Since 2021, Forge Project’s Fellowship Program has supported a growing network of Indigenous artists, writers, and cultural practitioners across a broad diversity of cultural practices and geographical contexts.

Understanding the diversity of our lifeways and knowledge systems as Native peoples, we hope to support a wide range of practices. Fellows can be writers, language teachers, musicians, scholars, health workers, organizers, activists, researchers, cultural practitioners, educators, artists, and others who represent a diversity of experiences, participatory research and organizing models, and geographic contexts.

In recognition of the peoples on whose homelands Forge Project is situated, two of the six fellowship spots are reserved for Stockbridge-Munsee tribal members, First- and Second-Line descendants.

Each Forge Project Fellow receives an unrestricted cash award of $25,000 USD in recognition of their practice.

Fellows are also invited to stay in residence for up to three weeks* at Forge Project in upstate New York. During their residency, fellows have access to the Forge Project site, including the meadows under remediation, a library, a saltwater pool, and a lending collection of contemporary Native art.

Leading up to and during their stay, fellows are encouraged to work with the Director of Relational Programs, Sarah Biscarra Dilley (yak titʸutitʸu yak tiłhini [Northern Chumash]), and the Public & Relational Programs Coordinator, Monica Sekaquaptewa (Diné & Hopi), to build a supportive framework for their fellowship, whether that be through developing public and/or relational programming; making local connections; or seeking support and mentorship during their stay.

*Please note that a residency is not a requirement of the fellowship, especially if it is not supportive of an applicant's practice, goals, or current commitments!