Fellowship + Residency Programs

Fellowship Program

Year-Long Program

Inspired by the vision of DVAA’s founders to build community through art, The DVAA Fellowship Program was created in 2018 to better serve the DVAA Membership and the arts communities of Philadelphia. We annually support under-represented voices, innovative ideas, and underserved artists 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. Proposed projects may explore a central theme, work from a common medium, highlight a specific community, or involve a specified number of collaborators.

WHAT WE OFFER:

• 3-week long exhibition in DVAA curated by the Fellowship artist

• Inclusion in Forecast, DVAA’s annual exhibition featuring incoming Fellowship artists’ work.

• 3-year 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 DVAA’s Co-Directors

• Marketing support from DVAA’s Marketing Coordinator

• Integration into DVAA’s membership network and community

• Artist Profile on the DVAA website

WHAT’S EXPECTED:

The Fellowship is a year-long partnership between DVAA and the selected artists. 

• Selected Fellows are expected to be active members of the DVAA community throughout their fellowship term by attending DVAA programs and events and interacting with the wider audience who call DVAA a home.

• DVAA Fellows will work closely with the concurrent Fellows and Resident artists, providing feedback, insight, skills, and resources as appropriate. 

• Selected Fellows will lead the exhibition process including theme creation, artist management, and ultimate layout and presentation of their proposed exhibition, working alongside DVAA's Co-Directors and Fellowship Director who will oversee, advise, and provide assistance towards the installation of the exhibition and any corresponding events.

WHO CAN APPLY:

4 Positions Available

Local artists over 18 who are planning to live in Philly during 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).

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. 

Residency Program

One-Month Long Studio Residency + Year-Long Development Program

In 2022, DVAA launched a new studio residency program. Created to support underrepresented artists from a diverse range of backgrounds, ages, and experience levels, at pivotal stages in the development of their artistic practices. In keeping with DVAA’s community-oriented mission, residents will be expected to engage throughout their residency year both with their residency/fellowship cohort and with the larger DVAA membership. Residency programming and events will include professional development workshops and meetings, and weekly check-ins with the Residency Director during the month of their individual residency. Additionally, residents will be asked to attend group critiques and events with other Fellowship and Residency artists throughout the full year.

WHAT WE OFFER:

• 24-hour access to a private studio space on the third floor of Da Vinci Art Alliance (This is not a live-in space and does not include room and board)

• Inclusion in Cumulative Threads, DVAA’s annual exhibition featuring incoming Fellowship artists’ work.

• 2-year Artist Membership with DVAA

• Support over the course of the year through monthly events, workshops, critiques, and one-on-one meetings

• Ongoing feedback and professional development support from DVAA’s Co-Directors

• Integration into DVAA’S membership network and community

• Artist Profile on the DVAA website

WHAT’S EXPECTED:

In keeping with DVAA’s community-oriented mission, residents will be expected to engage throughout their residency year both with their residency cohort and with the larger DVAA membership through in person and digital events. Residency programming and events will include professional development workshops and meetings, and weekly check-ins with the Residency Director during the month of their individual residency. Additionally, residents will be asked to attend group critiques with other Fellowship and Residency artists throughout the year.

WHO CAN APPLY:

10 Positions Available

Artists over 18 not currently enrolled in a degree-granting program, recent graduates, artists from nontraditional educational backgrounds, artists transitioning from another career, and/or full-time parents or other primary caregivers.

The residency is open to artists working in any medium, however, please note that the nature of the space creates some practical restrictions. The studio is located on a third floor with narrow stairs and no elevator access. It is not equipped with an industrial ventilation system to accommodate the use of volatile or toxic chemicals beyond standard artists’ materials. Practices such as welding or glass torchwork are prohibited for fire-safety reasons. DVAA does have a small backyard and artists may use spray paint, fixatives, and other more toxic materials outside at their own risk with the suggestion from staff for the artist to provide for themselves and regularly use a respirator. DVAA encourages prospective applicants to reach out with any questions about specific materials or techniques that you are unsure fall into the allowable categories.

If you are an artist who typically uses art processes that DVAA cannot accommodate, please describe in your application what alternative materials and processes you will be utilizing during your time with us.