UA Little Rock Selects 2024-25 Cohort of artLAUNCH Recipients
The University of Arkansas at Little Rock has selected the 2024-25 cohort of artLAUNCH recipients, an early career launch program that helps new alumni artists jumpstart their careers in the art world.
The goal of the artLAUNCH program is to provide early career alumni artists with funding, mentoring, and professional development opportunities to accelerate their artistic pursuits. The program is funded by a grant by the Windgate Foundation.
“The artLAUNCH program is a wonderful opportunity for recent alumni to get a head start in their careers,” said Michele Noiset, assistant professor of illustration and artLAUNCH program coordinator. “The recipients are all enthusiastic to use this program as a stepping stone. The wonderful thing about the program is that they have the freedom to use the funds in many ways to benefit their career and their art. It can be used on equipment, residencies, traveling for conferences, and more.”
This year’s recipients include:
· Emma Chambers, a 2023 graduate with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Painting who will be mentored by Nate Willever
· Bailey Holley, a 2024 graduate with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Ceramics who will be mentored by Amanda Salov
· Courtney Wilson, a 2024 graduate with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Ceramics who will be mentored by Tip Toland
· Emily Reynolds, a 2024 graduate with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Illustration who will be mentored by Shane McDermott
· Annika Shunn, a 2022 graduate with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Illustration who will be mentored by Jamie Wolfe
The artLAUNCH program is open to UA Little Rock School of Art and Design Bachelor of Art and Bachelor of Fine Art studio art alumni that have graduated within the past five years. The recipients will receive a financial award of $11,200 that may be used for anything allowing the recipients to concentrate on creating studio work, including equipment, materials, travel, and artist residency or workshop fees. They will present their work in an exhibition at UA Little Rock during the spring 2025 semester.
“I am overjoyed to be selected for this year’s artLAUNCH!” Wilson said. “This grant will give me the ability to acquire the necessary equipment for a fully functioning ceramics studio and build a website to showcase my work. The equipment needed to make sculptural ceramics can be quite a barrier to entry as an emerging artist, but thankfully through this program, I will be able to overcome this immediate hurdle towards becoming a self-sustained studio artist.”
Professional artists will also serve as mentors for the artLAUNCH recipients. They will serve as a resource for professional advice, networking, technical questions, and more. Mentors will be proactive and act as a hands-on engaged partner with their mentees. Recipients will also be granted access to UA Little Rock art facilities and equipment during their award year.
“I am very lucky to have figure sculptor, Tip Toland, as my mentor,” Wilson said. “She is extremely talented with works in public and private collections around the world. I am honored to have her feedback during this transitional time in my art and eager for the year ahead.”
Brian Downey served as the juror who selected this year’s artLAUNCH recipients. Downey is a curator at Cleveland Clinic, which is regarded as one of the best and highest performing hospitals in the world. With more than 7,000 works of art, including nearly 50 site-specific, commissioned installations, Cleveland Clinic’s Art Collection is designed to present a broad range of perspectives, promoting innovation, empathy, and inclusion by making visible the diversity of patients, visitors, and caregivers.
