More Art's Engaging Artists Fellowship

what to expect.

The Fellowship brings together a cohort of 6–8 artists who engage through a hybrid model of virtual and in-person gatherings, with an emphasis on in-person participation to cultivate a shared, collective learning environment.

Each Fellow will receive monthly 1-to-1 individualized mentorship sessions with More Art staff. Additionally, the Fellowship Leader will facilitate monthly generative workshops, invited artist talks, discussions, and collaborative feedback sessions, tailored to the practices and needs of the cohort. The program will close with culminating presentations by each Fellow, public or otherwise, of or about work developed over the course of the program. At the end of the year, Fellows can expect to receive a small stipend of at least $750 each (each member of a collective will receive a stipend) to be used for expenses related to their practice. Fellows can also expect to spend 15 hours per month on average on More Art-related work.

Some topics covered in previous workshops include: 

• History of Public Art
• Education for and history of Socially Engaged Art (SEA)
• Step-by-step Guide to Creating Socially Engaged Public Art
• How to Propose your Public Art / SEA Project
• Equitable practices and ethics to consider for SEA
• Grants & Funding for SEA

 

who can apply?

The Engaging Artists Fellowship offers insights and strategies to collaborate with communities, rebuild and shape our society, and build sustainable careers. More Art welcomes applications from NYC artists of all disciplines, including but not limited to: visual artists, performers, choreographers, musicians, designers, and new media artists. Currently enrolled undergraduate students may not apply. Collective applications are welcome. An interest in socially engaged practice is crucial.

 

Please note: Your project does not need to and, in many cases, should not conclude within the Fellowship year. However, we do ask that you present your work (in progress or otherwise) to your Fellowship cohort, a targeted audience, and/or the public. The Fellowship is a program for incubation, experimentation, collaboration, and implementation stages of early socially engaged public art projects. We understand and encourage artists who see the combination of socially engaged work and creative practice as a long-term commitment. As a result, many Fellowship projects become multi-year initiatives that the Fellowship supports in the early stages.

qualifications.

• Interest in More Art’s work and eagerness to learn (no prior experience in public art or socially engaged art necessary!)
• Willingness to present, support, and attend work produced in community and public settings, as opposed to galleries and museums 
• Strong commitment to More Art’s values, including but not limited to social justice and public engagement, inclusion, diversity, equity, accessibility, and collaboration
• Commitment to intersectional thinking and artmaking
• Willingness to act with care and respect toward all collaborators, including More Art staff, other Fellows, and community members
• Eagerness to contribute to a nurturing environment with and for Fellows
  Interest in establishing and/or sustaining partnerships with community-based organizations, advocacy groups, agencies, neighborhoods, places, individuals and/or groups of New Yorkers
• Belief that art and artists are integral to empowering social justice movements by creatively illuminating social issues, engaging new audiences in activism, and catalyzing public discourse

 

requirements.

• Over 18 years of age 
• Not enrolled in a degree program during the time of the Fellowship 
• NYC-based during the time of Fellowship
• We ask that Fellows not commit to more than 2 other residencies and/or fellowships during their Fellowship year with More Art to avoid scheduling conflicts and spreading oneself too thin 

 

fellowship output + expectations.

Over the course of the Fellowship year, Fellows are expected to:

• Develop a Theory (or theories!) of Change, with help from the Fellowship Leader
• Develop a set of individualized goals for the Fellowship year
• Develop a final presentation (public, or otherwise), with assistance from More Art staff, of or about the work you’ve developed during the More Art Fellowship
• Attend monthly 1-to-1 individualized mentorship meetings with More Art staff
• Attend monthly in-person and virtual workshops/artist talks
• Attend monthly open studios facilitated by the Fellowship Leader

application + selection information.

March 9, 2026: Application opens. 

April 9, 2026 by 11:59 EST: Applications due. *Note, this year there will be no extension.

May/June 2026: Shortlisted candidates will receive interviews.

June 2026: Selected Fellows will be notified.

August 2026: Fellowship year starts.

July 2027: Fellowship year ends.

 

information session. 

A Virtual Information Session for the 2026/27 Fellowship will be held on Wednesday, March 18th at 12pm. 

We’ll share general information about the Engaging Artists Fellowship program and structure, address key questions on the application, and host an open question and answer from participants with More Art staff. Click here to register. 

This Information Session will be recorded and posted on our website.   

Please email madison@moreart.org with any questions about the Fellowship or application process by April 6th. We will respond as soon as possible!

application questions.

Please note: We’ve included the option to respond to the below questions in either text, audio, or video—please use whichever method is most comfortable for you to best describe your work/practice. Use the upload box beneath each question to respond with audio or video. 

Please also note that the word and time constraints noted below each question are suggested guidelines, not rigid rules. If you need more or less space to respond, please feel free to do that! 

Please make sure all uploads are complete before submitting your application!