The Mid-South Sculpture Alliance Board of Directors began an online series of panel discussions in 2021 to create content and connections. The live online panels cover an array of topics that explore and discuss current issues within the field of contemporary sculpture. These discussions are available free to the public as well as archived for further viewing after the live events.
- MSA Indoor and Outdoor Exhibition Artists Talks
- Recordings of lectures and panel talks during past Confab and Conference events
- FAQ panels featuring MSA university members with MFA programs
- and more...
And if you haven't already subscribed to our MSA Youtube Channel, join us so you can get notices and updates.
MSA Online Panels: FAQ GRAD SCHOOL
December 2025, we hosted two online panels featuring MSA university members with MFA programs
The recordings are on the MSA Youtube channel and will be a wonderful resource for potential candidates
as application deadlines in January and February near.
Thank you to MSA these professors at 11 universities joining us online to share about their schools and discussed how to choose and apply to an MFA program, how to prepare a portfolio, and more....
Georgia State University – Emily Baker
Herron School of Art at Indiana University Indianapolis – Allison Baker
Missouri State University – Deidre Argyle
Rochester Institute of Technology – Elizabeth Kronfield
Texas Women’s University – Tanya Synar
University of Arkansas – Bethany Springer
University of Cincinnati – Matt Lynch
University of Mississippi – Durant Thompson
University of North Texas – Alicia Eggert
University of Tennessee – Jason Brown
West Virginia University – Dylan Collins
Below are details from each of the programs featured during these online panels:
Georgia State University
- MSA FAQ MFA panelist: Emily Baker, Assistant Professor
- Location: Atlanta, Georgia
- Deadline: February 1
- Length of program: 3 years
- Coordinator contact: Grace Harpster, gharpster@gsu.edu
- Instagram: @gsu_sculpture
- Link: GSU MFA Sculpture
- Further details: All applicants are automatically considered for graduate assistantships. Each area has 1-3 assistantships to offer. We will let you know if you are next in line for an assistantship or on the waitlist. We offer a limited number of grad assistantships which include full tuition waivers and $500/month stipend. They include 10 hours a week of work as a grad assistant.
Herron School of Art at Indiana University Indianapolis
- MSA FAQ MFA panelist: Allison Baker, Associate Professor
- Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
- Deadlines:
January 15: deadline to submit completed online application
January 22: deadline to submit all supplemental materials for funding consideration
- Length of program: 2 years
- Graduate Coordinator contact: Dawn Holder dawnhold@iu.edu
- Link: Apply to Herron
- Further details: The MFA Program delves into technical, theoretical, and cultural aspects of art, emphasizing studio practice and exposure to professionals.
Missouri State University
- MSA FAQ MFA panelist: Deidre Argyle dargyle@missouristate.edu
- Location: Springfield, Missouri
- Deadlines: Fall: February 1 and Spring: October 1
- Length of program: 3 years
- Graduate Director/Coordinator contact: Sarah Williams SarahWilliams@MissouriState.edu
- Links:
- Further details: Graduate assistantships and out-of-state fee waivers are mentioned on the program page.
Rochester Institute of Technology
- MSA FAQ MFA panelist: Elizabeth Kronfield
- Location: Rochester, New York
- Deadline: February 15
- Length of program: 2 years
- Graduate Director contact: Cliffor Wun clwfaa@rit.edu
- Links:
MFA in Fine Arts Studio
School for American Crafts MFA degrees
- Further details: At the graduate level, and paired with an advanced degree, cooperative education and internships give you the unparalleled credentials that truly set one apart.
Texas Woman’s University
- MSA FAQ MFA panelist: Tanya Synar, tsynar@twu.edu
- Location: Denton, Texas
- Deadlines: Fall: January 15 and Spring: November 18
- Length of program: TBD
- Graduate Director/Coordinator contact: Meg Griffiths, MGriffiths1@twu.edu, 940-898-2537
- Links: https://twu.edu/visual-arts/graduate-programs/studio-art/
- Further details: TBD
University of Arkansas
- MSA FAQ MFA panelist: Bethany Springer
- Location: Fayetteville, Arkansas
- Deadline: January 15
- Length of program: 3 years
- Graduate Director/Coordinator contact: Jody Thompson jtt005@uark.edu
- Links: UARK MFA
- Further details: All students in the MFA Studio Art program will receive funding support during their three-years of study. We are able to provide a range of graduate assistantships, which includes a full-tuition waiver. In addition, students have the opportunity to apply for research fellowships and grants.
University of Cincinnati
- MSA FAQ MFA panelist: Matt Lynch, Professor
- Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
- Deadline: January 10
- Length of program: 2 years
- Graduate Director/Coordinator contact: Julia Orquera Bianco orquerja@ucmail.uc.edu
- Links: DAAP MFA
- Further details: New offering for MFA students: A pathway to a 12-CH certificate in Entrepreneurship in Lindner College of Business.
University of Mississippi
- MSA FAQ MFA panelist: Durant Thompson, Professor of Sculpture
- Location: Oxford, Mississippi
- Review of applications begins: February 1
- Length of program: 3 years
- Graduate Coordinator contact: Durant Thompson durant@olemiss.edu
- Links: UM Graduate Program and Yokna Sculpture Trail
- Instagram: @um_sculpture and @yokna.sculpture.trail
- Further details: The program emphasizes skill development, conceptual exploration, and individual artistic voice, with full tuition waivers and assistantships. The current assistantship offer includes: full tuition scholarship, subsidized health insurance, and $25,000 annual stipend
University of North Texas
- MSA FAQ MFA panelists: Alicia Eggert, Associate Professor and Jacob Phillips, Sculpture Technician
- Location: Denton, Texas
- Deadline: February 1
- Length of program: 3 years
- Graduate Director/Coordinator contact: Paho Mann Paho.Mann@unt.edu
- Links: UNT MFA
- Further details: All grads finish the program with a solo exhibition in our student gallery. Each student’s work is also featured in our annual MFA catalogue.
University of Tennessee
West Virginia University
- MSA FAQ MFA panelist: Dylan Collins, Associate Professor
- Location: Morgantown, West Virginia
- Deadline: January 15
- Length of program: 3 years
- Graduate Director/Coordinator contact: Joseph Lupo, joseph.lupo@mail.wvu.edu
- Links: WVU Graduate Admissions
- Further details: This interdisciplinary, terminal studio major is designed to allow graduate students to gain experience in all areas of the visual arts while pursuing a focused area of emphasis with studio coursework.
If you’ve ever considered building an iron furnace, or are curious about how it works this is the panel for you. The fourth panel discussion in the series, Iron Furnace Construction, is a technical discussion. Experts on the topic will share their knowledge of furnace design, operation, and maintenance. The 45 minute discussion was followed by a 30 minute Q&A session selected from the comments section of the live stream.
Panelists:
Marjee-Anne Levine Adjunct Professor, Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt) Manager of Operations, Sincere Metal Works Co-Founder and President, Eutectic Arts
Page Burch Master Craftsman Program Coordinator Lecturer of Sculpture School of Art and Design
James D Vanderpool Metal Museum Foundry Operations Manager
Elizabeth Kronfield Professor & Graduate Director, Fine Arts Studio School of Art College of Art & Design Rochester Institute of Technology
Moderator:
Katelyn Gabbard University of Louisville MFA
To view the powerpoint with technical drawings click here
“Tearing Down Monuments,” the second discussion in MSA’s 2020 Online Panel Series, focused on the current protest and removal of sculptural monuments, what can be done with them, and what can replace them. The discussion featured a conversational Q&A format facilitated by our moderator. After 45 minutes the panel answered questions from the audience selected by our announcer. The disucssion was insightful, lively, and dynamic. Moderator: Isaac Duncan III Professional Participants:
Pheonix Savage, Artist, Assistant Professor or At, Tougaloo College
Brayn Massey, Artist, Department Chair & Professor, University Central Arkansas
Miranda Kyle, Chief Curator, Art in the Atlanta Beltline, Arts and Cultural Program Manager
Preston Jackson, Artist, Professor Emeritus, Sculpture Department, School of the Art Instiute of Chicago
Xaviera Simmons, artist
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"WISE during the year of Suffrage," the third discussion in MSA’s 2020 Online Panel Series, will celebrate and give awareness to the participants of the WISE: Women in Sculpture Outdoor Exhibition in the City of Chattanooga that was organized by MSA, as well as teach the greater community about the journey one takes in this field as a female.
The discussion will have a conversational Q&A format facilitated by our moderator. After 45 minutes the panel will answer questions from the audience selected by our announcer. Audience members can ask questions in the comments section of the live stream. Moderator: Katelyn Kirnie, Public Art Consultant Panelists:
Janet Austin, Artist and President of Chicago Sculpture International
Aisling Milar McDonald, Artist, Adjunct Professor at the University of North Florida, and Ceramics and Sculpture Instructor at The Foundation Acacdemy
Jaci Willis, Artist
Kristen Tordella-Williams, Artist, Associate Professor at Milsaps College, and Vice President of MSA
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