Free Artist Residencies in Austin

Harry Ransom Center

Austin, United States

The Harry Ransom Center Fellowship at the University of Texas at Austin offers international research opportunities for scholars and independent researchers. The program provides 50 research fellowships for projects that require substantial on-site use of its collections in fields such as literature, photography, film, performing arts, music, and cultural history. Open to graduate students, academics, and independent researchers, including artists and journalists, the fellowship supports a wide variety of projects including scholarly works, dissertations, and creative works. Fellowships range from one week to two months, with stipends for travel and living expenses, plus additional funding for international applicants. The program fosters an inclusive research environment, encouraging applications from scholars across diverse backgrounds. The Ransom Center’s extensive and unique collections offer an invaluable resource for interdisciplinary research in the humanities.

St. Elmo Arts Residency

Austin, United States

The St. Elmo Arts Residency, run by the Department of Art and Art History at the University of Texas at Austin, offers one fellowship each academic year to a recent MFA graduate specializing in painting, drawing, printmaking, photography, sculpture, or multimedia. Residents receive a private 1800-square-foot studio, furnished house, $40,000 stipend, health insurance benefits, part-time teaching experience, and a solo exhibition at the Visual Arts Center in Austin's St. Elmo district. The program spans approximately 9½ months from early August to late May.

Unlisted Projects

Austin, United States

Unlisted Projects is an arts and culture residency program based in Austin, TX, supporting local, national, and international artists through interdisciplinary collaborations, community engagement, and public presentations of new work. Operating since at the Museum of Human Achievement (MoHA), it offers various residencies including one-month international exchanges like CopenhAustin and a 24-hour Lock-In for marginalized Central Texas artists facing barriers. The program fosters transborder connections, provides on-site housing in a renovated trailer, and leverages a community of 35 in-house creatives.