2025 + 2026 David C. Driskell Fellowship at Black Seed Studio Application

The David C. Driskell Fellowship at Black Seed Studio

A foundational aspect of Indigo Arts Alliance’s mission is to amplify and empower Black and Brown artists who enrich our local community. The goal of the David C. Driskell Fellowship Program is to identify talented Maine based & Maine Rooted artists whose work is of excellent artistic merit and is open to all artistic career stages. That is why Indigo Arts Alliance is proud to offer rent free studio space to our community! 

The IAA mission is both local and global. We are specifically working with “Black and Brown” artists. African descent refers to people from all African nations, African-American, Afro-Latin, and Caribbean. The geographic breadth of all the places where Africans were displaced as a result of the transatlantic slave trade. We describe “Brown” to include Native American, indigenous, Latinx,  South and Southeast Asian, the Middle East and the Pacific Rim communities. This exciting opportunity will enable artists to engage in their practice in ways that they may not otherwise have the space and/or resources to. As artists and creative professionals ourselves, we understand the value and rarity of having dedicated studio space for an extended period of concentrated time.

Selected Fellows Receive:

• Rent free semi-private 500 sq foot studio facility, for up to three months
• $700 (unrestricted): Fellowship funding may be used to enhance any aspect of the artist’s life, such as overhead costs, the purchase of materials, and other living expenses. Awards are subject to state and federal income tax guidelines.
• Support from Indigo Arts Alliance staff and access to IAA community resources and services.
• Black Seed Studio Visits: IAA coordinates a mid-residency studio visit with the current Indigo Arts Alliance Mentorship Artist Residents and a selection of arts professionals. These can be virtual or in person depending on your comfort level.

Eligibility:

• Artists must be a descendent from any of the African nations, African-American, Afro-Latin, Caribbean, i.e., the communities inhabiting the geographic breadth of all the places where Africans were displaced as a result of the transatlantic slave trade, Native Americans, indigenous peoples, Latinx, South and Southeast Asian, the Middle East, and the Pacific Rim.
• Artists must be Maine based (i.e living/working full or part time in Maine) or Maine Rooted (i.e strong ties to Maine, and maintaining strong community networks to the state)
• Applicants must be 21+ at the time of the proposed residency.
• Artists of all disciplines are encouraged to apply (Painting, sculpture, illustration, writing, dance, music, theater/performance, photography, fiber/textiles, etc).
• Applicants cannot be attending a full-time academic program at the time of the residency.
• Applicants must have the most up to date COVID-19 vaccination at least 3 months prior to the start of their proposed residency.
   

Jury Criteria: 

Selection for this program will be based on artistic merit, creative integrity and community commitment. Artists working at every level, emerging through established, are equitably welcomed and reviewed.

• Artistic Merit: The artist presents a sustained commitment to their practice, risk-taking, and clear concepts and creative methodologies that advance artistic expression. This includes traditional studio practices, music/sound, creative writing to new forms that explore digital art mediums. 
• Creative Integrity: The artist’s work demonstrates integrity and ethical use of material demonstrates responsible social and/or environmental practice, models new forms of creative action. 
• Engagement with defined communities: There is a clear articulation of the role and relationship of the artist with the communities in which they are engaged. The artist engages in equitable creative practice which seeks to build social/structural/systemic equity.

Applicants are evaluated and selected based on their work, as evidenced in submitted materials and work samples. Consideration is given to accomplishments to date as well as promise for continued development and the potential impact the fellowship will have on the artist. The distinguished jury panel will also be asked to consider the wide range of media, aesthetic considerations, social engagement, relationship to defined community, and cultural traditions that might be influenced by race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and geography.

We are currently accepting applications for the following residency periods:

Spring: May 12th - August 8th, 2025

Fall: Sept. 8th - December 5th, 2025

Winter: January 13th - April 7th, 2026

David C. Driskell Info Session & Q/A: Please use this time to learn about Indigo Arts Alliance, our residency programs, and ask any questions you might have about IAA's various programs and/or your application. You may sign up for either session using the links below! 

Dates: 

Tuesday, Jan. 28th at 12:30pm (Registration Link) 

Friday, Feb. 28th at 10am (Registration Link)

If you have any additional questions or concerns about your application, please email us directly at ashley@indigoartsalliance.me