The Media Artist + Activist Residency provides grants of $25,000 to women, trans*, and gender nonconforming media artists working in close collaboration with a social justice organization to document, reframe, and/or amplify the issues and campaigns addressed by the organization. 

The residency aims to reveal and extend the ways that artists and artistic processes can work within social justice organizations to achieve social change. Artists and organizations will apply collaboratively with proposals for a project that embeds the artist in the work of the organization for one year. Five residencies will be awarded, with each residency providing $15,000 to the artist, and $10,000 to the organization.

Before you begin:  Please review the Media Artist + Activist Residency Guidelines.

Application Deadline

• April 13, 2026 (by 11:59pm EST)

Applications must be received by the deadline date.  We do not accept applications sent by mail, email, or fax.

How to Apply / Eligibility  Both the artist and the organization need to complete and submit their respective sections of the application online:

• Media artists complete the Media Artist Application (this form) and upload work samples
• Organizations complete the Collaborating Organization Form
• Co-applicants (if applicable) complete the Co-applicant Form

Eligibility

• Media arts must be central and at the core of the proposed collaboration
• Media artists and organizations can only submit one collaborative application per grant cycle. 
• The media artist functions primarily as an artist and strategist, not as a teacher, an art therapist, or other capacity.
• The is not a production grant, but an intentional media residency where artists and social justice organizations work in collaboration to document, reframe, and/or amplify the work of the organizations.
• The residency cannot be used for work completed prior to the awards announcement (10-12 weeks after the deadline).
• Applicants may apply for the Art and Change Grant and/or Window of Opportunity Grant in the same year. Applicants may not apply for the Transformation Award in the same year.
• If you’ve previously received a Media Artist + Activist Residency, you are welcome to re-apply if: you have not received this residency in 2024 or 2025; are not working with the same organization; and are not applying for the same project. However, you may apply for different phases of that project.         

You are eligible to apply if you:

• Are a media artist
• Live in Bucks, Camden, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, or Philadelphia County
• Are at least 18 years old
• Identify as a woman, trans*, and/or gender nonconforming person
• Are working collaboratively with a social justice organization who has a budget under $1.5M

*Leeway is a trans-affirming organization committed to gender self-determination, and we use the term “trans” in its most inclusive sense, as an umbrella term encompassing transsexual, transgender, genderqueer, Two-Spirit people, and anyone whose gender identity or gender expression is nonconforming and/or different from their gender assigned at birth.

You may not apply if you:

• Do not have a collaborating organization 
• Are on the staff or board of the collaborating organization
• Are a full-time student in an arts degree program
• Have received a 2025 Transformation Award
• Plan to apply for a 2026 Transformation Award
• Have already received a 2024 or 2025 Media Artist + Activist Residency
• Have not turned in all reports due from previous Leeway grants and residencies 

A Note about Collaboration  Collaboration is core to this residency. Media artists and social justice organizations will apply together to work collaboratively in an active, mutually beneficial partnership. Please read the "Collaboration" section of the Guidelines (on page 6).

Before applying, artists and organizations should make sure they:

• Have a shared vision with clearly agreed upon mission, objectives, and strategies
• Hold an understanding and respect for each other and their respective work
• Share stake in both the process and outcome of the project
• Understand how communities, stakeholders, and the general public will be engaged
• Communicate frequently and clearly about expectations, needs, and updates
• Are willing to compromise and be flexible, discussing issues openly and navigating disagreements, if needed

Application Support  Throughout the year, Leeway staff will host several Information and 1-on-1 Applicant Support Sessions. For a list of upcoming sessions and to RSVP, visit luma.com/user/LeewayFound or call 215.545.4078.

Questions/concerns?  Leeway staff are available to support you as you put your application together. If you have language translation or access needs that make our application inaccessible to you, please don't hesitate to contact us at info@leeway.org or by phone at 215.545.4078.