Vermont Studio Center to Offer Native American Fellowships

The Harpo Foundation Native American Fellowships at Vermont Studio Center are being established to support the development of visual artists and the potential for intercultural dialogue.

Starting in 2011, Harpo Foundation will offer two residency fellowships to Native American artists living in the U.S. Artists will be selected on the basis of the strength and quality of their work. Each fellow will receive a one-month residency at the Vermont Studio Center, which will include room and board, a private studio, and a $500 travel stipend.

The VSC is working to reinvigorate its Native American programs, which have long been an important component of the Studio Center and its emphasis on fostering a diverse community of artists.  30 Native American artists and writers have received valuable residency opportunities at the Center previously.

“The Vermont Studio Center’s impressive campus, serene environs, international reach, and commitment to diversity make us at Harpo Foundation feel confident that these fellowships will positively impact the lives of native artists,” says Julie Deamer, Harpo’s Executive Director.
 
The Harpo Foundation was established in 2006 to support artists who are under recognized by the field. This program at the VSC offers Native American artists the opportunity to work with their creative process through studio immersion, open studios, slide talks, and mentorship from VSC’s roster of distinguished artists. Moreover, the program continues to promote cultural exchange and artistic excellence.  The Harpo Foundation Fellowship provides each artist with the invaluable opportunity to exchange ideas and culture with American and international peers and mentors, in the supportive environment that is the Vermont Studio Center. 

Founded by artists in 1984, the Vermont Studio Center is the largest international artists’ and writers’ Residency Program in the United States, hosting 50 visual artists and writers each month from across the country and around the world. The Studio Center provides 4-12 week residencies on an historic 30 building campus along the Gihon River in Johnson, Vermont, a village in the heart of the northern Green Mountains.

Artists should apply by February 15 for a 2011 residency. To learn more about the Harpo Foundation Native American Fellowship, and to request an application, contact David Grozinsky at 802 635-2727.