Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness

• The Selway Bitterroot Residency is a collaboration between Open AIR, the Selway Bitterroot Frank Church Foundation, and the US Forest Service.

• The Selway Bitterroot Frank Church Foundation is a community of wilderness-minded and hardworking individuals dedicated to connecting wilderness with the people who work, live, and play within it.

• The efforts of the SBFC community protect and preserve the natural, pristine character of wilderness.

• Selway Bitterroot Frank Church Foundation Website

• USDA Forest Service Website

Experience the rugged Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness while staying in a rustic cabin or lookout in the woods in this remote Artist-in-Residence experience. Made possible in partnership with the Selway Bitterroot Frank Church Foundation.

An artist or artist pair will have the opportunity to experience the rugged Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness while staying in a rustic cabin in the woods. The one-room cabin will most likely have a kitchen and an outhouse.

Artists must be physically capable, and be comfortable with being in a remote location with limited contact with people and no electricity. It is STRONGLY recommended that artists APPLY AS A PAIR for this residency due to its remote nature.

A two-way radio will be provided to ensure safety.

• Pets are not allowed on this residency.

• We won't know the exact location of this residency’s accommodation until spring 2026. However, the residency will likely be located in a remote area in the Magruder corridor or the Lochsa River/Highway 12 corridor, accessible on a rough road by a vehicle. Artists will need to have transportation and plan to have a spare tire with them and be comfortable changing a spare independently.

• Weather can vary greatly during this time of year. Artists should bring rain gear, comfortable hiking shoes, a bathing suit, winter gear, and all layers in between.

• It is common for there to be many mosquitoes and artists should bring netting and other supplies to help protect themselves.

• This is a remote experience, and no cell service is available for miles.

• Artists can access resources 1.5 hours away in Hamilton. Plan to be prepared once going into the backcountry.

Tentative Timeline:

July 6 - Orientation in Missoula/Bitterroot Corridor, prepare for the trip

June 8 - Travel to the residency site.

July 29 - Return to Missoula/Bitterroot corridor, debrief, artist presentation.

August 2 - Check out. Residency ends.

• We ask artists to spend some time in Missoula ahead of the backcountry experience, where they can meet the other Summer Artists-in-Residence, complete paperwork, and training, and properly prepare for the expedition. Then they can enjoy residency in a remote and beautiful area and develop their practice in the field. On the other side, artists can return to Missoula to acclimate, reflect, present on their work, and wrap up their experience with the other AIRs.

• While in Missoula, the Selway-Bitterroot AIR will be provided housing and invited to use community resources.

• Please note that these dates may change.

The artist(s) will be housed in a rustic lookout tower or cabin in the Selway Bitterroot Frank Church Wilderness area. Exact facilities will be determined at a date closer to arrival.

The Artist/Artist pair will be considered volunteers during their stay and will receive $28/day while in the field and in exchange will be responsible for some basic volunteer duties. Training is provided.

Upon return to Missoula, artists are expected to offer a presentation on their experience in residence.