Emerging and mid-career visual artists working in any art medium have a unique opportunity to apply for the prestigious 2026–27 and 2027–28 Henry L. and Natalie E. Freund Teaching Fellowships. Sponsored by the Saint Louis Art Museum and the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts at Washington University in St. Louis, this fellowship is a coveted opportunity for artists looking to further their career and engage with a vibrant artistic community.
Established in 1986, the fellowship provides fellows with a semester-long residency on campus. During this time, fellows teach a class of their own design in the College of Art and have access to an on-campus studio equipped with state-of-the-art facilities. This residency allows fellows to begin production on a solo exhibition, which will be showcased the following year as part of the Saint Louis Art Museum’s Currents exhibition series. In addition to the teaching opportunity, fellows receive a $45,000 teaching award and an additional production grant from the museum.
To be eligible for the fellowship, applicants must have earned an MFA at least five years ago and have professional exhibition experience. The selection committee is looking for artists who are creating compelling work and have an interest in teaching, with or without prior teaching experience. Applicants are required to submit a portfolio of work along with a proposal for a course they would like to teach, related to their practice and areas of interest.
Past fellows of the program include acclaimed artists such as Catherine Opie, Ellen Gallagher, and Jess T. Dugan, among others. The fellowship has been a launching pad for many successful artists, providing them with the resources and support needed to further their artistic practice.
Applications for the 2026–27 and 2027–28 fellowship are due on September 1, 2025. For more information and to apply, interested artists can visit the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts website.
Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to take your artistic career to the next level with the Henry L. and Natalie E. Freund Teaching Fellowship. Apply now and join the ranks of esteemed artists who have benefitted from this transformative experience.
