Organizer Information
The University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UA Little Rock) is a public metropolitan research university founded in 1927 as Little Rock Junior College, later operating as the private Little Rock University before joining the University of Arkansas System in 1969. Located in the state capital, it is Arkansas's designated metropolitan university, known for close ties between its campus and the surrounding business, government, and cultural communities of Little Rock.
Within the university, the School of Art and Design offers degrees in studio art, art history, and art education, with a stated mission to cultivate artistic excellence, critical thinking, and holistic growth through training in art and craft that emphasizes process, materials, and contemporary practice. The school operates the Windgate Center of Art + Design, home to specialized studios spanning woodworking, ceramics, metalsmithing, photography, and printmaking, and administers the Windgate Artist in Residence program described below.
Title & Description
Windgate Artist in Residence at The University of Arkansas, Little Rock (Applications for Fall 2027 and Spring 2028)
The Windgate Artist in Residence is a semester-long residency open to artists, designers, and craftspeople. The program's stated primary goal is to give the selected artist time to make and develop work, alongside space to do so while engaging with the School of Art and Design community and the broader Little Rock community. The resident is not required to teach courses, but does interact with students through weekly open studio hours, studio visits, and in-class activities.
Categories
- Residency
- Visual Arts
- Craft
- Ceramic
- Jewelry
- Photography
- Printmaking
Eligibility
- Open to artists, designers, and craftspeople; no nationality restriction stated in the source
- Required: High School Diploma
- Preferred: MFA, BFA, BA, or commensurate experience
- Preferred: evidence of active participation in exhibitions at the national or international level
- Preferred: teaching and/or mentorship experience at any level
Program Benefits & Awards
- $30,000 stipend
- Additional $2,000 travel and materials stipend
- Housing provided (2-bedroom, 1-bathroom house, approximately one block from the Windgate Center for Art + Design, with parking; 1 pet allowed)
- Private studio with 24-hour access
- Access to specialized studios: Woodshop (CNC and laser cutter equipped), Ceramics Studio, Jewelry and Metalsmithing Studio, Smithy and Foundry, Photography Studio and Darkrooms, and Printmaking Studio
Application Fee
None
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 23 August 2027
- Fall 2027 Residency Period: August 15 – December 15, 2027
- Spring 2028 Residency Period: January 15 – May 15, 2028
Location
Little Rock, Arkansas, United States
Additional Details
- Resident must be present for the full duration of the chosen residency term (Fall or Spring)
- Resident makes artwork in the Windgate Center of Art + Design Monday–Friday (daily)
- Resident maintains weekly open studio hours
- Resident gives one public artist's talk
- Resident critiques students
- Resident participates as a guest artist in relevant classes 1–2 times (e.g., a talk, critique participation, or leading an in-class activity)
- Resident attends welcome and farewell receptions
- Resident provides one work to the UA Little Rock Art Collection
- Artists with families are encouraged to apply