L-R: Dr. Matt Kenyatta, Temple Contemporary Director, Dean Susan Cahan, Norman Akers, Edgar Heap of Birds at the opening reception of Norman Akers’ exhibition, Navigating New Spaces, September 2025.
Photo by Faith Kellermeyer
Temple University's Tyler School of Art and Architecture is excited to announce that applications are now open for the spring 2027 Edgar Heap of Birds Family Artist Residency.
The Tyler School invites applications for a spring 2027 residency in the Art Department, which encompasses undergraduate and graduate programs in Ceramics, Fibers and Material Studies, Glass, Metals/Jewelry/CAD-CAM, Painting, Photography, Printmaking, and Sculpture. The residency duration is flexible, ranging from two to five continuous months, and will be scheduled within the spring 2027 semester (January–May 2027) based on the selected artist’s availability.
The residency will be awarded to an artist whose work is primarily focused on the history and lived experience of North American federally recognized tribal citizens and who exemplifies the art and activism of the artist Edgar Heap of Birds in bringing attention to the lives, struggles and triumphs of Native Americans. The artist in residence will have the opportunity to mentor and advise Tyler students. The residency will culminate in an exhibition to be held in the Edgar Heap of Birds Family Gallery in Temple Contemporary, Tyler’s center for exhibitions and public programs.
Artist Anna Tsouhlarakis is the 2026 Edgar Heap of Birds Family Artist in Residence. Work created during the residency will be presented at Temple Contemporary in Fall 2026. Learn more about Anna Tsouhlarakis and the residency. Anna follows Norman Akers, who served as the inaugural Edgar Heap of Birds Family Artist in Residence in 2025. Learn more about Norman Akers.
The residency will provide an opportunity for an artist to expand their personal practice while offering access to Tyler’s state-of-the art studio facilities and community of artists, designers, architects, and scholars. Tyler’s programs encompass a wide range of areas in the study of art, design, art history, art education and architecture. In each program, students benefit from a rigorous curriculum and a large, diverse campus community.
Residency includes:
- 24-hour access to an individual studio
- 24-hour access to shared studio facilities and equipment
- 1,500 materials budget
- Opportunity to teach, mentor, and/or advise students
- Access to Temple University’s 4,000,000 volume libraries
- Participation in a solo exhibition
- Stipend of $3,500 per month
Residents will be responsible for securing their own housing during the residency. Temple University offers an online resource to search for furnished, off-campus housing options: https://offcampus.temple.edu/housing
Residents will be responsible for shipping costs for artwork produced during the residency or for the exhibition.
To apply, please visit https://temple.slideroom.com/#/Login to create an account and complete/upload the following materials by March 2, 2026:
- Application form
- Cover letter
- Resume or CV
- 20 images of artwork with image identification list
- Artist statement
- Contact information for three references
For technical assistance with your application, please email support@slideroom.com.
For other questions, email Maggie Dunkle, maggie.dunkle@temple.edu.
This program is made possible through the generosity of the Edgar Heap of Birds Family. Additional support is provided by Sandy Cadwalader and Dawn and Chris Fleischner.