St. Elmo Arts Residency

University of Texas at Austin

finearts.utexas.edu

The St. Elmo Arts Residency within the Department of Art and Art History offers one fellowship each academic year to a recent MFA graduate specializing in painting, drawing, printmaking, photography, sculpture, or multimedia. The residency includes a $30,000 stipend, accommodations at a charming house and studio situated in a small artist community in the St. Elmo district of South Austin, a two-semester part-time teaching position at the University of Texas at Austin in the Art and Art History Department, access to UT academic and art lab resources, and a solo exhibition at the Visual Arts Center in the Spring of 2026.

Residency Period

August 2025 through Mid-May 2026

Fellowship

24-hour access to a private 1800-square-foot studio
Private furnished house capable of accommodating the fellow and a partner *
$30,000 stipend
Access to health insurance and benefits
Part-time teaching experience at UT Austin
An exhibition at the Visual Arts Center

Please note: The house cannot accommodate children or pets.

Responsibilities

9½-month commitment
Teach one class per semester (two classes total) in Studio Art in the Department of Art and Art History
Lead one practice-based workshop each semester (two workshops total)
Present a public lecture on your work for the UT Arts Community
Present a solo exhibition at the Visual Arts Center

Requirements

The residency begins in early August 2025. Only artists graduating from an MFA program between August 2024 and July 1, 2025, are invited to apply. Please refrain from applying if you have not graduated from your program by July 1.
If you graduated prior to August 2024, you cannot apply.
Only artists who graduate from MFA programs based in the U.S. can apply.
Students and alumni of the UT Austin MFA program are not eligible to apply.

How to Apply

Submission Requirements

The following four items must be submitted:

Curriculum Vitae
Artist Statement (500 word maximum)
Teaching Statement (800 word maximum). Regarding your general interest and ideas about teaching a college course in your specialty and your ideas about teaching a Fine Arts Practicum, an undergraduate course where students will learn about continuing one’s art making post-graduation as well as the path to an MFA. This course will address theoretical and practical issues that are central to making art in today’s world.
Illustrated portfolio of artwork and completed projects

~In PDF Form: (20 images with captions listing: title, date, medium, dimensions, and if applicable, a short description of the work)

~For video or audio wokrs: Provide link(s) in the PDF. Include title, date, media, method of presentation, running time, and if applicable, a short description of the work)

Academic Materials

The following three items must be submitted:

Three professional reference letters. Applicants will submit a PDF listing three references’ names, emails, and phone numbers. We will contact references only when a candidate is selected for the second round. At that point, we must receive their letters within 10 days. Please ensure that your references understand and agree to this time frame.
PDF copy of your unofficial transcript.
Graduation status confirmation letter. PDF copy of a letter or email from your faculty committee chair or department head confirming that you will graduate between August 2024 and July 1, 2025. The letter or email may be addressed to you.

Contact

info@utvac.org

[Subject line: St. Elmo Arts Residency Fellowship]

Apply