Our philosophy

The experience and exploration of embodied place is a central element of this distinctive program. It encourages students’ multi-dimensional relationship with their environment both here in the Tahoe Basin and within their own communities. The low-residency interdisciplinary approach to art making encourages participants to consider how we engage the material and social worlds of our respective environments. From personal to political to planetary, and across disciplines, participants discover and grow their own sustainable professional practice.

The low-residency MFA-IA program takes advantage of emerging technologies in education. It combines two intensive ten-day residency periods each year in beautiful Lake Tahoe with full-time work in the student’s home studio.

A dynamic group of faculty, renowned visiting artists, professional mentors and peers guide you through the process of fostering an active and professional practice. Residencies bring students, faculty and visiting artists together in a collaborative community. Using all available channels, students engage, critique and explore unfamiliar ideas and cross-disciplinary questions. Personalized mentorship and extensive studio time help students develop the expressive, professional skills to realize their personal visions.

The low-residency program’s interdisciplinary approach addresses the challenges and responsibilities faced by contemporary artists. By focusing on the skill development, experimentation, and collaborative dialogue, our faculty and student body foster creative solutions. Join this program and help build a community around sustainable, professional art practice.