University of Evansville receives grant to support art students

The University of Evansville has received a $23,000 grant from the Efroymson Family Fund to help support art students at the university. The funding will be used to help connect art students with working artists and assist them in finding hands-on art experience opportunities. The Efroymson Family Fund, which is a fund of the Central Indiana Community Foundation, has been a partner of the university since 2012 and has provided funding to bring a lecture series to the university, created fellowships and internships, and supported art students and recent art graduates.

According to an article on the University of Evansville’s website, Todd A. Matteson, who serves as the Department Chair and an Associate Professor of Art, was quoted as saying of the university’s relationship with the Efroymson Family Fund, "This partnership has had a lasting impact on our department. Year after year, it helps us bring new voices to campus and give students experiences that build confidence, skill, and a stronger sense of what is possible in the arts. We are deeply grateful for the Efroymson Family Fund's continued trust in our students and our program."

The Efroymson Family Fund helped establish the Efroymson Emerging Contemporary Artist Lecture Series at the university in 2012. The lecture series brings practicing contemporary artists to the university campus to host exhibitions, lectures, and workshops, and give art students the ability to ask questions of working artists about their careers and their art. This newest grant from the Efroymson Family Fund will provide $9,000 to the lecture series to allow it to continue to bring working artists to campus for the benefit of art students.

Speaking of the benefits of the lecture series, Matteson said, "The most valuable learning often happens when students can see the work up close. They meet artists actively building careers, help prepare exhibitions, and see the decisions, details, and discipline that shape creative work long before it reaches the gallery wall."

The grant will also provide $10,000 for the Bridge Year Fellowship. The Bridge Year Fellowship is an opportunity for recent art graduates to “bridge the gap” between their university studies and their entrance into their careers. The fellowship gives the recipient the ability to stay connected to the Department of Art through assisting with departmental projects and classroom support while receiving funding to help develop their own artistic skills. 

Additionally, the grant will provide $2,000 for a Marketing Internship and $2,000 for a Permanent Collections Internship. These internships are intended to help art students gain experience in areas like the promotion of arts events and the care, documentation, and preparation of art collections.

For more information about the University of Evansville, visit the school’s website.