At CalArts, the beginning of the spring semester kicks off with what is known as Winter Session, a unique block of time that in the School of Critical Studies is dedicated to immersive residencies.
Separate from the regular semester structure, Winter Session is designed to offer time for concentrated learning experiences that encourage students to engage deeply with visiting professionals and scholars in their fields.
- The MA Aesthetics and Politics program welcomes the Theorist in Residence, a figure in contemporary political or cultural theory, who collaborates with students in seminars and lectures. This residency often includes a conference, offering a platform for both students and faculty to explore and debate pressing issues in aesthetics, philosophy, and politics.
Theorist in Residence - The MFA Creative Writing Program honors the memory of alum Katie Jacobson (MFA 2010) by welcoming a writer of great influence as the Katie Jacobson Writer in Residence. Each Jacobson Writer in Residence gives an on-campus lecture, a public reading at REDCAT, and two workshop sessions with CalArts Creative Writing MFA students.
Katie Jacobson Writer in Residence
These residencies are a core component of the program curricula, required for all graduate students in the programs. They provide an enriching and rigorous start to the semester, fostering an environment where creative and intellectual growth is shaped by the contributions of these distinguished visitors. Through these residencies, CalArts emphasizes experiential learning, helping students build strong, practical connections between their studies and the broader world of creative and critical discourse.