John Hirschi Family Artist in Residence
Midwestern State University (MSU Texas) – Juanita and Ralph Harvey School of Visual Arts
Art Department (Ceramics)
Dates of Residency: August 2025 to August 2026 (one year minimum, with the possibility of one year renewal)
Application Deadline: The position will be open until filled. The review of applications will begin on May 20, 2025
Description: This self-directed residency is designed to provide a ceramic artist with university-based studio access, as they make the transition from or between academic settings. Furthermore, the program is intended to allow a resident the time and space to pursue a body of work in a creative and energetic environment, while enhancing the art program at MSU Texas. The accepted artist will participate within the ceramics area as an adjunct professor, an informal collaborator and mentor for students, while working in the common studio space. To see images of the ceramic studio at MSU Texas, please go to:
Minimum qualifications: An MFA in ceramics (or related discipline) is required. All applicant reviews will be based on portfolio review, qualifications, and individual artistic and professional merit.
Duties and Expectations for the Resident Artist: This is a part-time position. Work will include a combination of the below duties and activities up to a limit of 19 hours per week (final combination of duties may vary, and will be determined in consultation with the ceramics professor):
• Assistance with studio management and maintenance, including but not limited to loading and unloading kilns, materials inventory, mixing clay, mixing glaze, firing kilns, equipment repairs and cleaning, etc.
• Facilitate the making of bowls for the Wichita Falls Empty Bowls event
• Teach one non-for-credit community education course per semester, with the possibility of one additional art foundations or general education (adjunct) class per semester and/or gallery related work (*)
• Attend opening receptions and special events
• Help set up and work the Mother’s Day Ceramic Sale
• Help fire the wood kiln once per semester
• Give one public lecture on her/his work
• Donate one piece of artwork for MSU’s permanent collection
• Other duties may be assigned by Ceramics professor or Chair of the department
Midwestern provides:
• An apartment located on campus in a residence hall with all utilities paid including Wi-Fi (details to be discussed during the interview process)
• All materials and firing privileges
• A small office with internet access and storage space
• 24-hour/7 days per week access
• Studio space in the common 4000 square foot studio area
• Access to adjunct faculty privileges (library access, wellness center, etc.)
• Compensation of $8,000 per year, divided throughout the year and paid on hourly rate basis.
• An exhibition (details to be discussed during the interview process)
• Mentorship and assistance with professional development
* Optional and possible additional compensation of $2,500 for each 3D design, ceramics for non-majors, art foundations or general education course taught as an adjunct professor (combination of all teaching and non-teaching duties to be determined each semester, and will not exceed 19 hours per week or its equivalency for both teaching and non-teaching duties).
* Optional and possible additional compensation of $2,500 per semester for assisting with the university gallery
The ceramics studio at the Harvey School of Visual Art is equipped with the following (available to the resident artist):
• Three computer controlled electric kilns
• Large Brent slab roller
• Two extruders
• Three pugmills
• Soldner mixer
• Separate well equipped glaze room
• Spray booth
• Separate materials and clay mixing/storage room
• One PotterBot 3D ceramic printer
• 20 electric wheels
• One wheelchair accessible wheel
• Ball mill
• 5,000 square foot covered kiln yard with the following:
• Two 40 cubic foot computer-controlled Geil car kilns
• A 30 cubic foot “fast fire” wood kiln. A 50 cubic foot train kiln will be build the summer of 2025
• Two older updraft kilns
• A 30 cubic foot downdraft soda kiln
• A 3 cubic foot updraft test kiln
Artist in residence may have access, by permission, to the following studios:
• Painting
• Sculpture
• Metals
• Printmaking
• 24 station Adobe Suite equipped Mac lab with large format printers
If you are interested in learning more about Steve Hilton, please visit stevenhilton.com.
Application: For consideration, please use a PDF compression software such as SMALLPDF to compress your document, and email it to Steve Hilton at steve.hilton@msutexas.edu. I will not receive your document if you do not compress it to less than 5MB
Please put your documentation in A SINGLE PDF, in the following order:
• Letter of interest including a short paragraph on what you would like to accomplish while at MSU
• CV
• Artist's statement
• 20 jpegs of recent work (please note your website URL (web address) if possible) If you list your website address, you do not need to include images in your PDF
• If available, a minimum of 10 jpegs of student work. These can be on your website as well.
• Contact information (email and cell phone) for 3 references . . . Please make one reference a graduate ceramic professor and one an undergraduate ceramic professor. A reference from a current employer is preferred for your third reference.
Send questions to: steve.hilton@msutexas.edu
Midwestern State University is AN EEO/ADAAA COMPLIANCE EMPLOYER
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, color, national origin, religion, age, disability, protected veteran status, or genetic information
This position is designated as security sensitive and requires the finalist to complete a criminal background check.