OPEN CALL: 2024 Starr Fellowship at the Royal Academy Schools in London

The Royal Academy Schools is seeking applications for The Starr Fellowship. The Starr Fellowship is a one-year artist’s residency at the Royal Academy Schools, made possible through the generous support of The Starr Foundation.

Established by Cornelius Vander Starr in 1955, the foundation supports the development of U.S. artists by offering them the opportunity to advance their studio practice within the vibrant environment of the RA Schools.

The Starr Fellowship is open to applications from artists who are U.S. citizens.

The fellowship aims to support the development of the artist’s studio practice as a part of the Royal Academy Schools’ community.

Providing access to the Academy’s facilities, the opportunity to engage with teaching and the teaching faculty, and to work amongst the RA Schools students throughout the academic year. The fellow is immersed in an environment that encourages collaborative exchange.

As Artist in Residence, the Starr Fellow occupies a unique position within the Royal Academy Schools. Operating outside the formal faculty and student body, and a vital part of the community. The fellow has a private studio space situated among the student studios, encouraging informal dialogue and exchange. They have access to the specialist workshop facilities, with support from the workshop tutors, and opportunities to meet visiting artists for discussions about their work. The artist will have access to the postgraduate programme of academic lectures and talks and the RA’s extensive Collection, Library and Archive.

Throughout the year, the Starr Fellow is expected to engage with the academic programme. This engagement includes participation in:

Year 1 Critiques The fellow contributes to the discussions of the students’ work alongside the Y1 Senior Lecturer and invited artist.

Artist Talk In Term One, the fellow gives a lecture on their practice to Royal Academy staff and students and their own guests (if desired); this is an opportunity to share their work and their approach with the wider Royal Academy community.

In addition, the Starr Fellow may contribute to the programme in ways that best align with their practice as agreed once they commence their residency.

This might include: offering tutorials, leading a seminar, conducting a cross-year critique, or devising another event that resonates with their practice.

Exhibition The fellowship also offers the opportunity for a self-led solo exhibition in the Weston Studio, the RA Schools public exhibition space at the Royal Academy.

The Fellowship provides a studio at the RA Schools and a stipend, for the October 2024 – July 2025 academic year.

The candidate must be a U.S National. They will ideally be based in the United States. However, if they are based internationally we seek candidates who can demonstrate an existing and ongoing working presence within the US.

Candidates will typically have teaching experience and an MFA.

The RA Schools is an independent school of contemporary fine art, proud to offer free tuition. Part of the Royal Academy of Arts, it is Britain’s longest established art school, located beneath the main galleries in Burlington House on Piccadilly in central London.

For more information about the Royal Academy Schools and our facilities please see our Prospectus at https://roy.ac/raschools

This program contains:

  • Forms (4)
  • Attachments (1)
  • Media (up to 16)

Preview Full ApplicationFor more information about the Royal Academy Schools and the Starr Fellowship application process visit here.

Applications close December 6, 2024.