The Higher Learning Commission (HLC), the Institute of American Indian Arts’ (IAIA) accrediting organization, approved the school’s application to launch an MFA Program in Studio Arts. This new offering is effective immediately, and the application process for the degree program is now available.

Studio Arts has been the primary focus of IAIA’s Academic Programs for more than 50 years. Since IAIA opened its doors as a high school with a fine arts focus, students have engaged with nearly every artistic medium including painting, ceramics, jewelry, sculpture, printmaking, design, and photography. Almost from the start, potential students inquired when IAIA would be offering an MFA Program in Studio Arts—now the school can fulfill those requests.

Similar to the IAIA MFA in Creative Writing Program (MFACW), the IAIA MFA in Studio Arts Program will be low residency—with two intensive on-campus residency periods per year (Summer and Winter)—on the IAIA campus in Santa Fe, New Mexico. At the end of each nine-day on-campus residency, students will be paired with a Master Artist Mentor with whom they will work one-on-one, virtually, during the following 16-week semester. The mentorships are complemented by a series of online Art History courses as well as the intensive residencies offering artist lectures, professional workshops, exhibition, and peer critique of work, and an opportunity to engage with a diverse community of artists. Students can graduate with a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Studio Arts with the following areas of emphasis—Integrated Practice, Studio Arts 2D Practice, and Studio Arts 3D Practice.