Artists
Supporting Emerging Artists
As part of our mission, we support and host visual and literary artists and scholars of all kinds who are influenced by a sense of place, including the natural world and humankind’s place in it. Our art-related programming continues the Mellons’ long history of generous support at the intersection of the arts and the environment.
Emerging artists engage with Oak Spring through either a residency or fellowship program, as detailed below.
Residencies are also open to scholars or researchers who are interested in the Oak Spring Garden Library. Visit our Researchers Page to learn more and apply for a residency or fellowship.
Artist Awards
We are accepting applications for our 2020 Botanical Artists in Residence (BAiR) until November 8, 2019. We are no longer accepting applications for our 2020 Eliza Moore Fellowship for Artistic Excellence or Artists in Residence Program (AiR), but will announce our 2021 call for applications in the first quarter of 2020.
All artist residents are provided a stipend, housing accommodation, and 24-hour access to studio space on the Oak Spring estate in Upperville, Virginia (see slideshow above; additional images forthcoming). For more information on the residency, including our site, accommodations, and resources, read our 2020 OSGF Residency Handbook. Read below for more details on each of these programs and to learn more about our past awardees.
Eliza Moore Fellowship for Artistic Excellence
The Oak Spring Garden Foundation awards one Fellow annually for the Eliza Moore Fellowship for Artistic Excellence. The selected Eliza Moore Fellow is awarded $10,000 and a two-week residency at Oak Spring. Scroll below to learn about our past Eliza Moore Fellows.
Artists in Residence
The Artist in Residence (AiR) Program provides the opportunity for artists and writers to pursue and accomplish their own creative endeavors in a beautiful rural environment. Our hope is for artists to be inspired by each other, our 700-acre landscape, our historic gardens, and the Library's collection of rare books on plants, landscape and gardens.
Botanical Artists in Residence
We are now accepting applications for our inaugural Botanical Artists in Residence Program (BAiR). The aim of this program is to extend our support for artists to practitioners of botanical illustration – which sits at a unique intersection of art and science and is well represented in the Oak Spring Garden Library collection. For more information on the award and eligibility, read our flier.
To Apply for the BAiR:
The button below will take you to our application portal, where you will be prompted to create an application profile. Please note that you are able to save drafts of your application, log out, and return to your draft application at any time before the application deadline. If you have any questions regarding the application process or requirements, please email programs@osgf.org. Applications for the BAiR must be completed by November 8, 2019.
We are no longer accepting applications for the 2020 Eliza Moore Fellowship or 2020 Artists in Residence program (the deadline was August 11, 2019). Thank you to everyone who applied! We expect to notify applicants in mid-November 2019.
If you’re interested in our 2021 awards, please check back early in the new year and/or sign up for our e-newsletter. We expect our 2021 Artist Awards to be similar to our 2020 Call for Artists.
Eliza Moore Fellowship for Artistic Excellence Alum
Artist in Residence Alum
Spring 2019 AiR
New York, NY
Drawing, photography, painting, sculpture
Image: Alexis Courtney Photography
How do we define an emerging artist?
Our support to artists–in both our residencies and fellowships–prioritizes emerging artists who show significant potential, but are under-recognized. We define an “emerging artist” as an artist who is early career, self-directed, and pre-professional. An emerging artist can be of any age and of any technical background (we consider both academically trained and non-academically trained artists) and are no longer enrolled in a degree-related program.
To help us recognize an emerging artist, we look for some evidence of professional achievement and recognition, but do not expect a substantial record of accomplishment. Examples of recognition include exhibitions, critical reviews, commissions, performances, grant awards, residencies, fellowships, publications, and productions. Our selection committee considers not only the number of these acknowledgments, but also timing, size, characteristics, geographic context, and significance.
All emerging artists who are invited to work at Oak Spring have the necessary equipment and skills to work independently, but may require support in the form of time, space, financial assistance, and community.
Supporting Art/Science Collaborations & Communications:
We are no longer accepting applications for a 2020 place-based project in the Virginia Piedmont that relates to the American chestnut tree.
The story of the American chestnut reflects a once-abundant North American species that has been nearly wiped out by a fungal infection from Asia. One artist/scientist team will work on an installation that will help us visualize and communicate what can be learned from the demise of the American chestnut and the struggle for its revival. The project will utilize the American chestnut salvaged split rail fences that were once a part of OSGF estate (see image at left).
View our full Call for Letters of Intent and stay tuned for an installation in 2020!
OSGF is an emerging member of the Alliance of Artists Communities.