Short Description
DVAA is now accepting applications for our 2025 Fellowship program. Inspired by the vision of DVAA’s founders to provide a creative refuge for marginalized artists, the DVAA Fellowship Program was created in 2018 to better serve the DVAA Membership and the arts communities of Philadelphia. We annually support underserved artists with innovative ideas through four distinct Fellowship tracks. Fellows accepted into the program are encouraged to develop and pursue experimental concepts and themes within their exhibition with the support of DVAA staff and resources.
Eligibility
The Da Vinci Fellowship Program is designed to support historically underrepresented and underserved artists at any point in their careers. Underrepresented and underserved refers to communities or groups who have disproportionately been denied access and/or experienced insufficient and inadequate representation in the visual arts due to institutional discrimination.
To qualify, applicants must be:
- Over 18
- Planning to live in the greater Philadelphia region during the full year of the program
- Not currently enrolled in another fellowship or degree-granting program
- Able to articulate need (financial hardship, lack of experience, or other institutional barriers)
Submission Requirements
- [200-300 words] Artist or Collective biography and demonstration of need
- [300-500 words] Written exhibition statement that includes a thoughtful and considered exhibition concept and community engagement plan
- [200-400 words] Plan of action that includes selected/proposed artists for group exhibitions, install plans/ideas, and where assistance will be needed
- High-quality images, at 300dpi (can include installation shots, video documentation, and/or artwork images)
- Additional application materials (can include diagrams, sketches of proposed work, installation plans, performance plans, etc.)
How to Apply
Online Application
Program Benefits & Awards
- 3-week long exhibition in DVAA curated by the Fellowship artist
- 2 years of free Artist Membership with DVAA
- Financial Stipend
- Support over the course of the year through monthly events, workshops, critiques, and one-on-one meetings
- Logistical and conceptual assistance from DVAA’s Fellowship Director and staff
- Marketing support from DVAA’s Marketing Coordinator
- Artist profile on the DVAA website
In 2025 the exhibition schedule will be as follows:
- SEPTEMBER 2025:
- Gallery 1 – Kathryn Pannepacker Fellow
- Gallery 2 – Linda Dubin Garfield Fellow
- OCTOBER 2025:
- Gallery 1 – Linda Lee Alter Fellow
- Gallery 2 – Michelle Angela Ortiz Fellow
What is Expected:
The Fellowship is a year-long partnership between DVAA and the selected artists.
- Fellowship artists are expected to be active members of the DVAA community throughout their fellowship term by actively engaging in DVAA programs and events. They will be invited and strongly encouraged to attend meetups with other Fellows and Resident artists in their cohort.
- Each Fellowship artist is expected to create programs related to their exhibition to create opportunities for audience members to connect deeper to the work on view.
- DVAA’s Fellowship Director and the rest of the staff will be able to provide guidance and assistance towards the installation of the exhibition and any corresponding events. However, as the leader of their Fellowship project, each Fellow is responsible for ensuring all deadlines are met on time, and project needs are communicated with ample time. The Fellows are the main point of contact for their exhibition and related programming.
- Stipends are paid in the early summer, prior to the Fellowship exhibitions. Fellows must provide a W9, a plan for outside engagement during their exhibition, and a completed marketing form in order to receive payment of their stipend.
Entry Fee
$5 of application feee
Location
Philadelphia, United States
Timeline
- Application Deadline: 31 May 2025
Website Link: https://davinciartalliance.org/2025-fellowship-open-call
