St. Elmo Arts Residency

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

* The house cannot accommodate children or pets.

Fellow 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

Eligibility

• 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.
• If you will graduate after July 1, 2024, please apply in the next application cycle. This is a hard deadline.
• 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.
   

Application Information

Apply

The deadline to apply to the 2025–26 residency is April 21, 2025.

Submission Requirements

The following four items must be submitted:

1. Curriculum Vitae
2. Artist Statement (500 words maximum)
3. Teaching Statement (800 words 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.
4. 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 works: 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:

1. 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.
2. PDF copy of your unofficial transcript.
3. 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