For emerging contemporary artists
working in the field of visual art
What We Offer
The Greene Fellowship provides a $50,000 stipend, disbursed in quarterly payments of $12,500. Fellows receive one-on-one mentoring throughout the year, with a focus on developing entrepreneurial skills, enhancing professional development, and drafting a model of sustainability that will support their artistic growth long-term.
The year ends in a culminating exhibition where artists showcase their work, fostering cultural discourse and increasing engagement with contemporary art in their community.
In 2026, The Greene Fellowship will be awarded to one artist in Colorado and one artist in Western North Carolina.
Application Process
Application: Closed (opening December, 2025
on CaFÉ)
Amount Awarded: $50,000
Number of Awards: 2
Eligible Disciplines: Visual Art
Eligible Locations: Colorado & Western North Carolina
Award Schedule: Artists will receive fellowship disbursements of $12,500, four times within a 12-month period, with the first being upon fellowship award notification.
Eligibility Requirements
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Applicants must be living and working in Colorado or Western North Carolina
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Applicants must NOT be enrolled in any degree-making program
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Applicants must be 21 years of age or older
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Applicants must be eager and willing to attend 4-5 hours a month of entrepreneurial training and one-on-one mentoring
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Applicants must be working in the field of contemporary visual art
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Applicants must be vocational artists (as opposed to avocational, academic, amateur, or educational)
Selection Criteria
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Does the artist have a unique vision and style?
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Does the artist demonstrate a strong commitment to their creative practice?
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Has the artist achieved mastery in their medium and an ability to convey their vision?
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Can the artist communicate the arts’ value in a compelling way?
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Can the fellowship help the artist grow artistically and professionally?
How do we define ‘Emerging’?
We define an emerging artist as someone who is in the early stages of their professional art career, regardless of age or education. These artists typically have a small history of exhibitions and art sales, but have not yet received significant national recognition or awards.
Professional Development Program
How it Works
We equip artists with the foundational skills and knowledge they need to achieve sustainability in their careers. We outline a plan for development that addresses critical gaps in their business plan and connects them with experts who can guide them through the more challenging aspects of running an art business.
Our curriculum is based on a bespoke approach that differs for each artist depending on their previous knowledge and experience, and their plans for the future. At the start of each fellowship year, we survey individual artists, getting to know their strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement. Based on these surveys, we develop a plan for the year, which includes workshops with industry experts and board members, and one-on-one mentorship with our President and Co-Founder, Alexander Blume.
Areas of Support
We support artists financially with a $50,000 stipend, which is unrestricted and allocated however the artist sees fit.
We support artists professionally by giving them access to business and arts leaders, who can guide them in best practices and professional development.
We support artists socially by providing them with a community of support and facilitating connections with board members, donors, and alumni.
We support artists by showcasing their work at the end of the year in a culminating exhibition. The exhibition gives them greater visibility in their larger communities and connects their work with the larger conversation of contemporary art in the United States.
“This opportunity is so unique in its support for an artist’s practice. It was refreshing to feel I was appreciated for what I was already doing in my studio, to feel like it was enough to embark on the perilous journey of making important art.”
-Max Maddox