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 Scholars Page to learn more and apply for a residency or fellowship.
Seeking Art/Science Collaborations:
We are now accepting Letters of Intent 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. We are seeking artists/scientists to 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 submit your creative idea here by July 29, 2019.
Artist Awards
We are now accepting applications for our 2020 Artist Awards, including our Artist in Residence (AiR) program and the Eliza Moore Fellowship for Artistic Excellence. Read below for more details on each of these programs and to learn more about our past awardees. You can also read our 2020 Artist Awards flier.
Eligibility:
All applicants for both the Eliza Moore Fellowship for Artistic Excellence and the Artist in Residence program must be an early-career artist (see below for more information on how we define this). The awardees must be available (and have their own visa, if a non-resident/citizen) for a residency on the Oak Spring estate in Upperville, Virginia.
Fellowship vs. Residency Applications:
All applicants will be considered for the Eliza Moore Fellowship for Artistic Excellence (a $10,000 grant and a two-week residency for one awardee in 2020). Applicants can optionally elect to be considered for one or both 6-week AiR periods: Summer (May 31st - July 10th, 2020), and Fall (September 20th - October 30th, 2020).
To Apply:
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 must be completed by August 11, 2019.
Eliza Moore Fellowship for Artistic Excellence
OSGF 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.
Artist 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.
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.
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.
OSGF is an emerging member of the Alliance of Artists Communities.