Art department receives thousands in grant for Spring Arts Series

The Alabama State Council on the Arts awarded a $13,000 grant to Troy University’s Department of Art & Design in support of its 2026 Spring Arts Series.  

The Spring Arts Series is Troy University’s initiative to strengthen the local art community by inviting Alabama artists to campus for residences, workshops and research.  

“This program is rooted in research — creative, academic and community-based,” said Assistant Professor of Art & Design and Spring Arts Series Co-Director Will Jacks, in a Troy.today article. “We’re exploring how artists can help us reimagine underutilized spaces, spark dialogue and contribute to long-term economic and cultural development. 

“The support from the Alabama State Council on the Arts helps us expand that vision.”  

The Spring Art Series for 2026 will feature one three-week residency and three week-long artist visits. The latest addition to the program is an exhibition for the three-week resident at the International Arts Center (IAC), which will be the year following his or her time on campus.  

“The incubation time needed for an artist to create exhibition-ready work can be extensive, so inviting the artists to come back in the future for an exhibition allows us to see full circle how their research is manifested in completed work,” said Co-Director and Professor of Art and Design Sara Dismukes.  “Networking and personal relationships are important in many fields, and the creative arts are no different. 

“Hosting an exhibition allows us to have additional interactions with artists and museum professionals, which can create opportunities for our students as they look for internships and other professional opportunities in the visual arts.” 

The exhibition will also serve to strengthen ties between the artist and Troy.  

“The Spring Arts Series is a powerful example of how the arts can connect people across disciplines and across the state,” said Director and Curator of the IAC Carrie Jaxon in a Troy.today article. “These residencies bring new energy to our galleries and classrooms, and they help us build a more thoughtful and vibrant cultural dialogue.”  

The Department of Art and Design is thankful for ASCA’s help in funding the Spring Arts Series and is looking forward to many more series to come.  

Those interested in more information about the Spring Arts Series or upcoming events can visit www.troyartistresidency.com or follow the Department of Art & Design on social media.