Visual Arts Fellowships 2025–26

The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Fellowship Program is a vital source of funding for the visual arts and art history in Virginia. VMFA is committed to supporting professional artists as well as art and art history students who demonstrate exceptional creative ability in their chosen discipline and, as such, has awarded nearly $6 million in Fellowships to Virginians.

The Fellowship Program was established in 1940 through a generous contribution made by the late John Lee Pratt of Fredericksburg. 2024 marks the 84th anniversary! Offered through VMFA Statewide, Fellowships are still largely funded through the Pratt endowment, supplemented by the J. Warwick McClintic Jr. Scholarship Fund.


2025–26 Fellowship Application – Opens June 1, 2024

Click here to apply!

Deadline: November 1, 2024 at 5 PM

There is no application fee!

Please be sure to start the application process early and contact the Fellowship Office before Friday, November 1 if you need any assistance completing the online application.

Please allow the appropriate amount of time—based on your upload speed—to upload all samples of your work well before the 5 pm deadline.

Paper applications, incomplete applications, and applications not received by the deadline will not be considered.

A complete application includes:

  1. Applicant’s basic Information (name, contact info, etc.)
  2. Resume/CV
  3. Unofficial Transcript (Graduate or Undergraduate Fellowship applicants only)
  4. Work Samples (images/videos/research papers)
  5. Work Sample Details (title, date, medium, dimensions, etc. of each submitted work)
  6. Artist Statement (200 words maximum)

Categories

  • The 2025-26 Fellowship period runs from May 2025–May 2026.
  • When selecting the category to which you wish to apply, please remember to base your decision on what your student status will be during the Fellowship period, rather than your status at the time you submit your application.
  • Art History is only included as a discipline in the Graduate category.

Professional Individual | $8,000

An artist can apply as a professional as long as they will not be enrolled in a degree-seeking program during the Fellowship period of May 2025–May 2026. This includes Undergraduate and Graduate students graduating May 2025 who do not plan to enroll in a degree-seeking program within the following year.


Professional Collaborative| $8,000

Professional artists who can clearly demonstrate a history of ongoing collaboration may apply together for one fellowship. Collaborating winners will receive one $8,000 fellowship to divide among themselves.


Graduate (Individual only) | $6,000

Graduate applicants must be enrolled full-time in a degree-seeking program for the entire academic year of Aug 2025–May 2026 at an accredited college, university, or school of the arts. 1st year and 2nd year graduate students that meet the qualification are allowed to apply. If you plan to graduate May 2025, and do not plan to enroll in a degree-seeking program within the following year, apply for a Professional Fellowship.


Undergraduate (Individual only) | $4,000

Undergraduate applicants must be enrolled full-time in a degree-seeking program for the entire academic year of Aug 2025–May 2026 at an accredited college, university, or school of the arts. High school seniors, graduating in June 2025 and planning to be enrolled in a full-time degree-seeking program the entire academic year of Aug 2025–May 2026, are eligible to apply for an Undergraduate Fellowship.


Half-year Student | $3,000 (Graduate)| $2,000 (Undergraduate)

Full-time students in their final year of a degree program who plan to graduate in December 2025 will automatically be considered for a half-year fall semester Fellowship (worth $3,000 for graduate students and $2,000 for undergraduate students).



Help?

Frequently Asked Questions

Fellowship Office
April Heitchue | Fellowship Coordinator
804.204.2685
vmfafellowships@vmfa.museum


Learn More