Inspired By Artist Application

Artist applications will be reviewed by the Retail Director, Assistant Director, and Visual Merchandising Coordinator with possible input from other applicable parties such as the Executive Manager of Operations and Retail Coordinator. Artists will be chosen to participate in the program based on how they’ve been inspired by Yellowstone and the quality of their work. If selected for the program, artists will be notified by their preferred method of communication.

Lodging will be provided by Xanterra for up to five (5) nights. Artists are expected to work the same number of days as nights provided. Rooms might not be in the same lodge where you are showing your art, but they will be within walking distance of your show. (For instance, if you’re showing at Old Faithful Inn, your room may be at Old Faithful Lodge.) You will be assigned a 2-bed cabin. Due to the historic nature of our cabins, most will consist of a full bed and a single bed. We cannot guarantee a room with two queen beds. Xanterra will facilitate booking rooms and send you email confirmations when they have been completed.

Only one room will be booked per artist per night.  You will be assigned a 2-bed cabin.  Due to the historic nature of our cabins, most will consist of a full bed and a single bed.  We cannot guarantee a room with two queen beds or add a roll-away bed.  Artists may book additional rooms at their own expense.  Pets are not allowed unless they are registered service or service/emotional support animal.

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner will be served in Xanterra’s employee dining rooms.  Meal coupons will be provided for the artist and one additional person if the artist has a business helper.  Additional meal coupons can be purchased by the artist if needed.  Dietary restrictions, such as food allergies, dairy/gluten-free, vegan, etc., cannot be accommodated.  Artists can eat in any of the guest dining rooms at their own expense.  Most of our rooms do not have refrigerators or microwaves, so if you would like to bring your own food, we suggest bringing a cooler.  Ice can be obtained from ice machines in the lodges.

You set the retail prices of your items.  You will need to provide the retail price of each piece to Xanterra no later than 10 business days (two weeks) before your show.  This provides time for the items to be set up in Xanterra’s retail system, downloaded to the store registers, and tested.  Retails that are not provided in that time frame may not be sold.  The retail price will be a 50/50 split with Xanterra.

Artists may not promise any discounts to external guests of Xanterra without express permission from the Gift Shop manager.

Xanterra hosts a variety of artisans!  Artisans must be truly inspired by Yellowstone and reflect that in their craft.  We have featured glass artists, painters of various mediums (watercolor, oil, acrylic, etc.), potters, photographers, weavers, authors, jewelry makers, apiarists, scratchboard artists, and leather work artists.  We also host Native Marketplaces and have invited Native American doll makers, mask makers, painters, beaders, and other creators of Native art

Lodging will be provided for up to five (5) nights per show.  Artists are expected to show the same number of days as nights they are staying.  You may request to show for fewer than five nights.  We will consider your requested dates but cannot guarantee availability for those exact dates.

Artists can choose their own times to show during the day, but we highly recommend being available during the busiest parts of the day.  That may vary by location.  In most locations, the busy traffic times are from 11 am to early evening.  Lake Yellowstone Hotel is typically busier in the morning and evening hours.  Artists are allowed a lunch/dinner break.  We recommend artists be available 8-10 hours per day for maximum sales.

We have four lodges that host Inspired by Yellowstone artists in the summer: Old Faithful Inn, Old Faithful Lodge, Lake Yellowstone Hotel, and Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel.  In the winter, shows will be held at Old Faithful Snow Lodge and Mammoth Hotel.  The summer season runs from late April through mid-October, and winter is from mid-December through late February or early March.  Dates and availability may vary based on Yellowstone’s opening/closing schedule each year.  Xanterra will carefully consider the artist’s preferences for location and dates, however we cannot guarantee that those preferences will be honored.

At each of our venues, you will be representing yourself and your brand, as well as Yellowstone National Park Lodges.  We ask that you present yourself in a professional manner of dress that is consistent with our service standards of appearance and guest satisfaction. We are glad to provide any further guidance should you have any questions.

We will provide you with a 6’ table and a chair for your presentation. We do have Pro Panels with lights available at all four locations.  If you are bringing your own fixtures, lighting, props, and set-up, we ask that you coordinate in advance with our Visual Merchandising Coordinator.

We will provide biographical/interpretive signage and name tags in compliance with our company brand standards.  You will have a designated footprint in the lobby of our lodges that has been predetermined by our Hotel Operations team in collaboration with the Retail department and the National Park Service and may not be changed or exceeded without express permission from the gift shop manager.

Artists are responsible for covering all travel expenses to and from Yellowstone National Park, including park entrance fees.

You are responsible for bringing all the merchandise you will sell. Any merchandise that you bring with you to sell at the Inspired by Yellowstone appearance remains your property until you sell it.  No product can be delivered or sold to our retail stores directly.  No merchandise may be left at a gift shop for sale after you have completed your show.  If there is a specific circumstance or exception, this needs to be coordinated in advance with the Retail Director.

Yellowstone National Park Lodges prides itself on providing excellent guest service to our visitors.  For most of the people we encounter day-to-day, this is the one and only opportunity they have to visit this amazing place.  The Inspired by Yellowstone program is one way we can enrich the lives of both artists and guests.  It’s a great opportunity for networking and exposure for our artists, and it gives our guests the ability to purchase unique, often local or regional, artwork that they can cherish for a lifetime.  Our most successful artists are those who interact with and make connections with our guests.

We encourage our artists to demonstrate their craft if possible!  We have had painters bring canvases, weavers bring their looms, potters have demonstrations, and jewelers make jewelry.  We have found that artists who are able to demonstrate the process of their craft have been very successful.

During the summer at Old Faithful Inn and Old Faithful Lodge, you will be presenting with at least one other artist.  At Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel and Lake Yellowstone Hotel, there will usually just be one artist. The total number of artist exhibitors can vary depending on circumstances.  If two artists are showing at the same time, we do our best to ensure that each artist specializes in different mediums.

All sales will be processed through the Yellowstone National Park Lodges point-of-sale system.  No transactions between the artist and guests are allowed. Upon acceptance as an Inspired by Yellowstone artist, you will receive the payment terms and conditions in detail, along with your vendor setup information.  You will establish the retail price of each item and will be responsible for providing all pricing to the Yellowstone Retail Department no later than 10 business days (two weeks) before your show.  This gives us time to set up the items in our retail system, download them to the store registers, and test the barcodes before your show.

All payment arrangements (excluding products that are already in our inventory) are based on a 50/50 split between the artist and Xanterra.  You establish the retail pricing.  Xanterra runs a report to see which items have been sold.  The request for payment will be sent to our AP department, and you will receive an invoice.  AP will cut a check and mail it to your remittance address on file.  You may receive two invoices and two checks based on your show dates and the dates that reports are run.  It can take up to three weeks for you to receive each payment.  Cash and/or digital payments are not available.

All sales must be processed through the gift shop point-of-sale system.  Artists should be responsible for monitoring and tracking their inventory.  Xanterra is not responsible for theft, damage, or disappearance of items while the artist is on the premises.  Xanterra will provide duplicate receipt books to aid in that process.  White copies are kept by the Gift Shop managers, and yellow copies are kept by the artist.  This helps provide additional checks and balances in the event of any discrepancies.  Artists are encouraged to bring their own inventory systems and tracking methods.  If a discrepancy is found on an invoice, it is the responsibility of the artist to alert Xanterra.  Individual barcodes can be mailed to the artist with advanced notice, otherwise they will be available at the gift shop.  You will need to provide a list of the items you are planning to bring a minimum of 10 business days (two weeks) prior to your show so we can create the barcodes.

There are several options for overnight storage during your show.  You will need to collaborate with retail store management for the best options.  Some artists cover their displays with sheets.  Some choose to store their items under a skirted table.  You also have the option to move your items inside the gift shop at night.  All items must be removed from the pro panels and tables if you have chosen to use them.  It is expected that you will arrive at the gift shop before they open the next morning to set up your display again.  Our gift shops open at 7:30 am.  Xanterra is not responsible for theft or damage of items while the artist is on premises.

We will provide you with a 6 ft. table and a chair for your presentation. We do have Pro Panels with lights available at all four locations.  We will provide biographical/interpretive signage and name tags in compliance with our company brand standards.  If you are bringing your own fixtures, lighting, props, and set-up, we ask that you coordinate in advance with our Visual Merchandising Coordinator.  You will have a designated footprint in the lobby of our lodges that has been predetermined by our Hotel Operations team in collaboration with the Retail department and National Park Service and may not be changed or exceeded without express permission from the gift shop manager.

The Inspired by Yellowstone program is considered part of Xanterra’s business, and we ask that you treat it as such.  While we don’t expect you to be at your booth for 14 hours per day, we request that you are available for the same number of hours per day as the average workday.  However, we do encourage you to explore the park in your off time.  It’s the whole premise of our program – Inspired by Yellowstone!

None of your information or pictures will be sold to, sent to, or used by outside parties of Xanterra.  If you are selected to join our Inspired by Yellowstone program, the images and information will be used to create advertisements, promote the program on Xanterra’s website, and for in-park/biographical display signage.  We will also use it to create artist posters and biographies for your show.