2026-2027 Photo Urbanism Fellowship

We believe that photography is vital to understanding our shared environment and is a powerful tool for illuminating the city’s complex public realm. The Photo Urbanism Program, founded in 2001, supports the creation of new work that explores New York City’s public spaces.

About the role

The 2026-2027 Photo Urbanism Fellow will create a self-driven photography project documenting the power of joy, creativity, and community in New York City's parks, plazas, open streets, and other public spaces. The Fellow will capture how artists, community members, educators, cultural organizations, and local businesses transform shared spaces into places of belonging, celebration, learning, and connection, particularly in historically marginalized neighborhoods.

This fellowship is grounded in the belief that NYC public spaces are sociocultural commons where people gather, practice rituals, build relationships, and imagine new futures. The Fellow will create visual stories that illuminate both everyday moments of joy and collective efforts that make public spaces more welcoming, accessible, and equitable. The work will support advocacy for more equitable public space policies across New York City.

Responsibilities

• Dedicate 5% of the fellowship to administrative tasks such as attending meetings, invoicing, and tracking expenses
• Dedicate 10% of the fellowship to mentorship of young photographers
• Dedicate 85% of the fellowship to developing project work, including photographing, editing images, developing programming, and exhibition planning
• Create one comprehensive project proposal
• Produce a final solo exhibition, including a written description of the work/project and a minimum of 5 final images (digital and print; size to be determined)
• Serve as a Visiting Critic during the Youth Photography Workshop Intensive for 6 CUNY Macaulay Honors College undergraduate students
• Develop and participate in at least one program related to the project work, such as a talk or panel regarding the photography series

Requirements

• Must be based in New York City and available to participate in meetings with the Design Trust, CUNY Macaulay Honors College, and the Youth Photography Workshop Intensive Teaching Fellow
• Must commit to a 9-month fellowship, based on a mutually agreed-upon work plan
• Applicants must be at least 21 years of age and eligible to work legally in the United States
• Full-time students are not eligible; part-time students may apply
• 5-7 years of photography experience preferred
• Demonstrated interest in teaching youth/undergraduate students or leading youth engagement is preferred

Benefits

• $10,000 stipend
• Solo exhibition

Application details

All application materials must be submitted to fellowship@designtrust.org by 11:59 pm on Wednesday, September 2, 2026.

• Work samples: A portfolio of three (3) JPG images showing representative work made within the last three years. Applicants are encouraged to include images demonstrating their approach to the urban environment.
• Written materials: Save the following as one PDF named "lastname_firstname.pdf":
  • Project proposal and brief description explaining your approach to capturing the essence and stories of shared spaces and programming in response to Untaped. Address: (a) why you are interested in this topic; (b) what you propose to do; (c) how this topic relates to your work; (d) your experience working with youth/college students or teaching photography. Maximum 300 words.
  • Artist statement describing your approach to photography and the type of camera(s) you use. Maximum 150 words.
  • Artist resume including education, exhibition history, mailing address, and email contact. Maximum one page.
  • Image list with corresponding image number, title, date, and location.
• References: At least two references with a valid email address and/or phone number. References should know the applicant personally, be familiar with their work, and be able to address the applicant's professional capacity to carry out a self-directed project.

Key dates

• Deadline to apply: Wednesday, September 2, 2026 (before midnight)
• Winner announcement: Monday, September 28, 2026
• Fellowship begins: Thursday, October 1, 2026
• Youth Photography Workshop Intensive: April 21–April 29, 2027
• Final Exhibition: June 2027
• Fellowship ends: Wednesday, June 30, 2027

The 2026-2027 Photo Urbanism Fellowship is supported, in part, by public funds from the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council and the New York State Council on the Arts.