Three University of North Texas professors have been selected as the 2025-26 Institute for the Advancement of the Arts (IAA) Faculty Fellows, allowing them to pursue significant creative research projects. The IAA, launched in 2009, supports excellence across the visual, performing, creative, and literary arts, enabling faculty to focus on creative endeavors that enhance their academic contributions and UNT’s profile.
Josh Gilbert | Stop-motion Film
Josh Gilbert, an assistant professor of practice in media arts at the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, will create a stop-motion short film titled Trophies. The film explores themes of grief and end-of-life decisions, aiming to start conversations about mortality. Emphasizing the importance of discussing difficult topics, Gilbert’s project will include a documentary about the production process to aid students in learning about animation.
Sungji Hong | New Chamber Work
Sungji Hong, associate professor of composition in the College of Music, is set to premiere a new chamber work with the renowned ensemble Hand Werk in Cologne, Germany, in Summer 2026. The chamber piece, designed for flute, clarinet, violin, cello, and piano, will be performed internationally and later at UNT. Hong’s music is celebrated worldwide and offers an intimate dialogue among musicians.
Binod Shrestha | Theatrical Production and Exhibition
Binod Shrestha, a professor in the College of Visual Art and Design, will premiere a theatrical production in Kathmandu, Nepal, reflecting on violence, memory, and displacement. The production, featuring over 40 performers and multimedia elements, will be documented and potentially displayed in galleries in Boston and Dallas, enabling students to engage with the project.
The selection of these projects highlights UNT’s commitment to creative research and its efforts to elevate its faculty’s contributions to arts scholarship globally. For more information about these initiatives, visit the University of North Texas website.