Organizer Information
The PLAYA, in collaboration with the PRAx at Oregon State University and the Spring Creek Project, is a multidisciplinary initiative rooted in the intersection of arts, humanities, and environmental research.
PLAYA is a well-established residency center located in the high desert of Oregon, known for its immersive, place-based programs that support artists, scientists, and writers. PRAx is a contemporary arts center dedicated to interdisciplinary creative production and public engagement, while the Spring Creek Project focuses on environmental humanities, fostering dialogue about ecological responsibility and cultural relationships to the natural world.
Together, these organizations have built a reputation for facilitating collaborative and research-driven artistic practices that respond to urgent environmental challenges. Their joint programs emphasize the integration of scientific knowledge, creative inquiry, and ethical reflection, making them a significant platform for artists working at the intersection of ecology and culture.
Title & Description
Migration in Changing Climates Fellowship 2026–2027
The Migration in Changing Climates Fellowship is a year-long interdisciplinary program inviting artists, writers, and researchers to explore migration as a complex ecological, cultural, and ethical phenomenon shaped by climate change.
This fellowship focuses on the Pacific Northwest and Great Basin regions, where shifting environmental conditions are dramatically altering migratory patterns for both human and non-human life. Selected fellows will investigate themes such as displacement, adaptation, resilience, and interdependence through creative and research-based practices.
The program begins with a five-day cohort residency at PLAYA, where fellows will engage in fieldwork, discussions, and knowledge exchange with scientists and land stewards. Following this, participants will undertake an individual residency to further develop their projects.
The fellowship culminates in a public presentation at PRAx, where completed works will be shared through exhibitions, performances, readings, or other formats. The program encourages projects that are deeply rooted in place, informed by observation and inquiry, and capable of generating meaningful dialogue around migration in a rapidly changing world.
Categories
- Visual Arts
- Writing & Literature
- Journalism
- Sound & Music
- Performing Arts
- Video & Film
- Interdisciplinary & New Media
- Environmental Humanities
Eligibility
- Open to artists and creatives based in the United States
- Applicants must be 18 years or older
- Open to emerging and established practitioners
- Individual and collaborative applications (up to two people) are accepted
- Applicants must demonstrate a track record of environmental engagement or place-based inquiry
- Must be able to:
- Attend the full cohort residency (October 1–5, 2026)
- Commit to the full fellowship duration (October 2026 – November 2027)
The program strongly encourages applications from Indigenous artists, rural practitioners, and individuals from historically underrepresented communities, especially those whose work is informed by lived experience and long-term engagement with place.
Program Benefits & Awards
- A fully funded 4-night residency at PLAYA (accommodation and meals included)
- An additional individual residency (minimum 11 nights) with:
- Private accommodation and studio space
- Access to the surrounding landscape
- One communal meal per week
- A $3,000 honorarium per fellow (can support travel and project costs)
- Opportunities to collaborate with scientists, researchers, and land stewards
- Professional documentation of creative work
- A public presentation opportunity at PRAx
- Additional funding for artwork shipping (if required)
Application Fee
None
Application Requirements
- Completed application form
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Portfolio or work samples
- Project proposal related to migration and climate change
- Personal or artist statement
- References (submitted separately by the deadline)
Collaborative applicants must each submit an individual application and reference their collaborator.
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 15 May 2026
- References Deadline: 31 May 2026
- Notification of Results: By July 1, 2026
- Cohort Residency (PLAYA): October 1–5, 2026
- Fellowship Period: October 2026 – November 2027
- Individual Residency Window:
- January – March 2027
- July – August 2027
- November 2027
- Final Public Presentation (PRAx): Between September 2028 and June 2029
Location
Lake County, Oregon, United States
Additional Details
- The residency takes place along the Pacific Flyway, a critical migratory corridor supporting diverse species.
- Fellows are expected to actively engage in collaborative dialogue and interdisciplinary exchange.
- Projects should address migration across species (human and non-human), including ecological disruption and climate-driven displacement.
- Selection is based on:
- Artistic quality
- Relevance to environmental and place-based themes
- Potential to generate meaningful public dialogue
- A diverse jury of artists, scientists, and arts professionals will ensure a balanced cohort across disciplines and perspectives.