Alabama State Council on the Arts Awards $10,000 to Troy University Art & Design Program

The Alabama State Council on the Arts has awarded a $10,000 grant to Troy University’s Department of Art & Design to fund the 2027 Spring Arts Series.

This funding secures the fourth year of a program designed to bring professional artists and researchers directly to the campus and the surrounding community. The series functions through a structured rotation of creative engagement, typically featuring one long-term artist-in-residence stay lasting three to four weeks, supplemented by several shorter visiting artist stays of three to six days.

According to Troy Today University, the call for applications for the 2027 season closed on Nov. 1, with a selection panel currently reviewing applicants from around the world. While the program seeks global talent, priority is given to artists maintaining strong ties to Alabama.

The Council’s support for 2027 tells us that work is worth building on.”

During their time in Troy, artists conduct their own projects while simultaneously engaging the public through workshops, studio visits, and formal talks. This interaction extends beyond the university walls to include local elementary, middle, and high schools, as well as partnerships with the Alabama Contemporary Arts Center’s Museum Without Walls.

For students in the Department of Art & Design, the program offers a direct look at the professional realities of a creative career.

“Art & Design students see working artists make real research out of a creative life, right here in our building,” said Greg Skaggs, chair of the Department of Art & Design. “We are grateful to the Alabama State Council on the Arts for investing in that, and in the region our graduates come from and go back to.”

During that period, 13 artists have participated in the series, consisting of three artists-in-residence and ten visiting artists.

Artists who complete a residency return the following spring to showcase their work at the International Arts Center (IAC), which serves as a primary partner for exhibitions and workshops.

The 2026 artist-in-residence, Lauren Frances Evans, is scheduled to exhibit at the IAC in the spring of 2027.

“The residency works because artists, students and the community all learn from one another,” said Sara Dismukes, professor of art and co-director of the series. “This grant lets us plan a fourth spring with confidence, and our volunteer faculty and student ambassadors are ready to welcome the next group.”

The 2027 artists will be officially announced once they have accepted their invitations from the selection panel.