Description: The En Foco Artist Fellowship Program is designed to support artists of color who utilize lens-based mediums and digital media technologies in their creative processes. This program merges the previous Photography Fellowship and Media Arts Fund, creating a unified opportunity for photographers and media-based artists in New York State. Submissions will be evaluated by a panel of industry professionals, ensuring recognition for the highest-quality work.
The Artist Fellowship Program will:
- Award 15 Fellowships to Lens-Based Artists, each at $1,500.
- Include Fellows in a 2026 Group Exhibition.
- Submitted Works will be published in the 2026 issue of Nueva Luz (print and online)
- Provide Professional Development and Networking opportunities.
En Foco is highly regarded for its leadership in support of artists of color and for its advocacy role in addressing issues related to cultural equity and access. Previous Fellows have gained access to numerous opportunities beyond the fellowship.
Artists who apply for the Fellowship, may also be considered for future issues of Nueva Luz, Exhibitions, and other opportunities.
Eligibility:
Who Can Apply:
- Photographers and Media-Based Artists of Latino, African, Asian American heritage, and Native Peoples of the Americas and Pacific Islanders.
- Must be a New York City or New York State resident for the past year at the time of submission and must show proof of residency.
- Must be at least 18 years of age.
- Collaborating artists are eligible to apply, BUT only one artist can submit the application.
- Previous fellowship recipients must wait three years before they can reapply.
- Work for consideration must represent work completed after 2023.
Who Cannot Apply:
- Graduate or undergraduate students matriculated in fine art and/or media arts degree programs at the time of application submission.
- En Foco’s Board members and staff are ineligible to apply.
Panel Process:
The Fellowships are selected based exclusively on the excellence and quality of the work submitted. All work will be reviewed by panelists selected from a pool of photography and media arts professionals, such as photographers, media artists, curators, critics, and collectors. Each year, new panelists are chosen to ensure a fresh perspective in the fellowship review process. En Foco’s Board of Directors will review the panel recommendations to ensure the integrity of the process and formally approve the Fellowship awardees.
Award Notification:
The 15 Fellowship Recipients will be notified via email. The Recipients will each receive $1,000 initially, with the remaining $500 to be remitted upon participation and completion of their exhibition.
Submission Requirements
- Create an account on Submittable.com
- A written description (no more than 300 words) describing specific aspects of your practice, including subject matter, context, content, location, and the personal relevance of the submitted work
- A one-page résumé and 150-word biography
- A 200-word artist statement
- Work Samples: Submit 5–7 samples (a minimum of 5 images required, with up to 2 additional samples optional). Images should be submitted at 300 DPI and approximately 3000 pixels on the longest side. For video or other media-based works (including video or sound), submissions should not exceed 10 minutes total. Submitting works from a cohesive series is encouraged but not required.
- Headshot (300 dpi JPEG only)
The application form does not have to be completed in a single session; the system will save your draft application. We suggest you save often as you fill out the form and save a copy of any narrative texts.