meridian scholar program

The innovative Meridian Scholar Program (formerly STUDIO-f) is designed to host nationally and internationally recognized artists, designers, creative practitioners, and researchers for a 10-day residency with the University of Tampa’s Department of Art and Design. The selected resident will be invited to utilize the department’s state-of-the art facilities located within the university’s Ferman Center for the Arts and R. K. Bailey Art Studios. Selected residents will also be expected to involve UTampa studio art, graphic design, art therapy, and museum studies students in the preparation, production and post-production work of the residency. 

During the 10-day residency, candidates will be expected to:

• Manifest a series of prints, castings, or 3D-fabricated editions in response to the program’s annual theme, which will be “Worldbuilding” in 2027 (see details below);

• Give a public lecture and Q&A outlining the candidate’s creative practice at the start of the residency period;

• Engage with students in at least one class period. Class visits will be determined in consultation with the candidate and Art + Design Department faculty and may be in a variety of formats, including (but not limited to) student critiques, workshops, lectures, and/or demonstrations;

• Present work made onsite in a public exhibition upon completion of the 10-day residency period (tentatively planned for the Student Project Gallery, located in the university’s Ferman Center for the Arts building). For this exhibition, residents may choose to showcase their Meridian Scholar project alongside older works brought to the residency;

• Donate 1/3 of the prints/castings/editions completed during the residency to the Art + Design Department for archiving and fundraising.

The residency will take place from March 15-26, 2027. The selected candidate is expected to be on campus at the University of Tampa during weekdays throughout this two-week period.