Forge Project is pleased to announce its 2025 fellowship application open call.

Forge Project, a Native-led nonprofit organization on the unceded homelands of the Muh-he-con-ne-ok in Upstate New York, is pleased to announce its open call for applications for its 2025 funded fellowship program for Indigenous artists, scholars, organizers, cultural workers, researchers, and educators. The application is live and applications are due Saturday, February 15, 2025, by 11:59 PM EST.

About the Fellowship

Forge Project is seeking a 2025 cohort of six Indigenous individuals that represent a broad diversity of cultural practices, participatory research, organizing models, and geographical contexts that honor Indigenous pasts as well as build Native futures. 

Two of the fellowships are awarded to enrolled tribal members, First- and Second-Line Descendants of the Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohican Indians in recognition of the peoples on whose homelands Forge Project is situated and to encourage site-specific and relational projects. 

Each Forge Project Fellow receives a total of $25,000 toward their practice and will have  access to the Forge Project site, libraries, and lending collection of living Indigenous artists during a residency stay of up to three weeks. 

The Forge Project space consists of two structures designed by Ai Weiwei in collaboration with HHF Architects. The larger of the two buildings consists of four equal-sized boxes, where Forge Project hosts its public programming, including special-topic talks with Fellows. Parallel to the main building is a Y-shaped building; the upper floor features a circular skylight that illuminates a central art gallery, and houses a fluid living and studio space for Fellows.

Fellows have the opportunity to present their work to the local Forge Project audience on site as well as a wider international audience via social media. Fellows have the opportunity to work one-on-one with Director of Indigenous Programs and Relationality, Sarah Biscarra Dilley (yak titʸutitʸu yak tiłhini [Northern Chumash]) and Public and Community Programs Coordinator, Robbie Wing (Cherokee Nation) to develop public programming, to make connections and build contacts, and for support or mentorship during their stay.

About the Jury

The Forge Project Fellowship 2025 applications will be reviewed by a juried panel of four distinguished Native cultural practitioners, artists, writers, scholars and former Fellows. The two Fellows from the Stockbridge-Munsee Community will be selected in a parallel process by a separate juried panel of three Native experts in their fields including a former Fellow.

General Fellowship Jury:

Angela Ferguson (Onondaga) - food sovereignty practitioner, educator

Julian Lang (Karuk) - multidisciplinary artist, writer, language and culture teacher

Wanda Nanibush (Anishinaabekwe) - curator, writer, organizer 

Mikayla Patton (Oglala Sioux Lakota) - interdisciplinary visual artist, 2024 Forge Project Fellow 

Stockbridge-Munsee Fellowship Jury:

Donna Hogerhuis (Stockbridge-Munsee) - basketweaver, archivist, and 2024 SMC Fellow 

Zack Khalil (Ojibway) - filmmaker and artist

Marie Watt (Seneca) - interdisciplinary artist

Application & Eligibility

Applicants must be an enrolled member, citizen, or descendant with verification from the enrollment office of a state or federally recognized American Indian tribe or Alaska Native corporation, or of Native Hawaiian ancestry, a Canadian First Nations (status or non-status), Métis or Inuit to apply for the 2025 Forge Project Fellowship. At least two Fellows will come from the Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohican Indians. For full details, selection criteria, key dates and the link to apply, visit forgeproject.com/fellowship

For full details, selection criteria, key dates and the link to apply, visit forgeproject.com/fellowship. Please email fellow@forgeproject.com with any questions.  

• Stockbridge-Munsee Community Fellowship Informational webinar, Wednesday, December 4 from 6-7:30 PM EST
• General Fellowship Informational Webinar, Wednesday, December 11 from 6 - 7:30 PM EST -
• Applications are due Saturday, February 15, 2025 by 11:59 PM EST
• The 6 individuals will be announced in Spring 2025

Electronic Submissions 

• Forge Project uses Submittable to collect applications. This web-based tool helps Forge Project make grant processes more streamlined and transparent.
• To submit an application, you will need to create a Submittable account. All you need is an email and password to create your account, it's that simple. For further instructions, visit the following help center article How to submit.
• Supported internet browsers include: Google Chrome, Apple Safari, & Mozilla Firefox.
• If you have any technical issues, please contact Submittable through the following link: Submittable technical support