Undergraduate Studio Award

Maria Manetti Shrem Art Studio Program offers individual workspaces in the communal Advanced Undergraduate Studio to six selected Art Studio major students. The award lasts for one quarter, and awarded students are required to clean up the space and return it to the condition in which it was received at the end of each quarter. Students are eligible to receive the award for up to two quarters (with the possibility of extension depending on number of qualified applicants), whether consecutive or non-consecutive, excluding the summer studio awards. All awarded students must host one group Open Studio Event during the quarter. They must also attend the Studio Orientation and Exit Meeting, both of which are orchestrated by the undergraduate faculty advisor.  

There is an expectation that students will actively use their studios during the award quarter.

The announcement of the studio application guidelines and deadline will be sent to Maria Manetti Shrem Art Studio majors toward the end of each quarter.

Application Materials:

• 10 recent work samples (for second term applicants, the first five images should include works produced during the first term residency). Work samples should be numbered 1-10.
• example: 1_Artist Name, 2_Artist Name etc.
• numbered checklist of submitted works corresponding to the submitted work samples. Include artist name, title of artwork, year, size, materials. example:
  1_Artist Name
  Summer Day, 2024
  oil on canvas
  30″ X 60″
• Artist Statement, 300-word max
• Justification for Studio Space
• Anticipated Graduation Date
• Indication if application is for a first, second, or third term

Selection Procedure and Criteria:

Maria Manetti Shrem Art Studio Program senate faculty review applications independently and vote for six students. The six students with the most votes are awarded studio space. The faculty considers the following criteria for their voting:

• The submitted work samples should be of a high quality and demonstrate the depth and breadth of the work. For example, if a student only submits 2 images when the application allows for 10, that could be interpreted as lack of depth and breadth.
• The artist statement should reflect the student’s ability to clearly describe their work and articulate the ideas that motivate it, as well as shed light on the material choices and processes it entails.
• The justification for studio space should clearly articulate the need for a studio in relation to the applicant’s current work/practice. 
•  Second term applicants must state how they used, and benefited from, their studio space during the first term, and provide justification for the need for a studio space for a second term. 
• Applicants should clearly state their anticipated graduation date, as graduating seniors will be given priority.
• Applicants who have never had a studio, or who have had a studio for only one quarter will have priority over applicants who have already had a studio for 2 quarters at time of application. Summer quarter excluded.

2024-2025 Studio Space timeline

Summer 2024

•  Application Dates: 5/8/24 to 5/19/24
• Faculty Voting Period: 5/22/24 to 5/31/24
• Announcement on 6/3/24

Orientation day: TBD
Open Studio: TBD

Fall 2024

• Application Dates: 8/28/24 to 9/8/24
• Faculty Voting Period: 9/11/24 to 9/23/24
• Announcement on 9/26/24

Orientation day: TBD
Open Studio: TBD

Winter 2025

• Application Dates: 11/6/24 to 11/18/24
• Faculty Voting Period: 11/20/24 to 12/2/24
• Announcement of 12/5/24

Orientation day: TBD
Open Studio: TBD

Spring 2025

• Application Dates: 2/19/25 to 3/1/25
• Faculty Voting Period: 3/4/25 to 3/17/25
• Announcement on 3/19/25

Orientation day: TBD                                                            
Open Studio: TBD

All application materials must be submitted via Dropbox to artadvising@ucdavis.edu during the application period. Please refer to the submission instructions for additional guidance on creating shared Dropbox links.