Jodi Webster (Ho-Chunk Nation) in the IAIA Jewelry Studio

During the academic year, the IAIA Artist-in-Residence (A-i-R) program hosts up to 15 Native American and First Nation artists for variable-length residencies. Residencies take place on the IAIA campus in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where artists can engage in a meaningful period of artmaking and interaction with IAIA students, staff, faculty, and the local arts community. Applicants whose work engages with cultural traditions through materials, techniques, and subject matter are particularly encouraged to apply.

The A-i-R program is open to artists who work in painting, drawing, beadwork, quillwork, weaving, basketry or other textile and fiber arts, printmaking and photography, digital art, installation art, sculpture, bronze, glass, jewelry, ceramics, and hide and leather work.

Residency Period

• Spring 2025 semester: January—May 2025
• Fall 2025 semester: September—December 2025
• The A-i-R program offers residencies for two, three, four, six, and eight weeks.

Stipends and Other Covered Expenses

Depending on the length of your residency, the following stipends apply:

• $1,500: Stipend for a two-week residency
• $2,250: Stipend for a three-week residency
• $3,000: Stipend for a four-week residency
• $4,500: Stipend for a six-week residency
• $6,000: Stipend for the eight-week residency

In addition to the stipend, the A-i-R program provides artists access to IAIA campus facilities, studio space, off-campus housing, and a meal plan for the Café Bon Appétit. Participating artists will also receive travel support, a $500 material stipend, and a $200 fuel stipend.

Eligibility

The IAIA A-i-R program is open to Native American and First Nation artists who are Tribally enrolled in the following regions:

• The Pacific Northwest (Alaska, British Columbia, Oregon)
• The Upper Midwest (Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin)
• The Southwest (Arizona, New Mexico, Southern California)

Activities

Upon arrival, IAIA will host a welcome dinner for the incoming artists. During the residency, artists are invited to conduct public workshops and demonstrations. Artists may also be invited to classroom visits and talks, critique sessions with students, and events hosted by other organizations in Santa Fe.

How to Apply

Application Materials

Please prepare all necessary documents and information.

• Copy of Tribal ID or Certificate of Indian Status
• Description of artistic discipline (300 words max)
• Description of equipment needed (500 words max)
• Description of proposed activity (500 words max)
• Artist biography (300 words max)
• Artist photograph(s)
• Digital portfolio—Artists will be asked to submit up to ten images in a PDF format

The application cannot be saved and completed later. We recommend developing your responses in a Microsoft Word document or other text program and then copying and pasting them into the application fields.

Need help with the online application? Please contact us (see contact information at the bottom of this web page).

Photographic Views

A few photographic selections from the Artist-in-Residence program.