Organizer Information:

Zygote Press, a fine art printmaking studio in Cleveland, Ohio. The PROOF Fellowship is a six-month residency program inspired by Zygote’s 2021-2023 BIPOC Fellowship artists-in-residence.

Title & Description:

Applications are open for the P.R.O.O.F. Fellowship 2026 (Print Residency Of Ohio’s Future).

This program offers non-printmaking artists an opportunity to learn a variety of printmaking techniques including silkscreen, monoprint, relief, intaglio, lithography, and RISO. A committee of independent artists and educators from similar communities will select six local artists to participate. The selected artists will be introduced to both contemporary and traditional printmaking techniques through a series of Saturday morning workshops led by Zygote Press teaching artists and former PROOF Fellows. Zygote will also host mentoring sessions and peer critiques for Fellows to hone their craft, talk about their work, and focus their artistic research.

Category:

Printmaking & Visual Arts.

Eligibility:

  • Who: Non-printmaking artists from historically underrepresented (BIPOC) communities.
  • Geography: Must be a local artist based in Northeast Ohio.

Program Benefits & Awards:

  • Financial Support: A $500.00 Stipend.
  • Instruction & Support: 22 hours of printmaking workshop instruction (valued at $2,500) and 10 hours of individual printmaking support (valued at $500).
  • Workspace Access: Six months of 24/7 access to Zygote’s Printmaking Studio (valued at $960), plus a locker and flat file for the duration of the Fellowship.
  • Community: Yearlong Zygote Community Membership.
  • Exhibition: Participation in the 2026 PROOF Fellowship Exhibition, including exhibition and installation support.

Application Requirements:

All application materials must be in a single PDF file no larger than 10MB.

  1. Letter of interest/project proposal (500-word limit).
  2. A portfolio of recent work (10-20 images).
  3. Short Bio (one paragraph limit).
  4. Artist Statement.
  5. Resume or CV.

How to Apply?

To apply, email your single PDF document to michael@zygotepress.org.

Key Dates:

  • Application Deadline: April 17, 2026 (11:59 PM).
  • Residency Dates: May 26 – December 31, 2026.
  • (Note: Our 2026 PROOF Workshop Schedule will be announced in December 2025).

Location:

Zygote Press, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.

Contact Information:

Email: michael@zygotepress.org

Website: https://zygotepress.org/awarded-residencies