We welcome applicants to the 2026-2027 Art Criticism Apprenticeship with Scalawag Magazine!
Due 11:59 pm — August 28, 2026
The Black Embodiments Studio and Scalawag Magazine are partnering on an Art Criticism Apprenticeship that embeds an arts writer with Scalawag, where they will develop an art criticism “beat” that covers Houston’s visual and performing art worlds holistically: previewing and reviewing single exhibitions as well as documenting the sociality of art openings, public talks, administrative dynamics of institutions, and longer-form pieces considering particular artists, works, spaces, and trends or movements. The goal is for the Apprentice to develop themselves as a knowledgeable voice on Houston’s art worlds, in the broadest sense.
The Apprenticeship runs from October 2026 through April 2027, during which time the Apprentice will receive support and guidance from dedicated mentors at Scalawag and BES, and informal mentorship from various members of Scalawag’s editorial and writing team. The apprentice will publish at least one piece per month and will be compensated $500 for each published piece. The Apprentice will also receive a $10,000 honorarium from BES.
BES x Scalawag Magazine
Apply — Art Criticism Apprenticeship
We believe that healthy and vibrant arts communities depend upon the feedback loop that arts writers and arts publications provide the public. We have begun partnering with local and regional publications across the U.S. to train writers to develop an art criticism “beats,” providing them financial support as well as mentorship. The apprenticeship model focuses on training, mentoring, and professionalizing someone who has already decided that they want to be an art critic (rather than, someone in an internship model who is in the exploratory stages of their career).The Apprenticeship emerges from our interests in legacy media and the history of the art critic—and our investments in inventing the future of art criticism, and arts writing more broadly. We are compelled by 20th century art critics who had full-time jobs at newspapers and magazines, and had the time and resources to develop a strong voice and a deep of knowledge of how local artists, art works, and trends developed. Often, these critics developed a strong voice that people either loved or hated. The BES Apprenticeship does not aim to train people in being controversial but rather to cultivate writers who have the intellectual and infrastructural support to take risks in terms of levying informed judgment; who can provide rich historical, political, and cultural contexts for their interpretations of artists, their work, and the scenes in which their art is cultivated and exhibited; and who are above all committed to learning how to be a trusted, if disagreed with, member of the dynamic arts communities they interface with.Background
What You’ll Do
Write and publish at least 1 piece per month in Scalawag Magazine
Attend and cover exhibitions, performances, and related public programs in Houston and, as necessary, surrounding areas
Participate in weekly mentorship meetings with Tea Troutman, managing editor at Scalawag, and monthly mentorship meetings with Jessica Lynne, Editor at BES
Maintain clear editorial timelines and deliver publishable work that meets Scalawag’s standards
Produce a short, reflective end-of-program report (approx. 2 pages) on the experience
What You’ll Get
$10,000 honorarium from The Black Embodiments Studio
$500 compensation for each published piece
Intensive editorial mentorship and newsroom experience
A platform to shape public understanding of the arts in a major metropolitan city
An opportunity to develop a strong, independent critical voice in a shifting media landscape
Who Should Apply
Houston-based arts writers with a portfolio of published work. This is not a program suited for people who do not have experience pitching, publishing, being edited, or conducting revisions.
Writers who understand or are eager to learn about the intersection of arts criticism, cultural institutions, and social justice
Applicants with familiarity or interested in the missions of both BES and Scalawag
Writers prepared to treat this opportunity with professionalism, respect, and purpose
Application Details
1 Apprentice will be selected by BES and Scalawag staff based on the following application materials, to be submitted via Google Form:
200-word biography
3-5 published writing samples (links or PDFs)
Responses to the following questions:
What is the function of the art critic — both historically and in today’s Houston? (500 words max)
Expanded Prompt:
Reflect on the evolving role of the arts critic in shaping public discourse, cultural memory, and institutional accountability. What do you see as the role of the critic in the current cultural and media climate, especially within Houston’s unique arts ecosystem? In what ways do you imagine a critic can contribute to a more vibrant and equitable arts landscape? What does today’s audience want from an arts critic? How can this person fulfill that need?
How would you characterize the relationship between the arts world and the publishing world? Why write about art now? (500 words max)
Expanded Prompt:
Consider how power, access, and visibility circulate between the spheres of art production and media. What role does writing play in shaping the perception of artists, movements, and institutions? Why is arts writing still vital in a time of media precarity and information overload? What motivates your own desire to write about art, and what do you hope your writing accomplishes?
How does this Apprenticeship fit within the arc and trajectory of your arts writing? (500 words max)
Expanded Prompt:
Situate this opportunity within your broader personal and professional goals. How does the apprenticeship build upon your past experiences and align with your future ambitions? What kind of arts writer do you hope to become —and what do you hope to learn, practice, or challenge during your time as an apprentice?
Describe your relationship to Houston'’s arts scenes. How have you engaged with them—as audience, participant, and/or critic? (500 words max)
Expanded Prompt:
Map your personal and/or professional connections to Houston’s visual and performing arts communities. What institutions, artists, or scenes have been meaningful to you? How have you participated in, observed, or contributed to these spaces? What do you think Houston’s art world needs more of—and how might your voice add to the conversation?