Oak Spring Fellowship for Distinction in Fine Crafts and Design 2027
In 2027, Oak Spring will award its inaugural Fine Crafts and Design Fellowship to an early-career craftsperson or designer whose work demonstrates exceptional skill, artistic vision, and meaningful engagement with the natural world. This fellowship celebrates the intersection where form meets function, while honoring the aesthetics, material integrity, and craftsmanship at the heart of fine craft and design. The fellowship is intent- and inspiration-focused, rather than outcome-focused, meaning that we seek artists whose work is consistent with the objectives of the fellowship, without an expectation that they complete a prescribed project while at Oak Spring.
This fellowship is generously supported by Tiffany & Co. in honor of their lasting association with Mrs. Mellon and especially with the jewelry designer Jean Schlumberger.
The fellowship also honors the legacy of our founder Rachel “Bunny” Mellon – an avid gardener, patron, and collector – whose discerning eye and deep appreciation for exquisite design are reflected in her collaborations with artists such as Jean Schlumberger, Hubert de Givenchy, Cristóbal Balenciaga, and Diego Giacometti. Ideal applicants will demonstrate a commitment to material exploration, sustainability, and/or reimagining traditional techniques in innovative ways.
1776 Loughborough Lane
Upperville, VA 20184
United States
Residency Program Information
Residency Program Summary
Application Information
This fellowship is open to early-career* artists and designers working in the fields of fine craft, applied design, or interdisciplinary material practice. They must demonstrate exceptional skill, artistic promise, and a self-directed approach to creative practice. Ideal candidates will be excited by the opportunity to think deeply, experiment conceptually, or develop new ideas in a rural setting with limited maker facilities. They will also value the opportunity to interact with the Oak Spring community, and join a cohort of residents from varying disciplines, including researchers and scientists. International applicants are welcome, but the fellowship is conducted in English and international applicants are responsible for procuring the necessary visas as needed.
*Early career artists and designers will have a demonstrated track record of exhibitions or commissions, but will have not yet received national or international recognition. Indicators we will use to assess eligibility include: educational background, group shows, juried exhibitions, prior residencies, grants or other indicators of esteem. Most important will be the portfolio of prior work samples.
The $10,000 individual grant associated with this award can be put towards travel to and from OSGF, materials and supplies purchased for the residency, and other items that will support their work, before or after their stay at OSGF.
The selected Fellow should make travel arrangements to Dulles International Airport, from where Oak Spring will arrange ground transportation to the former Mellon estate in Upperville, VA. The Fellow will be housed in nicely appointed shared accommodations. The Fellow will have a private bedroom and bathroom, and share a living room and kitchen with 1 – 3 other Residents or Fellows.
Oak Spring does not currently have dedicated maker facilities (e.g., kilns, looms, a woodshop, or metal studio). As such, this fellowship is best suited for artists and designers who are self-sustaining in the materials they will need for their work, who will benefit from time for ideation, research, and incubation, and who can make productive use of:
- A private studio workspace,
- Access to the Oak Spring Library and other special collections,
- Direct connection to our sustainably managed landscape and gardens,
- A community of fellows across artistic and scientific disciplines.
This residency offers uninterrupted time to explore new directions, deepen existing work, or engage with the ecological and horticultural context of Oak Spring.