The next session of the Missouri Fine Arts Academy (MFAA) is scheduled for June 2-15, 2024 on the Springfield campus of Missouri State University.

Missouri high school students interested in attending can apply starting Oct. 16, 2023. The application portal will be available through Jan. 28, 2024. Resident assistant and faculty applications are also being accepted.

New director Benzer brings experience and energy

MSU Associate Professor of art and design Dr. Fatih Benzer, appointed MFAA’s new director in August 2023, comes to the Academy with energy and vision. Benzer has been teaching as an art instructor with MFAA since 2021.

“The most exciting aspect for me as the new director of MFAA is to establish a warm and welcoming environment where so many talented students can thrive academically during their brief stay at MSU,” Benzer said.

More options and opportunities in store

Benzer, who holds a doctoral degree in art education and a master’s degree in painting, plans to use his research, exhibition and publication experience to develop innovative new programs and activities, such as computer animation and digital arts, for the Academy.

“To give our students meaningful experiences, we will keep offering interdisciplinary and discipline-specific courses,” Benzer said. “Additionally, students will be able to enroll in electives.”

More MSU faculty also will be involved in developing and teaching MFAA courses.

Benzer hopes these new additions will “encourage students to major in the arts in college and even think about going into the field as a career.”

“I am dedicated to give our students a variety of opportunities in many different art disciplines that will have a lasting effect on them,” Benzer said.

Interdisciplinary format to remain

“I want to keep the MFAA’s interdisciplinary component because it gives students a great opportunity to see connections between different artistic disciplines like music, dance, theater, visual arts, and creative writing,” Benzer said.

“Such a strategy encourages faculty and students to work together to maximize their experiences…as one of the main goals of the arts is to strengthen community bonds through participation.”

2024 Academy theme to “Transform”

The 2024 Academy theme is “Transform,” Benzer explained, because of the ability of art “to transform our perception of the world by stimulating our imagination and exposing us to new possibilities.”

“Students at MFAA learn that art has the power to change the world by becoming creative problem solvers, igniting conversations, embracing compassion and disproving preconceptions.”

“They discover that art can spark action, call attention to various problems, encourage people to participate in community building and bring to light issues that might not otherwise be seen,” Benzer added.

“Because I firmly believe that art is a great instrument for bringing about transformation through collective and individual empowerment, I decided on the word ‘transform’ as the new theme for MFAA 2024.”

About the MFAA application process

Missouri high school sophomores, juniors or seniors may apply to attend MFAA in the following areas of study:

• Visual Arts/Mixed Media (painting, drawing, sculpture, ceramics, photography and digital art)
• Theatre (acting)
• Dance (modern, ballet, jazz, tap and hip hop)
• Creative Writing (fiction, short story, poetry, playwriting and spoken word)
• Music (vocal or instrumental performance, songwriting, composition and electronic music)

There is no application fee.

Application packets must include a 500-word personal essay describing how involvement in the arts impacts the applicant’s life, a student evaluation from school personnel and a digital or physical portfolio or video performance. More information about specific application criteria and guidelines on how to prepare applications can be found on the MFAA website.

Selection and notification

A selection committee composed of artists and arts educators evaluates all application materials before selecting qualified participants. Benzer estimates 100 students will be selected for the 2024 Academy.

Benzer will notify students about their application status by system email in February 2024 after the review process is completed.

About MFAA

MFAA is a two-week summer residential program for highly motivated, high school student artists in visual arts, theatre, dance, creative writing, and music. The Academy offers an intensive schedule of classes in interdisciplinary and discipline-specific arts and a wide range of co-curricular activities.

MFAA works with the Missouri State legislature in managing the affordability of the Academy. For MFAA 2024, the full cost of tuition is covered by funding provided by the state in concert with privately supported scholarships.

Learn more about MFAA

 

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Photos by Missouri Fine Arts Academy, John Di Fatta