Call for Proposals: Roman Witt Residency at the University of Michigan

The mission of the Roman J. Witt Residency Program is to support the production of new work at the University of Michigan. Open to both established and emerging artists and designers, the program awards one residency each academic year. Witt Residents receive an honorarium of $20,000 for up to 12 weeks in residence, plus housing, studio space, and up to $10,000 in materials, research, and development funding.

The 2026–27 Witt Residency is organized in partnership with the University of Michigan Institute for the Humanities (IH). During the Witt Residency, it is expected that the resident actively engages with the Stamps School of Art & Design and the IH communities. To this end, a portion of the resident’s time at the university will be spent in direct interaction with students and faculty. 

The Institute for the Humanities will provide their renowned contemporary gallery as an installation and project space. The gallery has long been a nimble and progressive place for critical inquiry, with the ability to respond to complex and timely issues. Each exhibition offers a point of accessibility for public engagement, making more visible the connection between humanities research and real-world problems, with a deliberate commitment to social practice.

The 2026–2027 resident will conduct planning sessions remotely during the Fall 2026 academic semester. They will be on-site in Ann Arbor during the Winter 2027 academic semester, with their exhibition opening in Fall 2027. The artist will also give a lecture/presentation in the Penny Stamps Speaker Series.

Performance artist Stacey Kirby was the 2025 artist-in-residence, and interdisciplinary artist Holly Bass is the artist-in-residence for 2026. 

Proposals for the 2026–27 Witt Residency Program can be submitted through January 15, 2026. The Witt Residency program’s application process is conducted using the online review system SlideRoom. A nominal $15 submission fee applies, which goes directly to SlideRoom for providing hosting services.

For more information, visit stamps.umich.edu.

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