Launch Programming

Woman walking with a tripod across a field — Yao Jian ’21 Wisher Residency

For the past few years, the MCAD MFA Program has been collaborating with a variety of partners to provide pivotal funded opportunities to our students and recent graduates (up to two years post-graduation) with a special emphasis on networking and resume-building. We call this our Launch Programming.

These programs help strengthen students’ records of achievement, and ease the transition to life after graduate studies. Students can be awarded up to three of the opportunities during their window of eligibility.

This collaborative Launch Programming has led to a variety of happenings beyond the original awards, including several new bodies of work, written publications, solo exhibitions (beyond the original award), podcast interviews, public artist talks, and leading workshops. We are excited to see how these relationships continue to yield career-building, which would not have otherwise occurred.

Resources for applicants:

2022-2023

Arts Writing Award

This year we are testing a new Launch Program focused on arts writing – we are excited to try this out and learn as we go! We’ve engaged with alum Michal Sagar ’96 who is preparing work for a solo exhibition at Form + Content Gallery in Minneapolis, in the fall of 2022. She has conducted studio visits with Jocelyn Suzuka Figueroa ’21 and faculty emeritus Frenchy Lunning, and both will be producing essays about this new body of work, to be released in a publication at the opening reception. Like our other Launch Programs, this new program will help promote practicing skills to support artistic practice, while building strong networks of mutual support and collective practices. We are offering $200 per essay, supported by Sagar’s generosity. We hope to grow this writing program each year moving forward.

Collaborative Practices Award

This Launch Program started Fall 2021 – we have been learning as we go! We’re interested in how we can incentivize practicing how to build strong networks of mutual support and collective practices. We offer $500 to help subsidize a collaborative project, such as critique groups, collectives, shared publications, community supported art, and more.

Marigolds – Rosario Parker Gordon ’23, Abe Shriner ’23, Emmy Smith ’23, Skeletonjelly (Ashton Najarian), Mulligan Greenwell
Liminal Collective 2022 – Ivonne Yáñez ’23, Kirstin Dunlap, Jalal Ghias Beygi, Jared LeClaire, Emily Kofsky
Group Critique – Melanie Dowding ’24, Elsie Gray ’24, Sarah Niksa ’24, John Hallett ’24, Kevin Reid ’24

Ivonne Yáñez (right) in conversation with curator Zoe Cinel in Yáñez’s solo exhibition.

Rochester Art Center Partnership

Rochester Art Center offers the opportunity for all people to understand and value the arts through innovative experiences with contemporary art. In its third year, the MCAD MFA program is collaborating on a competition, with the winner receiving a financially supported solo exhibition at Rochester Art Center. This year, Rochester Art Center staff juried the exhibition.

Ivonne Yáñez ’23

Art in Motion Summer Residencies

Art in Motion, located on the Lake Wobegon trail, builds unity and art appreciation through incubating artists and their art, teaching creative students of all ages, hosting an open community space, and serving food and beverages.

Minnesota Center for Book Arts (MCBA) Outlook Gallery partnership

The MCBA, one of the nation’s premiere art centers for print/paper/book making, this year began a bi-annual partnership with the MFA Program to host one financially-supported summer solo show in their street-facing Outlook Gallery. This exhibition was juried by MCBA staff.

Victor Sánchez ’23

2021-2022

Welcome Back Picnic – Fall 2021

Collaborative Practices Award

This is a new Launch Program as of Fall 2021 – we are excited to try this out and learn as we go! We’re interested in how we can incentivize practicing how to build strong networks of mutual support and collective practices. We are offering $500 to help subsidize a collaborative project, such as critique groups, collectives, shared publications, community supported art, and more.

Be Collective: Jesus Li ’23, Ivonne Yanez ’23, Boom Mekavarakul, Chat Sanghiran, Alejandro Junyao Zhang ’21, Jennifer Charoni, Bo Young An ’22
Rural Experience Collective (REC): Cailey Birchem ’22, Jordyn Brennan ’22, Alexis Schramel ’23, Amanda Schroeder ’22, Megan Kleitch

Homewood Studios

Homewood Studios, run by Beverly and George Roberts, will hire one gallery assistant to work on installing and de-installing exhibitions. This paid opportunity includes hanging work, installing vinyl lettering, painting/ spackling, and mounting wall tags, among other tasks. This is a new Launch Program as of Fall 2021.

Amanda Rose ’23

Winter scape of Wisher Residency

Wisher Residency

MCAD alumnus Rob Fischer ’93, and partner Sara Woster, have generously sponsored a residency in Park Rapids, MN for up to three MCAD MFA participants. This 5-10 day residency is a great opportunity for rest, reflection, and creativity over the winter break. Fall 2021 application deadline: November 19 at Noon CT.

Forecast Public Art – Design work by Jesus Li ’23

Forecast Public Art Fellowship for Designers/ Illustrators

Forecast Public Art is a nonprofit organization that activates, inspires, and advocates for public art that advances justice, health, and human dignity. The MCAD MFA program is collaborating to provide a financially supported illustration/graphic design fellowship.

Yao Jian ’21
Jesús Li ’23

MCAD/ Arrowmont University Fellows Scholarship

This is a unique program in which two MFA students are awarded a free week-long summer workshop, plus room, board, and a travel stipend during the summer after they graduate. Read about past fellows’ experiences.

Anda Tanaka ’22
Ali Yager ’23

SooVac MFA exhibition 2022

Soo Visual Arts Center Partnership

Soo Visual Arts Center, founded in 2001 by Suzy Greenberg MFA ’98, is a nonprofit art space that connects our community with fresh, under-represented and provocative art. The MCAD MFA program is collaborating with Soo Visual Arts Center this year on a joint juried exhibition featuring both MCAD and UMN grads and alumni. The juror was Nicole Soukup, Assistant Curator of Contemporary Art at Mia, and the selected MCAD participants are listed below. View images from the opening reception.

Highlights Foundation

The Highlights Foundation positively impacts children by amplifying the voices of storytellers who inform, educate, and inspire children to become their best selves. This year we are offering financial support to cover the cost of a summer workshop focused on children’s book illustration.

Kate Gunther ’22