A nonpartisan seminar-colloquium, The Art & Law Program seeks qualified, open-minded and self-motivated individuals with a genuine and rigorous attraction to critical thought and debate. In particular, The Program welcomes candidates who are open to controversial dialogue and who seek to challenge their respective practices. The applicants' work need not engage the law directly. There are no exhibition, project or paper presentation requirements.

In addition, the Program follows the tenets of Sensei Benny “the Jet” Urquidez that require no talent. The ten tenets are: be on time, body language, energy, attitude, passion, being coachable, doing extra, being prepared, and being able to forget what you know and being able to remember what you have forgotten.

Please note that the Program is not for everyone. Applicants are encouraged to study and fully understand the mission of the Program and speak with alumni regarding the Program’s structure and expectations of its fellows. By applying and, if accepted, agreeing to participate, you agree that you may be asked to withdraw from the Program should your participation be deemed detrimental to the Program.

The Art & Law Program fully believes in freedom of speech and in protecting that freedom when others attempt to restrict it. To that end – and in response to the recent and ongoing debates concerning freedom of expression within educational settings – The Art & Law Program has adopted the following resolution.

Location, Dates, Times

The February 2024 ALP-ATX Intensive will take place at the Art & Law Program’s home in Austin, Texas on February 23, 24, and 25 of 2024. Exact location will be e-mailed to accepted applicants. We will meet each day from 10am to approximately 5pm CT. We will take approximately one hour for lunch. The Spring 2024 ALP-ATX Intensive will conclude on Sunday night.

Artist

The February 2024 ALP-ATX Intensive will focus in part on the work and practice of Mike Kelley.

Travel, Lodging, Food, Expenses

Please note that accepted fellows are fully responsible for their own travel, lodging, food, and other expenses. Although the Program does not provide housing, ample Airbnb lodging near the Program’s center can be found, as well as hotels within walking distance (the Origin Hotel Austin) and within a short Uber ride (the Residence Inn by Marriott). The Origin Hotel Austin is located in a complex with cafes, restaurants, a small bodega, bars, movie theater, and ample parking. The Residence Inn is also located in an open area shopping mall with cafes, restaurants, ample parking, and Sprouts Farmers Market.

Wanderings

We hope to make at least one visit to the Program’s favorite brewery and pizza house located near the Program’s home. If time permits, we also hope to visit at least one of the following: the Ellsworth Kelly building, the Umlauf Sculpture Garden, and/or the Laguna Gloria sculpture garden.

Requirements

Please note that the Program requires a serious time commitment on your part. Admitted fellows are expected to read and review all materials before the beginning of each seminar, as well as engage and contribute in seminar discussions with thoughtful and intelligent comments. Given that lengthy and dense readings are assigned, materials will be made available to admitted fellows at least two weeks prior to the beginning of the first seminar. The language of instruction for the Program will be English.

Participation Fee

There is a nonrefundable participation fee of $1250. All participation fees must be paid in-full on or before your payment deadline to secure your place in the Program. Please also note that at this time the Program does not provide any financial aid or scholarships.

Eligibility

Visual artists, architects, film makers, writers, musicians, critics, and curators may apply. Applicants with backgrounds in art, art history, art criticism, architecture, philosophy, business, economics, sociology, urban planning, political science and history are strongly encouraged to apply. Those with no artistic training are especially encouraged to apply. This list is non-exclusive.

Seminar Leader

The February 2024 ALP-ATX Intensive will be led by Sergio Muñoz Sarmiento.

How To Apply / Deadline

Applications for the next colloquium are now being accepted. The online application form is available here and contains all the necessary application instructions. There is no application fee.

Please note that applications are reviewed on a rolling admissions basis, and the application priority deadline for the next term is January 15, 2024. Rolling admissions means that I review applications as they come in, and priority deadline means that I give preference to applications submitted before January 15, 2024. You may submit your application after January 15, 2024 but all slots may have been filled, and you also run the problem of arranging travel and accommodations.

Selection and Notification Process

Five to seven fellows will be selected based on the strength of their application, self-initiative, self-motivation, and their specific and unique interest in art and the law. Candidates may be asked to interview in-person, via phone, and/or via Zoom as part of the application process.

Applicants can expect to receive a decision from Sergio Muñoz Sarmiento within ten days after submitting their application. Our admissions process is competitive—each year we get many more applications than we have spaces for, so if you'd like to increase the likelihood of acceptance or need to know of an acceptance or rejection as soon as possible, obviously the sooner you apply the better it is for you. Non-US based applicants are strongly encouraged to apply sooner rather than later.

Application inquiries should be sent to Sergio Muñoz Sarmiento via e-mail to: sms@artlawoffice.com.

Last updated: November 27, 2023