Keeping It Simple

We want to keep things straightforward. As a fellow, you’ll be asked to:

• Create: You’ll develop one original, narrative-based piece that responds to a pressing social issue in collaboration with a partner organization working toward systemic change. This fellowship doesn’t support projects-in-progress; instead, you’ll create something completely new, addressing a specific issue identified by the partner, ensuring your work is both timely and impactful. You’ll receive advisory, marketing, legal, policy, and production support to ensure your work reflects your creative vision while also driving meaningful real-world impact. The Artivism Fellow will fully integrate BAC’s Theater of Change methodology into their work.

• Collaborate: You’ll work closely with peers, mentors, policy advisors, and our partner organization to refine your work, receiving guidance on artistic, legal, and advocacy-related aspects to enhance the impact of your project.

• Present: You’ll showcase your work during two key events produced by BAC: a Work in Progress presentation in May and the Night of Artivism in September.

The result? You’ll create an impactful piece of artivism, crafted in collaboration with a partner, ready to share with the public and positioned to inspire real change.

You in?

Important Dates for Applicants

Please take note of these dates for the application period:

• December 2, 2024: Applications open

• December 18, 2024: Virtual Info Session (View recording here)

• January 1, 2025: Applications due

• January 1 - 5, 2025: Applications reviewed by committee

• January 5, 2025: Applicants Notified of their status

• January 9 - 12, 2025: Top 5 Group Interview x Activity (virtual)

• January 16, 2025: Fellows are selected and all applicants are notified of their application status

Fellowship Slot

One narrative-based artivist will receive advisory, marketing, legal/policy, and production support to develop an original new piece as a BAC Artivism Fellow over a 7-month period. Open to artists committed to utilizing their artistic skills for social justice and systemic change, ideal candidates will:

• Be a playwright, songwriter, or other creative practitioner with a passion for merging art and activism.

• Demonstrate a clear commitment to social justice and anti-racist work through their artistic practice.

• Have experience working with or for marginalized communities and addressing systemic inequities.

• Be willing and able to fully integrate BAC’s Theater of Change methodology into their work.

• Be an alumni of BAC’s Theater of Change workshop.

• Be available for in-person cohort meetings and live in one of NYC’s five boroughs.

• Be 21 years of age or older.

BAC’s Artivism Fellowship Details

One (1) narrative-based artivist will receive advisory, marketing, legal/policy, and production support to develop one original new piece as a BAC Artivism Fellow over a 7-month period.

Please Note: BAC will not support projects-in-progress. This is an issue-responsive fellowship.

Presentation Schedule:

• Work in Progress - May 12  2025 at MCC Theater  (rehearsals & work in progress)

• Night of Artivism - September 2025: (rehearsals & final showing), Space to be confirmed 

Courses + Residencies:

• Participation in BAC’s Theater of Change course at Columbia Law School: January 31 - Feb 2, 2025 and  Feb 9 - 10, 2025

• Writing Residency: April 2025 (3 - 5 days) // June 2025 (5 days)

• Beyond the Bars Conference: March 6 - 9, 2025

Cohort Sessions:

• Fridays (in-person & virtual) biweekly beginning February 21, 2025

Content Shoot Day: Scheduled once the Fellowship Begins 

• The content day is designed to produce high-quality digital assets that reflect the fellow’s projects and artistic expressions, which may later be used for promotional or storytelling purposes within the fellowship program. The goal of the shoot is to visually align with the themes of artivism and storytelling, connecting the fellow’s individual narratives with broader social change efforts.

Advisory Outings: Throughout the Fellowship 

• You’ll spend intentional, one-on-one time with Alumni. Whether it’s a feedback dinner, attending a show together, or even participating in your writing residency, this is your chance to connect deeply with an artivist advisor.

Artistic + Production Support:

Selected Artivists Will Be Able To Utilize And Engage In The Following Aspects Throughout Their 7-Month Residency. BAC will cover artistic and production costs as outlined below:

• $10,000 fellow stipend and workshop presentation production budget as created, approved and managed by the Program Director.

• A Production Stage Manager for Night of Artivism and Work in Progress.

• Assistance with research and conceptualization, coordination of readings, facilitation of presentations, organization of workshops, management of rehearsals, and oversight of productions, both in terms of production and administration.

• Low-tech/no-tech shared Work in Progress among the cohort with invited audiences and BAC staff (no public BAC marketing) in May 2025.

• A Night of Artivism (workshop presentation) in September 2025 with BAC production and marketing support.

Networking + Connections:

Fellows will establish vibrant connections within a peer support and mentorship network, engaging in collaborative discussions on topics such as community engagement in artivism, advocacy strategies, crafting engagement strategies to maximize project impact, and meaningful interactions with impacted communities.

Application Due Date:

Applications must be submitted no later than January 1, 2025, at 11:59 pm ET. BAC staff will be available to answer questions throughout the application period via indigo@bwayadvocacycoalition.org until 4:00 pm ET on December 20, 2024.

Info Session:

BAC staff hosted an online information session on December 18th, 2024 for prospective Artivism Fellowship applicants. Click below to view the info session recording. For any questions about the application or the fellowship, please contact indigo@bwayadvocacycoalition.org.