Cluster focus

The Arts Institute’s Interdisciplinary Arts Residency Program brings innovative, world-class artists to campus for a semester long residency sponsored by two or more departments. While in residence, artists teach an interdisciplinary course, present a public event, and participate in community outreach. The program gives students exposure to working artists, provides course credit, and strengthens programmatic ties among individual departments, programs, and other campus and community arts entities.

Cluster accomplishments

  • Since 1999, the cluster has hosted 23 visiting artists and has offered 28 unique interdisciplinary arts courses
  • The residencies have strengthened ties between more than 50 partners throughout campus and the local community
  • Thousands of undergraduate and graduate students and community members of all ages have attended over 100 free residency public events including performances, concerts, exhibits, lectures, symposia, workshops, and film showings

Cluster structure

The UW-Madison Arts Institute issues a call for residency proposals each fall for the following academic year. A faculty or staff member representing the sponsoring unit submits an application in collaboration with one or more co-sponsoring departments. Main sponsoring units host the residency and provide the staff resources necessary to support the course and outreach activities, while co-sponsoring units cross-list the course and assist with course and event publicity. Residencies are of extended duration, usually an entire semester, and consist of a three-credit interdisciplinary course and one or more free public events. In addition to funding the artist’s salary and course and public event expenses, the Arts Institute provides residency planning, promotion, and marketing.

Cluster coordinator, faculty and lead dean

Cluster Coordinator

  • Norma Saldivar, Professor, Theatre and Drama and Executive Director of the Arts Institue

Cluster Faculty

One to four visiting artists participate in this program each year. Former visiting artists include:

Lead Dean