UC Davis has announced the Maria Manetti Shrem Art Studio MFA Program, a two-year graduate program supported by a $14 million endowment from Maria Manetti Shrem. The program offers generous funding, spacious private studios, and culminates in a thesis exhibition at the Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem Museum of Art. It features renowned faculty, visiting artists such as Njideka Akunyili Crosby and Wangechi Mutu, and partnerships with institutions like the Headlands Center for the Arts and Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture. Applications are open until January 5, 2026, with a virtual MFA Open House on December 8, 2025.
This announcement matters because it highlights a significant investment in graduate art education, providing substantial financial support and professional development opportunities that can shape the next generation of artists. The program's emphasis on interdisciplinary research, public engagement, and connections with prestigious residencies and museums positions UC Davis as a leading destination for MFA students, potentially influencing trends in art pedagogy and the broader art world.