Organizer Information
The Center for Art and Advocacy is a U.S.-based organization dedicated to supporting artists who have experienced incarceration and face barriers to funding, mentorship, professional networks, and arts institutions. Through its Fellowship, Academy and Arts Incubator, Gallery, and forthcoming Residency and Retreat programs, the Center uses creative practice to challenge mass incarceration, advance racial justice and equity, and strengthen movements for social change.
The Fellowship, formerly known as Right of Return, was founded in 2017 by artists Jesse Krimes and Russell Craig.
Title & Description
Center for Art and Advocacy Fellowship 2027
The Center for Art and Advocacy Fellowship 2027 supports directly impacted artists whose creative practices address mass incarceration and contribute to social change. The annual fellowship provides financial support, mentorship, and opportunities for community building with other fellows, advocates, cultural leaders, and funders.
For the 2027 cohort, six artists will be selected through an open-call process. For the first time, one fellowship will specifically be designated for an artist between 18 and 24 years old. Fellows will also participate in an annual retreat where they can present project proposals, receive peer feedback, build professional connections, and engage with New York City's cultural community.
Categories
- Visual Art
- Film
- Music
- Creative Writing
- Performance
- Design
- Multidisciplinary Practices
Eligibility
The fellowship is open to individual artists aged 18 or older who have been directly impacted by incarceration and are based in the United States. Applicants must have been incarcerated in U.S. prisons, jails, or detention centers. Applicants detained in migrant detention centers must have subsequently obtained U.S. citizenship by the application opening date.
Projects and applicants must be based in one of the 50 U.S. states, Washington, DC, or Puerto Rico. Artists may be at any career stage and do not need formal artistic training.
Applicants must collaborate with an advocacy organization during the development and/or execution of their proposed project. The organization does not need to be secured when applying; the Center can assist fellows in connecting with advocacy organizations.
Organizations and nonprofits are not eligible to apply.
Program Benefits & Awards
Six new fellows will receive a $20,000 grant, along with mentorship and community-building opportunities. The fellowship supports artists seeking to use their creative practice to challenge mass incarceration and advance social change.
Fellows are invited to an annual retreat where they can connect with previous fellows, advocates, industry leaders, and funders, present their project proposals, receive feedback from peers, and participate in cultural events in New York City.
Application Fee
None
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Virtual Q&A: 24 September 2026
- Application Deadline: 25 October 2026
- Cohort Announcement: January 12, 2027
Location
New York City, United States
Additional Details
The Center defines “artist” broadly, allowing applicants from a wide range of creative disciplines and multidisciplinary practices. Selection emphasizes a demonstrated capacity to advance social change and a clear vision for using creative practice to address mass incarceration.
The fellowship is designed specifically for people with direct incarceration experience rather than artists working on incarceration-related subjects without that lived experience.