The Artist in Residence Program

Webb School is a Pre K-12 private school of about 1,000 students located in Knoxville, Tennessee. We have been hosting two visiting visual artists a year since 2001. Visiting artists arrive in October or February and spend five weeks on campus. 

During their tenure, artists work half of each day on their own work and spend the other half interacting formally with students in art classes. These interactions are collaboratively planned with one of the six visual arts teachers on campus: one Lower School teacher, two Middle School teachers, and three Upper School teachers. Visitors are required to mount an exhibition during their stay and are asked to donate a representative artwork to the school’s visiting artist study collection. In exchange, they are provided with part of a classroom space to call their own to work in. Webb's facilities include a well-equipped digital lab, wood shop, darkroom, kilns, and print presses for our visiting artists to use.

Visiting artists have 24-hour access to their work spaces, as well as access to workout facilities and library privileges. They are housed in an extended stay hotel about two miles from campus, and their lunch is provided on school days. Travel expenses are provided for and visitors receive a $3,900 stipend for their five-week stay.

The Artist in Residence Collection

All of Webb's previous Artists in Residence were asked to donate a representative artwork to the school’s visiting artist study collection. This collection in on display in the Webb's Central Building and serves as a constant reminder of the varied and talented artists who have visited our school.