The Master of Fine Arts in Studio Arts (MFASA) program at the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) is a low-residency graduate degree program mindful of students’ needs to maintain professional, family, and community relationships while pursuing advanced studies in contemporary studio arts. Our model allows artists to pursue an MFA from anywhere in the world and encourages interdisciplinary art practices throughout the curriculum.

The MFASA program’s primary function is to train and empower artists, mentors, leaders, and teachers through an Indigenous-focused, professional education. The core pedagogical approach of our two-year low-residency MFA program is based on nurturing mentorships with prominent Indigenous artists and centering Indigenous Ways of Knowing. By engaging with complex histories and examining art’s function in contemporary multicultural societies, the MFASA program supports students in pursuing critical lines of inquiry and developing their individual art practices.

The Institute of American Indian Arts has been dedicated to the study and advancement of Indigenous arts and cultures since its inception in 1962. We deliver a world-class contemporary art education and embolden our students to give voice to a broad spectrum of experiences. IAIA’s low-residency MFA programs offer creative professionals the opportunity to remain committed to their communities while gaining an understanding of and contributing to emerging discourses of contemporary art production.

Applications are due February 15, 2025.

To learn more, visit iaia.edu.