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James Weldon Johnson Fellowship in the Arts

JWJI and Emory College are pleased to partner with the James Weldon Johnson Literary Estate to offer one Emory faculty member a James Weldon Johnson Fellowship in the Arts, a 1-2 week artist's residency in Great Barrington, Massachusetts in Summer 2025.

Fellows are invited to be in residence for either 1-2 weeks, starting on either June 21 or July 5.

Located on the bucolic 220-acre Simon’s Rock Campus of Bard College in Great Barrington, the Fellows are offered studio space in the Daniel Arts Center, one of the premier facilities in the Berkshire Mountains in Massachusetts. 

The residency program seeks to support established, mid-career and emerging visual artists, writers, scholars and others whose work exemplifies the values that James Weldon Johnson dedicated his life to: social equity, creative expression, erudition, social justice and community. Ideally, the Fellows will find creative inspiration in each other, in the Simon’s Rock community and in the surrounding natural world. Throughout the residency, artists will be brought together with dynamic scholars, artists and students for lively discussions. 

Since 2017, twenty-seven artists have been awarded The James Weldon Johnson Fellowship in the Arts, a residency that includes housing and financial support. Artists reside on campus and have access to James Weldon Johnson’s summer retreat, Five Acres. A short distance from the artists' living quarters, this sacred space includes Johnson’s home and writing cabin where he wrote some of his most famous works, including God’s Trombones, and his autobiography, Along This Way.

Fellows chosen for the artist's residency will live on the campus of Bard College at Simon's Rock. They are also expected to give a talk and make a public exhibition of their work in progress. 

Fellows live in a community called The Mods, which are apartment-style residences on the Simon’s Rock campus. Each of the Mods has two single rooms, one double room, and a common lounge space and kitchen. Fellows may use kitchens to prepare their own meals. Residents will also have access to the Kilpatrick Athletic Center, a premier facility offering a stunning indoor pool, yoga and aerobic classes, tennis, squash, racquetball and basketball courts, an indoor track, a weight room and other activities to support physical well-being.

The fellowship includes a $2000 stipend, in addition to the free housing.

Emory may nominate one faculty member for consideration for the residency.  A faculty committee will select the nominee and forward the application to the James Weldon Johnson Estate for further consideration. The Johnson Estate has final say on the selection of fellows.

To apply, please submit the following information:

  • a copy of your CV
  • a residency note, or a one-page proposal of the creative project that you will undertake in Great Barrington
    • This note should concisely outline your ideas for a fellowship project, including the rationale and, especially, the types of “art and literature” content it might involve. The one-pager should clearly state the necessity of the planned work, its goals, potential impact, and the fitness of the artist to create and/or complete the proposed work.
  • a one-page biography (no more than three paragraphs) that includes links to your website and/or social media. 

 Applications are due Tuesday, April 15, 2025. Apply Here