The University of Missouri Extension and Platte County Parks and Recreation are glad to offer an artist residency at the Dorothy Day Cabin. This residency aims to provide artists with a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the tranquil and historic setting, fostering creativity and artistic growth.

The artist residency is a biannual event, taking place for two weeks each spring and fall.

To be eligible, artists must reside within the boundaries of the five counties in the Kansas City metro: Clay, Jackson, Platte, (MO), Johnson, and Wyandotte (KS). Submissions will be accepted from visual artists (including painters, sculptors and mixed media artists), as well as humanities artists (such as creative writers, non-fiction writers and poets).

The selected artist will agree to donate one piece of their artwork to the cabin, host a workshop and/or participate in an artist talk towards the end of the residency in collaboration with MU Extension’s partner, Mid-Continent Public Library, or other partners. Please refer to the current Artist Call (linked below) for more details about the stipend and supplies.

Artist call

The next artist residency will be Oct. 6-17, 2025. The deadline to apply is September 12. The artist who has been selected will be notified by September 19.

Artist Call (PDF)   Submit application

Please contact MU Extension field specialist Elena Stephenson with any questions.

Our first artist

The first artist to stay in October 2024 was Rachelle Gardner-Roe, a KC Metro Fiber artist and poet. On her website, she says:

My work melds my Midwestern rural roots with a multi-media practice including fibers, sculpture and drawing. The intention is to foster a curiosity and love of the natural world through exuberant color and imagery. Often resulting in a maximalist “where’s Waldo” smorgasbord of the natural world, I entice the viewer to keep exploring. This opens the door to conversations around native species, conservation, and caring for the Earth…

Read the rest of Gardner-Roe’s Artist Statement and see her extraordinary work on her website.

Cabin and Green Hills of Platte Wildlife Preserve

Nestled in the hills of Parkville, the pre-Civil War Dorothy Day Cabin now stands among developed properties in the southern part of the county, adjacent to the Green Hills of Platte Wildlife Preserve. The gently sloping hills feature nature trails, wetlands, and views of wildlife in their natural habitat. Platte County Parks & Recreation has also restored several acres of natural prairie grass that blooms brilliantly in the spring and fall. The Preserve is home to abundant wildlife, including raccoons, opossums, rabbits, squirrels, and deer. Historical assessments trace the cabin’s construction back to the mid-1800s, making it one of the oldest structures still standing in Platte County from the earliest days of settlement after the opening of the Platte Purchase territory in 1836.

Despite being surrounded by nature in southern Platte, the cabin is only 15 minutes away from downtown Kansas City. Dorothy Day herself found inspiration in this serene environment, and we aim to continue this legacy by offering the same inspiration to contemporary artists.

This opportunity is made possible due to the partnership between Platte County Parks and Recreation and Platte County Extension Council, with special thanks to Platte County Commissioner Joe Vanover.

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