artLAUNCH awarded continued funding from Windgate Foundation

The Windgate Foundation has awarded the UA Little Rock School of Art and Design $222,300 to continue the artLAUNCH program for three years. Begun as a pilot program in 2022, artLAUNCH offers recent graduates support to build a professional art career. 

Joli Livaudais, the director of the School of Art and Design and an associate professor of photography, wrote in the proposal for the program that “artLAUNCH has proven to be a powerful resource for UA Little Rock graduates, equipping them with the mentorship, funding, and opportunities needed to excel.” Under the latest award from the Windgate Foundation, it will continue through 2028.

Open to BA and BFA graduates of the School of Art and Design within five years of their graduation, the program offers an honorarium of $10,000, plus up to $1,200 for shipping and other costs related to an end-of-the-year exhibition for the recipients. The five recipients each year will also receive tailored mentorship from experienced artists, as well as the opportunity to access department facilities. Recipients can use the honorarium to set up and equip their studios, purchase materials, apply for residencies, or to supplement their income and support their work. Past awardees have made strides in their careers like going on to graduate studies, securing exhibitions at other galleries, and curating exhibitions.