions and spread the word regarding the focus groups. They traveled around and met with a Hopi Elder and other contacts in the area. Garza also met with BLM staff and visited sites both within and outside of Bears Ears National Monument. Garza stayed in Bluff to get a feel for the landscape, people, food, tourism, and art. The group also met with Navajo community organizers from the Four Corners region and talked about the interests that local groups and people have in the Bears Ears area, then toured Cedar Mesa.

Garza has started outlining common themes between what the BLM is interested in and what the community members want to discuss. Some topics include issues surrounding wood cutting, impacts on Native communities caused by extraction, seasonality and recreation, responsible visitation, protection of culturally significant vegetation, water and ecosystem quality, and economic factors affecting Native communities.

Community Artist in the Parks: Annie Dalton

See how Annie turns her inspiration into art, or join her (with your own art supplies) for a side-by-side creative endeavor. Bring water, sun protection, and your imagination.

Annie Dalton was born in Moab but lived all around the southwest as a child. She studied Fine Art and Biochemistry in college, graduating with a BA from Arizona State. Annie strives to create art that encourages people to slow down, savor the moment, and reconnect with nature. Raised by an artist and miner/driller, her art and a love of this landscape and its elements are interwoven.

Learn more and check out May dates here.

Can't make it but still want to support? Check out her artwork here!

Membership Hike

We are delighted to announce that our membership events are back for 2024! Mark your calendars for a wonderful wildflower hike in the Manti-La Sal National Forest on Saturday, July 13th. Join us to experience how plant life has regenerated in the Gold Basin area, which burned in the Pack Creek Fire of 2021. 

Current members were emailed an invite at the end of March. Didn't receive yours? Email Denise at denise@cnha.org or call 435-259-6003 ext. 480

Become a Member here!

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Our Mission

Canyonlands Natural History Association (CNHA) is a non-profit organization, which exists solely to assist the National Park Service, the U.S. Forest Service, and the Bureau of Land Management in their education and visitor efforts. Proceeds from sales support these agencies’ educational, interpretive, and scientific programs on the Colorado Plateau.

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