The JTH Artist Residency
July 17-23rd, 2026
The sky has a story to tell in July. By evening the clouds are smearing pink and purple at the edges, the smell of creosote arrives before the rain does, and lightning commands the desert floor—us, the ripening prickly pear, all of it: take a seat. After months of hard sun, the monsoon brings more than rain. It brings relief.
The Joshua Tree House Artist Residency is a week-long micro residency at JTH Tucson for artists whose work is rooted in the natural world. Seven artists, and a landscape that insists on your full attention. Let the desert do what it does best: strip things down to what matters.
Applications are now open for 2026.
Frequently asked questions
July 17-23rd, 2026.
JTH Tucson, a property by The Joshua Tree House, which borders Saguaro National Park in Tucson, Arizona.
Accommodation: One week of private lodging at JTH Tucson
Private Workspace: Dedicated bedroom and workspace for focused creative time
Property Access: Full use of the grounds and common areas for inspiration and reflection
Bath House Session: A complimentary reset—cold plunge, outdoor shower, and sauna
Welcome Dinner: A shared table at the start of the week to meet fellow residents and the JTH team
Optional Workshops: Hands-on time with the land—a daytime prickly pear juice-making session, or a nighttime walk to meet the misunderstood creatures of the Sonoran Desert, led by the JTH team
Community: Up to 7 residents total, selected for the richness of the conversation they'll create together
Final Presentation: An optional open studio or sharing of work made during your stay
One week: July 17-23rd, 2026.
We will select up to 7 artists—each artist will have a private bedroom or suite at the inn.
Artists whose work is rooted in—or reaching toward—the natural world. We're drawn to makers who find their material in wild places, who are grappling with what it means to live alongside nature rather than apart from it, and who understand that slow attention is its own creative act.
Yes, this is an open call to all artists who are craving the time and space to create and reconnect with nature.
Yes! If engaging with the heat is not for you, this residency won’t be either. July is monsoon season in the Sonoran desert, so you may find yourself amid sunny hot days in the 100’s with afternoon rainstorms that often result in rainbows. A stay in the heat of the summer is an opportunity to adapt with nature’s rhythms and seasons—early mornings spent picking prickly pear fruit, shaded afternoons, and evenings under the stars.
Yes, the goal of this residency is to offer time and space to artists in need of a reset and have a desire to reconnect with nature. We feel this reconnection is more needed than ever.
We do however ask that one piece of work is left behind. This can be created before the residency and brought with you, or created during the residency itself.
No, artists are responsible for arranging and funding their own transportation to and from JTH Tucson.
Yes, artists must supply all art materials needed for their specific medium and project.
Only the welcome dinner is included. Artists are responsible for providing their own meals throughout the rest of the residency.
Please keep in mind that JTH Tucson is in a rural location. We highly recommend bringing in a week’s worth of groceries so you can focus and stay on site throughout the program. All rooms have dual drawer fridges, and the main kitchen has a common fridge and freezer.
Any medium, any form—the through-line is a genuine relationship between the work and the natural world. That might mean a project already in progress that the desert will deepen, or something new that could only happen here, in this heat, under these skies.
The closest airport is Tucson International Airport (TUS). Airports that fly non-stop to Tucson include but are not limited to: Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, San Diego, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Seattle and more.
Ideally residents will come alone to allow the time and space to focus on creating. However, if bringing others along is integral to your work (i.e. a new mother, someone providing physical assistance, or a collaborator), please include that information in your application.
Past residents include Papou, Daniel Falcón, Jenica Heintzelman, Parker Thornton, Lisa Rooney, Aleksandra Zee, Desert Friends, Devin Tuel, and Stephen Harms.
You can read about last year's residency here.
We will be accepting applications through this form until May 18th, 2026.
Tucson, Arizona
Located in the southeastern region of the Sonoran Desert of Arizona, Tucson is known for its Saguaro cacti, and being a UNESCO designated city of Gastronomy. The city itself is a dark sky city, and is surrounded by the east and west sides of Saguaro National Park making both city and nature easily accessible.
Upon entering the city of Tucson, you’ll be greeted by a creative energy and many independently owned businesses. Some of our favorite places to check out in the city are the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum, MSA Annex, The Coronet, Tito & Pep, Bata, San Xavier Mission, Penca, Falora, Midtown Mercantile, and the Loft Cinema.
