Since its inception in 2022, the Just Arts fellowship at the University of Arizona has empowered students from diverse backgrounds to pursue creative projects. Recent showcases featured Nagasriya Ramisetty, a junior double majoring in physiology and medical sciences and applied humanities, who presented her project, “bit·ter·sweet.” This work explores mental health stigma within Asian American communities through a collection of poetry and digital art, inspired by her personal experiences and advocacy during her high school years.

Another notable project was led by Nikolas Sanchez, a Ph.D. student in applied intercultural arts, who addressed the environmental impact of 3D printing waste. His project, “PLAing With Trash,” involved creating sculptures from polylactic acid waste, aiming to foster community engagement and demonstrate that art can be made from recycled materials. Sanchez's innovative approach included community workshops and a large interactive sculpture activity at the TENWEST Festival.

The Just Arts fellowship continues to facilitate unique artistic expressions and will announce the next round of fellows soon, following the closure of applications on April 3.