Summer Residency 2025
VCFA will hold its summer 2025 residency on the campus of California Institute for the Arts (CalArts) June 24-July 2 in Los Angeles County, CA. For nine days, all six of VCFA’s MFA programs will come together to conduct concurrent residencies packed with lectures, readings, performances, screenings, exhibitions, and more.
Summer 2025 RESIDENCY EVENT HIGHLIGHTS
*Event dates, times, and locations are subject to change.
JUNE 24 |
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| 4:00 PM PST | Convocation Residency officially kicks off with the Convocation ceremony!Tap here to watch via Zoom. |
| Center for Arts and Social Justice Fellows | |
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During Convocation, the 2025 Center Fellows will be recognized for their contributions, followed by a special presentation by some of the members.
Learn more about the VCFA Center for Arts + Social Justice at casj.vcfa.edu.
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JUNE 26 |
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| 7:00 PM PST | Hunger Mountain Live × Da Poetry Lounge |
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Join us for an electrifying evening of spoken word, music, and performance at the inaugural Hunger Mountain Live × Da Poetry Lounge Pop-Up Event. Featuring the theme DISRUPTION, this event showcases selected artists—poets, musicians, performers, and more—who challenge, provoke, and inspire.
Co-hosted by MFA in Writing faculty Adam McOmber and edwin bodney and held in conjunction with Da Poetry Lounge, the nation’s largest weekly open mic, this one-night-only experience brings together the VCFA community and featured performers from both VCFA and Da Poetry Lounge for a celebration of artistic rebellion and community voice. Tap here to watch via Zoom. |
JULY 1 |
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| 7:00 PM PST | Songwriting Showcase |
| The showcase highlights the diverse songwriting and performing talents of the students, alumnx, and faculty of VCFA’s MFA in Music Composition. From intimate solo pop performances to intricate arrangements for a full band, from rock to R&B to finger-picking guitar to jazz, the evening promises to be an exciting romp through the current musical landscape.
Watch on Music Comp’s YouTube channel! |
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JULY 2 |
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| 1:00 PM PST | College-wide Commencement Join VCFA in celebrating the graduating class of Summer 2025! Tap here to watch via Zoom. |
| 2:30 PM PST | Program Commencement Ceremonies |
*Featured artwork by Jesse Wright (VA ’27) |
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Summer Residency Program Highlights
VCFA’s six MFA program residencies are packed with programming, including visiting artist presentations, exhibitions, screenings, performances, graduating student and faculty lectures, and more. View highlights for each program’s residency events below.
MFA in Film Residency Highlights
During the 2025 summer residency, MFA in Film students will experience critiques with faculty, attend screenings, and lectures, and participate in workshops led by visiting filmmakers and directors. Returning faculty include: Marya Cohn, Damon Davis, Daphne McWilliams, Emillie Upczak, Ekwa Msangi and Tomás Gómez Bustillo!
This summer, the roster of visiting filmmakers and directors includes: Edmund Stenson, Sam Feder, James Codoyanis, Alexandra Simpson, Charles Burnett, Dominic Davis, and Mark Kirkland.
MFA in Graphic Design Residency Highlights
This summer’s residency will feature guest critics David Karwan and Christina Webb during the pin-up and thesis critiques. MFA in Graphic Design faculty will present a series of micro-lectures and lead workshops with students throughout residency.
Graphic Design students will showcase their work during the pin-up exhibition. Thesis students Lana Lambert, Meghan White, Shannon Doronio Chavez, and Rian Kasner will present their capstone projects. View the graduate thesis website here.
MFA in Music Composition Residency Highlights
The MFA in Music Composition program is excited to present its events for 2025! Throughout the week, multiple performances will feature music written by VCFA students and performed by world-class musicians. The live-streamed events include:
- Electronic Showcase | June 25, 7 pm PST
- Composer-Performer-Improvisor (ComPerVisor) Showcase | June 27, 7 pm PST
- Eclipse String Quartet in concert | June 28, 7 pm PST
- Eclipse String Quartet & Anna’s Ghost in concert | June 29, 7 pm PST
- Anna’s Ghost in concert | June 30, 7 pm PST
- Songwriting Showcase | July 1, 7 pm PST
View all the streamed events here.
VCFA is set to host two ensembles this summer. These ensembles will premiere pieces written by our MFA in Music Composition students that reflect a widely versatile cross-section of approaches to new music. The program will additionally host showcase events featuring composers, writers, and songwriters.
Guest ensembles include Eclipse String Quartet featuring Sarah Thornblade, Sara Parkins, Alma Lisa Fernadez, and Maggie Parkins and ensemble Anna’s Ghost featuring Dan Cantrell, Devon Taylor, Mathias Kunzli, Miles Jay and Sylvain Carton.
MFA in Visual Art Residency Highlights
Information coming soon.
MFA in Writing Residency Highlights
MFA in Writing program is pleased to welcome visiting writers Brendan Constantine, Brooke Champagne, Shruti Swamy, and Tess Lewis to its summer residency! Students will participate in readings, lectures, and workshops. Also joining the roster for summer residency are visiting faculty edwin bodney and C.L. Clark.
Also, new this residency: Hunger Mountain Live + Da Poetry Lounge Pop-Up event co-hosted by Adam McOmber and edwin bodney. Join us on June 26 at 7:00 pm PST for this one-night-only experience!
MFA in Writing for Children & Young Adults Residency Highlights
This summer, MFA in WCYA welcomes acclaimed author and illustrator Marla Frazee and Matthew Forsythe. Students will participate in readings, lectures, and workshops led by faculty. Graduating students will present their thesis readings throughout residency.