About the Open Call

On behalf of the University of Michigan’s Stamps School of Art & Design and the U‑M Institute for the Humanities (IH), we invite you to apply for the 2026 – 2027 Roman Witt Residency. The mission of the Roman J. Witt Residency Program is to support an artist in the production of new work in association with the University of Michigan’s Stamps School of Art & Design. The program awards one residency per academic year to a visiting artist/designer to create new work at the school while engaging the university community. During the Witt Residency, it is expected that the resident actively engages with the Stamps and IH community, including direct interaction with students and faculty through collaborations, critiques, public talks, workshops, or open studio hours. The Institute for the Humanities will provide their renowned contemporary gallery as an installation and project space. The residency is expected to culminate in the realization of the proposed work, as well as its presentation, with the cumulative exhibition opening in Fall 2027 at the IH Gallery. The 2026 – 2027 resident will conduct planning sessions remotely during Fall 2026 and be on-site in Ann Arbor during Winter 2027. The exhibition component includes a second residency of a minimum of one week for installation, opening, and engagement. The IH Curator and IH Gallery Coordinator will provide curatorial and installation support. The work created is the property of the artist.

What is Offered

Witt Residents receive an honorarium of $20,000 for up to twelve weeks in residence served over an academic year. In addition to the honorarium, residents will be provided with housing, studio space, and up to $10,000 materials, research and development funding to support the creative process. The Institute for the Humanities Gallery will serve as an installation and project space for the culminating exhibition. Curatorial and installation support will also be provided.

Requirements

The Witt Residency is open to both established and emerging artists/designers. The ideal candidate must value collaboration, have good social and communication skills, and be interested in generating creative partnerships across disciplines. It is the goal of the Witt Residency to foster an atmosphere of inventive creative activity that extends throughout the University community. Applicants are encouraged from individuals as well as from artist collectives or creative teams, but resources are finite and awards will be shared among team members if applicable. The resident is expected to actively engage with the Stamps and IH community and their proposed project should have a strong visual impact and potential for engagement.

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted via the Slideroom portal: https://um.slideroom.com/#/permalink/program/87042/8TsG8iD4S4. The application schedule includes: proposals due by January 15, 2026; selection committee review in February/March 2026; shortlist follow-up in March/April 2026; finalist presentations and interviews in April/May 2026; and notification by June 15, 2026.