Creative Community Fellows: New England

Creative Community Fellows: New England

Driving transformation through arts and culture can be daunting, difficult, and often lonely. Creative Community Fellows brings together cultural trailblazers throughout New England for an eight month fellowship to be part of something bigger, learning life-changing skills and collaborating to see dreams become reality.

Creative Community Fellows:
New England

Driving transformation through arts and culture can be daunting, difficult, and often lonely. Creative Community Fellows brings together cultural trailblazers throughout New England for an eight month fellowship to be part of something bigger, learning life-changing skills and collaborating to see dreams become reality.

Creative Community Fellows: New England

Arts and culture is a powerful force for driving positive community change. Creatives who answer the call to strengthen their communities deserve tailored support that meets their unique needs. Creative Community Fellows: New England is an eight month fellowship designed to bring 20 cultural trailblazers together from around the region to be part of something bigger, to learn life-changing skills, focus on wellness, and see their dreams for creating positive change in their communities become a reality.

The cohort of fellows will create a regional community of practice, have access to a stipend of up to $10,000, and learn tools to support and scale their work from a teaching and facilitating team comprised of NAS staff, university faculty, artists, and creative leaders from across the globe.

You are…

A creative change-maker in your community. You use the power of arts and culture to drive equitable social or physical transformations in your world, alongside local partners.

You have…

A good start, but want to advance your project to make an even greater impact. So you’ll need the curiosity, an open mind and determination to tackle the challenges ahead.

You’ll gain…

Frameworks for thinking about how to advance your project goals. You’ll create a theory of change for your work and a plan for moving things forward in alignment with your values and in partnership with your community.

You’ll use…

Your new knowledge right away. Together, we’ll test, adapt and build on your work. You’ll walk away with clarity…and a game plan. 90% of Fellows said they shared learnings from the program with their collaborators and organizations.

You’ll join…

A community of supportive peers dedicated to learning from and sharing with each other. It’s a connected cohort that continues to support each other into the future.

You are…

A creative change-maker in your community. You use the power of arts and culture to drive equitable social or physical transformations in your world, alongside local partners.

You have…

A good start, but want to advance your project to make an even greater impact. So you’ll need the curiosity, an open mind and determination to tackle the challenges ahead.

You’ll gain…

Frameworks for thinking about how to advance your project goals. You’ll create a theory of change for your work and a plan for moving things forward in alignment with your values and in partnership with your community.

You’ll use…

Your new knowledge right away. Together, we’ll test, adapt and build on your work. You’ll walk away with clarity…and a game plan. 90% of Fellows said they shared learnings from the program with their collaborators and organizations.

You’ll join…

A community of supportive peers dedicated to learning from and sharing with each other. It’s a connected cohort that continues to support each other into the future.

How to Apply

To apply for the 2024-2025 Creative Community Fellows: New England cohort you must complete our written application and meet the eligibility requirements below:

  • You live and work in: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, or Vermont
  • You are an artist, community organizer, administrator or entrepreneur leading a project that uses arts-based approaches to create positive change in your community
  • Your work involves community partners other organizations or key individuals
  • Your project is in motion or has been tested and is ready to scale
  • You’re curious, open, and collaborative
  • You want to join a community of practice that will hold you accountable
  • You’re ready to contribute your skills and take the time to apply what you learn

The written application provides space to share your project, the challenge it addresses, its goals, how you and your community are involved, and more. You will also introduce yourself, your drives, and what you hope to gain from the program. Applications also have space to submit an optional short, informal video about yourself and your project.

Following the March 31, 2024 application deadline, the NAS admissions team will review all submissions and invite select applicants to a final interview stage conducted through Zoom this spring. All applicants will be notified of their application’s status by June 10, 2024.

This program is about action and we recognize that this work happens in stages. The most competitive applicants will be those who already have a good start:

Project Stage
Project Stage
Virtual Gatherings

Community Support & Connection

Virtual events to cultivate our community and learn from each other.

Creative Community House

Creative Community House

Seven days on a breathtaking farm in Maine. The perfect inspirational setting, ideal for concentration, creativity and collaboration. You’ll learn new skills and have time to apply them on-site.

Launchpad

Launchpad

Three-day retreat to rekindle your cohort connections and meet with key leaders in New England and propel your project forward.

Coaching

Leadership Coaching

Tailored support to help you reach your unique goals and hone your leadership skills. Offered in group sessions with a small number of your peers called Peer Exchange Groups.

Virtual Gatherings

Community Support & Connection

Virtual events to cultivate our community and learn from each other.

Creative Community House

Creative Community House

Seven days on a breathtaking farm in Maine. The perfect inspirational setting, ideal for concentration, creativity and collaboration. You’ll learn new skills and have time to apply them on-site.

Launchpad

Launchpad

Three-day retreat to rekindle your cohort connections and meet with key leaders in New England and propel your project forward.

Coaching

Leadership Coaching

Tailored support to help you reach your unique goals and hone your leadership skills. Offered in group sessions with a small number of your peers called Peer Exchange Groups.

Program Journey

2024-2025 Program Journey
2024-2025 Program Journey

Program Stipend

Each Fellow will have access to a stipend of up to $10,000 to help offset the costs of participating in Creative Community Fellows: New England.

Information Session

There are no more information sessions scheduled for Creative Community Fellows: New England, but we invite you to watch a recording of our most recent session, where we walk though your eight month fellowship, hear from a program alumni, host Q&A, and more!

Creative Community Fellows: New England
Core Curriculum

STRATEGY: Clarify your project’s unique value and position in connection to your community

HUMAN-CENTERED DESIGN: Learn a people-centered, cyclical process for developing and testing new ideas

EQUITABLE LEADERSHIP: Develop a growth mindset and a way of leading that stems from your values

Faculty

Creative Community Fellows: New England’s teaching and facilitating team includes NAS staff, university faculty, artists and creative leaders from across the globe. Meet just some of our amazing faculty from the past years:

Hannah Fox

Hannah Fox
Director
The Bowes Museum

Sidney Hargro

Sidney Hargro
Executive Director
The LeadersTrust

Jamila Medley

Jamila Medley
Organizational Development and Solidarity Economy Educator

Hannah Fox

Hannah Fox
Director
The Bowes Museum

Sidney Hargro

Sidney Hargro
Executive Director
The LeadersTrust

Jamila Medley

Jamila Medley
Organizational Development and Solidarity Economy Educator

See What It’s About

Our Alumni

Since the program’s creation in 2014, nearly 250 fellows have connected, collaborated, and accelerated their valuable work to drive change in communities across the world.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does participation in this fellowship looks like?

What does full participation in this program look like? Fellows must commit to attending both the Creative Community House and Launchpad events in-person. Between May 2024 and January 2025, Fellows commit to attending six group coaching sessions (90 mins each, online), three online gatherings (dates listed in journey map). Optional events include online workshops and online monthly “jamout” peer meet-ups.

Tell me more about the stipend

Each Fellow will have access to a stipend of up to $10,000 to help offset the costs of participating in Creative Community Fellows: New England. A fellow will receive the full $10,000 if they meet the conditions for full program participation listed in the FAQ item above (i.e. attending both the Creative Community House and Launchpad in-person events, attending five group coaching sessions, and the three online gatherings.

Stipends are taxable income and will be issued starting in 2024.

 

Do I have to attend both events in person?

Yes, we require that all participants attend in full (see below on what full attendance looks like). In joining Creative Community Fellows: New England, you are making a commitment to your peers. Past Fellows have told us that when others don’t attend in full, it dilutes the peer-learning exchange and the experience overall. For future years, we are working on an online-only program experience designed for those who cannot attend in-person events.

Is there an online track?

NAS is considering an online-only participation track to future cohorts of Creative Community Fellows: New England, but are not offering one at this time.

Sign up here to receive updates regarding our online-only program:

Tell me more about the Creative Community House

The venue for this event was chosen for its beautiful, tranquil setting in nature for us to learn together. It aligns with our values of accessibility, sustainability, and supporting entrepreneurs. It is an “unplugged” retreat.

Fellows will room with one other fellow from their cohort in beautifully-designed cabins which do not have electricity or wi-fi. There is a shared bathhouse near the cabins which also has electricity and space to charge devices. Reception can be found throughout the campus and wi-fi in the communal spaces. We can make accommodations for any participant with a medical need for electricity in their sleeping room.

Food will be prepared and provided by the venue team. Dietary restrictions can be accommodated when received ahead of time.

Do I have to have roommates at in-person events?

Yes, each fellow will have one roommate for both the Creative Community House and Launchpad events.

What makes a good candidate?

Someone who leads a project that uses arts-based approaches to drive change in their community.

  • Project is already in motion or has been tested on a small scale
  • Candidate connects deeply with community – forms community partnerships
  • Candidate is curious, open, and seeks to both learn and share with peers
  • Candidate centers equity in their work and seeks to deepen their knowledge and practice related to diversity, equity and inclusion
Is this program specifically for younger or emerging leaders?

No. The program is intergenerational and our participants come with a range of experience levels. The important thing is that the project has advanced beyond the idea stage.

What about COVID-19 safety?

NAS is committed to creating a healthy environment for Fellows and for our team. As such, we require that all Fellows and team members provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination and boosters in advance of Creative Community House. Should you have a medical or a sincerely held religious reason for not being vaccinated, please contact us to explore accommodations.

In accordance with CDC and local health department guidelines, we may ask Fellows and team members to mask or test prior to and during our gatherings.

Review our COVID-19 guidelines here.

What accessibility standards does NAS practice?

NAS aims to ensure that every gathering is comfortable, flexible, and safe. We understand that ADA compliance is just the beginning of a full picture of accessibility justice.

Below is a growing list of accessibility standards that we practice at every in-person event:

  • Every facility that we use for programmatic purposes is up to ADA-accessibility standards. In some cases, recreational or outdoor spaces where we host events may not be accessible, but we begin conversations with on-site staff and owners as early as possible to provide a complete picture for attendees. If NAS provides lodging, we ensure that the chosen facility has rooms which meet or exceed ADA-accessibility standards.
  • We strive for a smoke free environment and will assign designated areas for smoking away from the main activity spaces.
  • We provide break time between sessions, ample time to check-in and get settled before event kick-offs, flexibility around speaking and sharing according to what’s comfortable for you, and always aim to provide advance information around schedules and activities.
  • We provide safe, comfortable, and wheelchair-accessible transportation for any off-site events.
  • We provide food, drinks, and snacks that meet the dietary requirements that are shared with us. We aim to ensure that food is served in an accessible manner and that low seating options are available.
  • We provide designated quiet spaces and will provide low-sensory spaces and private spaces for religious accommodation upon request.
  • We will provide CART, open-captioning, simultaneous translation, and other language support upon request.
  • We provide clear, detailed Covid-19 policies in advance.

We will do our best to accommodate any services needed above what’s listed. We are growing our accessibility justice knowledge and practices—we’re always open to feedback and learning new things. You can reach out to us at info@artstrategies.org.

“I have never had time and space to really focus on my ambitious projects, nor had recognition from anyone other than peers that these are useful things to spend time on. It’s nice to have the feedback that yes, while ambitious and challenging, these ideas have merit and are worth pursuing.”

Sita Magnuson

Mass Collaborative | Dpict | The Value Web, Easthampton, MA

Participation in Creative Community Fellows: New England is free through the generous support of

Barr Foundation