Native Artists in Residence

Our Artist-in-Residence program, which brings established Native artists to tribal reservation sites and to Evergreen to train and encourage other Native artists, has impacted a wide variety of people in a myriad of ways over the past ten years.

At times, the focus of the residencies was to preserve almost-lost art forms, such as Ravenstail weaving and bentwood box-making.

Over the years, the residencies have included traditional and contemporary, as well as visual and performance arts. The first Artist-in-Residence was Bruce subiyay Miller, who conducted a six-month storytelling residency at the Skokomish Tribe.

Participants over the years have ranged in age from preschool through adult, and include artists from many tribal cultures. In 2005, the Longhouse established a partnership with Te Waka Toi/Creative New Zealand to fund a pilot program for Maori artists to work in residence at the Longhouse for twelve weeks each spring. Christina Hurihia Wirihana was the first Maori Artist-in-Residence to join the Longhouse for twelve weeks in the Spring of 2006. The network, and the opportunities, continue to grow.