The Media Artist + Activist Residency provides grants of $25,000 to women, trans*, and gender nonconforming media artists working in close collaboration with social justice organizations 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 11:59 PM 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:

• Artists will complete the Media Artist + Activist Residency Application
• Organizations will complete the Collaborating Organization Form (this 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 artist functions primarily as an artist and strategist – not a teacher, an art therapist, or other capacity.
• The residency is not a production grant, but an intentional media residency where artists and social justice  organizations work in collaboration to document, reframe, and/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).
• 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 media artist; and
  • are not applying for the same project. However, you may apply for different phases of that project.

   

You are eligible to apply if your organization is:

• A social justice organization with a 501(c)3 status and/or fiscal sponsor
• Located in Bucks, Camden, Chester, Delaware Montgomery, or Philadelphia County
• Working with an operating budget less than $1.5M 
• Collaborating with a media artist  

You are not eligible to apply if your organization:

• Does not have a collaborating media artist
• Is collaborating with a media artist who is on the staff or board of your organization 
• Has an operating budget greater than $1.5M 
• Has already received a 2024 or 2025 Media Artist + Activist Residency

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

Before applying, artists and organizations should make sure they:

• Have a shared vision with a 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 https://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.