12 Emerging Artists Receive Investment at University of Arkansas School of Art

The Old Main at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville (Provided)

The University of Arkansas School of Art and the Windgate Foundation have partnered together to support artists beyond graduation through a three-year grant award of $423,000.

Through the investment from the Windgate Foundation, 12 graduating students and recent alumni from the School of Art in Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences have each been awarded $10,000 Windgate Accelerator Grants to launch or expand their professional studio practices, paired with ongoing faculty mentorship.

This year’s $120,000 investment addresses one of the most critical phases of an artist’s career: the first year after graduation.

In addition to financial support, recipients will receive individualized mentorship from faculty across the School of Art and the broader University of Arkansas System.

The grants support a range of professional development activities, including the creation of new work, research travel, residencies, exhibition preparation and graduate school applications, while also helping the artists secure studio space and essential equipment.

Applications were reviewed by a national jury comprising Arnold Kemp, professor at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and former dean of graduate studies; Kate Mothes, independent arts writer; and Barb Smith, professional artist.

“This program exemplifies our commitment to preparing artists not only for creative excellence, but for the realities of building impactful careers,” Rachel Debuque, director of the School of Art, said in a press release. “Few art programs in the country provide this level of post-graduation support.”

Windgate Art + Design District

The School of Art is a key partner with Windgate Foundation, which has included the accelerator grant project along with development of the Windgate Art + Design District. The district is currently home to the School of Art’s Sculpture Building and the Studio + Design Center.

To complete the district, a new gallery and foundations building is now under construction and will house the school’s public galleries, innovative labs, collaborative maker spaces and the foundations program.

“The Windgate Foundation is proud to support the University of Arkansas School of Art in providing meaningful, sustained resources to artists at a pivotal moment in their careers,” Patricia Forgy, executive director at Windgate Foundation, said in the press release. “By combining financial support with mentorship, the Windgate Accelerator Grant helps emerging artists build the skills, confidence, and momentum needed to establish long-term, impactful practices.”

2026 Windgate Accelerator Grant Recipients

Bachelor of Fine Arts students: