Applications are open through January 15, 2026, for the University of Arkansas’s Master of Arts in Art History. Located in the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences School of Art, this tuition-free, two-year residency program specializes in the arts of the Americas and is in direct partnership with Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art.
Combining academic rigor with immersive museum experience, this accredited program prepares students for careers in art history, museums, and cultural institutions. Students engage directly with artworks through seminars, exhibition development, and collaborative courses taught by curators and scholars.Â
“Our partnership with Crystal Bridges and proximity to other art hubs, such as Tulsa and St. Louis, plug students into a vibrant and growing arts ecosystem,” said Jennifer Greenhill, inaugural graduate director of the MA program and endowed professor of American art. “Student research, exhibition projects, and community initiatives have focused on telling new stories about overlooked art practices and understudied makers, changing the shape of the field in both subtle and impactful ways.”
The curriculum is organized around themes essential to understanding the arts of the Americas and the social impact of creative practice, including structures and systems, identity and community, environment, heritage, power, and circulation. Students gain real-world experience through built-in internships and collaborative projects, often contributing to exhibitions and initiatives before graduation. Internship placements include Crystal Bridges, Art Bridges, and the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, among other regional and national organizations.
“Our MA program prepares students for advanced study at the doctoral level, but also for careers in museums and arts organizations,” said John Blakinger, program director of art history and endowed associate professor of contemporary art. “We challenge students to reimagine what art history can be today.”
Recent graduate Ibby Ouweleen completed an internship at the Art Bridges Foundation in Bentonville, Arkansas, during their time as a student. They told Hyperallergic, “I helped develop two exhibits while researching about new acquisitions, like Rashid Johnson’s Untitled Escape Collage.” One of those exhibitions opened last fall, marking Ouweleen’s first curatorial byline. They were hired as a full-time curatorial associate for Art Bridges upon graduating from the program.
Travel is a core component of the curriculum. Students participate in faculty-led courses in destinations such as Barcelona, Madrid, and locations across Ghana, including Accra, Kumasi, and Tamale. The 2027 lineup includes Mexico City and cities across Alabama. Funding for travel, conference participation, and independent research is available to all admitted students.
Alumnus Alex Betz said the program’s robust funding allowed him to focus fully on his studies. “Being able to dedicate myself completely to following my curiosities and academic passions without fear of making ends meet has been a gift beyond measure.”
Thanks to a transformational gift from the Walton Family Charitable Support Foundation, all admitted students receive funding support for the two-year MA program.
Applications are live now on the program’s SlideRoom page until January 15, 2026.Â
To learn more, visit art.uark.edu.
