Innovative Programs
From paid artist assistantships, to gallery exhibitions, to partnerships with local arts organizations there are many opportunities to enhance the student experience.
Many students are intimidated by the transition from school to the real world and this is magnified by the uncertainties of and lack of a clear path towards becoming an artist. We want to encourage you to pursue your creative ideas, but also to have some practical experience and mentors to guide you.
For artists, this is a unique opportunity for paid studio assistants and to mentor undergraduate students as they gain experience in the studio.
Art and Visual Culture Studies students often have special opportunities to work across disciplines for their academic research and other creative work.
For example, select students from Dr. Ken Allan's "Space and Site in Contemporary Art" course presented their research projects at SRCcon, SU's Student Research and Creativity Conference on May 23, 2025. The three panelists and their paper titles were Mia Harmon, "Patricia Johanson: Art for the Environment and the People," Magdalena Sky, "The History of American Tattoo Art Sites and Spaces and Hannah Kuhnhausen, "The Body as a Site: K8 Hardy's Works." Their 15-minute papers were followed by a lively Q & A with the student audience moderated by Prof. Allan. Allan teaches the course every other year in the Art & Visual Culture Studies program where it serves as part of the new capstone sequence for AVCS majors.
The SU Student Artist Residency offers upper-division students a month-long immersive experience in Leavenworth, WA. Participants receive room and board, studio space, a $500 scholarship for art materials, and a free art course. During the residency, students will have the opportunity to grow as artists by learning from and interacting with professional artists while also developing their own creative work. This unique residency helps students gain valuable experience and prepares them for professional careers in the arts.
The unique collaboration between Photographic Center Northwest (PCNW) and Seattle University began in 2001. A leader in the education and promotion of art photography, Photographic Center Northwest strives to enrich photographic artistry and appreciation through its quality courses and workshops, a gallery exhibiting internationally renowned artists, and outreach programs, which serve photographers throughout the region.
Seattle University students take classes both within the SU art department and at the Photographic Center Northwest (located across 12th Avenue from campus). On average, photography majors complete 30 to 35 credits towards their degree at PCNW.
The Pigott Family Endowment for the Arts is dedicated to deepening the education experience of students by bringing internationally renowned artists to campus. The endowment provides educational and artistic experiences for students and faculty as well as for the general public.
Each year the endowment sponsors major programming in one area of the fine arts (theatre, music, art and art history) on a rotating basis, while also supporting smaller on-going programming in other areas. Students benefit from direct interaction with the visiting artists and participation in programs and events.
The Seattle University Artist in Residence program was formed to facilitate research and support for artists in their creative process. This program, funded by the Pigott Family Endowment for the Arts, is designed to foster a unique environment for artists and students from which new ideas emerge that can change the way we see the world.
The residency provides artists with the valuable resources of time and space for open-ended investigation, experimentation and collaboration. The program gives artists the opportunity to push the boundaries of their own practice. This freedom we hope will foster collaborations that promote new approaches to arts education, foster community building, and provide a catalyst for social change. The SUVAIR creates a forum for dialogue between the public and the artist in residence through artist talks, a projects studio, open studio time, and other forms of public programming and materials.
Past Artists in residence: Dawn Cerny, Jeffry Mitchell, Jason Hirata, Mary Ann Peters, Matt Sellars, Carolina Silva, Matt Browning, Joey Veltkamp, Adetola Abatan.