Overlooking the dunes and ocean, the Biscayne Nature Center is a beautiful facility on the north end of Crandon Park on Key Biscayne. In this pristine setting, our multifunctional Center serves our visitors with a reception area, exhibit space, gift shop, an audio visual presentation room, demonstration lab classroom facilities and now artist residency program. Right outside our doors, we are fortunate to have the spectacular Crandon Park and Atlantic Ocean, which we proudly care for and share with our visitors. 

The north side of Key Biscayne, what’s known today, as Crandon Park, was purchased by Commodore William John Matheson, a wealthy aniline dye businessman. He purchased 1,700 acres of land and created a coconut plantation at least twice as large as any other in the United States. Crandon Park was a donation, made to the County, in 1940 by heirs of Commodore William John Matheson, with the condition that the land be used as a public park. In exchange for the land donation Chairman Charles H. Crandon of the County Commission, for whom the park is named, offered to have the County build a causeway that would connect Key Biscayne to the mainland. Juan Ponce de León charted Key Biscayne on his first mission to the New World in 1513. He christened the island Santa Marta and claimed it for the Spanish Crown.

The Biscayne Nature Center Artist in Residency program is nontraditional in that it does not offer traditional studio space during the artists' time in residence. Instead, the time spent is intended to challenge perceptions about where ideas come from and inspire artists to develop concepts for a new body of work while interacting with nature. While in residence, artists will have daytime access to Crandon Park as well as use of the facilities at the Biscayne Nature Center. Our U-shaped building is raised off the ground, featuring wide wrap around covered porches and a central amphitheater courtyard. We utilize alternative technologies such as solar power, water and energy conservation and passive solar design, and recycled materials as is fitting a center dedicated to harmony with nature.

Each artist will receive an honorarium of $2000 to use as they see fit and access to Crandon Park and Nature Center for a duration 2 months. They may store supplies at the Nature Center but must clean up after themselves at the end of each day. The Park closes at sundown with no access granted at night, no exceptions.

The program culminates in a group exhibition to be held at our on site gallery in the Spring of 2018.