New Program! All new programs for winter 2027 are currently under review by IFR’s Academic Board. We anticipate offering this program, but changes may be made during the review process.
Overview
Get to know Austin’s tattoo culture from the inside through hands-on research with the artists shaping this growing community. Long known for its independent spirit and unconventional culture, Austin’s recent rapid growth and the arrival of major tech companies are reshaping neighborhoods and shifting local identity. Yet even as longtime businesses and creative spaces disappear, the city’s tattoo scene is flourishing. This unique ethnoarchaeology field school takes you inside local tattoo shops to document the spaces, objects, and working practices behind Austin tattoo culture. You’ll meet tattoo artists and use archaeological and ethnographic field methods to examine how they build community while adapting to a city changing around them. Along the way, you’ll learn how archaeology offers a fresh perspective on contemporary life and one of humanity’s oldest creative practices: tattooing.
Field school highlights:
- Gain experience in a range of in-demand field skills such as GIS mapping, field specimen inventories, and data management.
- Connect with a tattoo artist and learn how to conduct an oral history interview with care and respect.
- Keep field research weird! Explore Austin’s tattoo history through studio visits and a field trip to the Shanghai Kate Museum and Archive.
| Course Details | |
|---|---|
| Course Dates 2027 |
online early January onsite Jan. 11 – 22 |
| Course Type | Ethnoarchaeology |
| Instructors | Dr. Kelton Sheridan |
| Credits* | 6 semester (9 quarter) – anticipated |
| Apply By | September 1 |
| Fees Due By | December 1 |
| Program Fees | (2027) |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $2,300 |
| Transcript Fee* | $350 |
| Health & Evacuation Insurance | NA |
| Room & Partial Board | $1,250 |
| TOTAL: | $3,900 |
*Please email admissions@ifrglobal.org for any application issues.
Applications accepted on a rolling basis until program fills or final deadline passes.
Instructors
The directors welcome emails and inquiries about the research elements of this project. More general information (tuition, health insurance, and payment schedule) can be found under the ‘Students’ tab above. Any further questions may be addressed to IFR staff. Additional details about research, course schedule, travel, accommodation, and safety can be found on the syllabus. Contacting the directors or the IFR office is encouraged and appreciated. It may help you determine if this field school is a good fit for you.
Payment & Student Fees
Application Fee: There is a $45 fee to submit an online application.
Deposit Payment: A nonrefundable $500 deposit is due within 3 weeks of program acceptance in order to secure your place. The remainder of your program fees are due by the deadline indicated under “Course Details”.
*Transcript Fee & Academic Credit Opt Out: If you wish to participate in an IFR field school without earning academic credits, you will not be charged a transcript fee.
For more information about payment, fees, and policies, please see details under our Payment & Finances and Withdrawal and Cancellation Policy pages.
Accommodations
The group will share a large house in trendy East Austin. You’ll sleep 2 to each bedroom and share bathrooms among the team. The house will include a washer and dryer, a full kitchen, a dining area, an outside patio area, and a common area that includes a tv, couches, and a game room for relaxing during downtime.
Meals: This program will cover most meals while onsite, though you will need to purchase several dinners on your own. Breakfast and lunch supplies will be available at the group house to eat and pack a lunch each day. Group dinners will be a mix of eating out and cooking together at the project house. For a few evenings, you will supply your own dinner and can choose to cook at home or go out to nearby restaurants or food trucks – see course schedule of the syllabus for detailed meal expectations. This program is able to accommodate special dietary needs.
Travel Info
Natural disasters, political changes, weather conditions and various other factors may force the cancellation or alteration of a field school. IFR recommends students only purchase airline tickets that are fully refundable and consider travel insurance in case a program or travel plans must change for any reason.
General information for this program is below, but keep in mind we will discuss any updated travel information and regulations during the required program orientation, which could affect travel plans.
You should fly into the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) in Austin, Texas, where program staff will meet you and transport you to the shared project house. US-based students may also opt to drive to Austin and meet directly at the project house.
Once onsite, the program will transport students in cars or vans as needed, though you may also be able to walk to some program locations and field trips.