Ox-Bow Summer Fellowship
12 weeks. A private studio. A community that changes everything.
For more than three decades, Ox-Bow’s Summer Fellowship has given artists time, space, and the opportunity to develop their practices within an artist-built environment.
For 12 weeks, you’ll live and work at Ox-Bow alongside artists, faculty, visiting artists, and staff. You’ll have a private studio, room and board, regular studio visits and critiques, and opportunities to exhibit your work. You’ll also become part of the daily life of the school, contributing your time and skills across campus while learning from the artists and people around you.
Founded by artists in 1910, Ox-Bow has always been shaped by the people who make, teach, study, and work here. The Fellowship carries that tradition forward, bringing together artists from different disciplines, backgrounds, locations, and stages of their practice to share time, knowledge, work, and life together.
2027 Program Dates: June 3 - August 28, 2027
Applications Due: January 3, 2027
Beginning in 2027, the Fellowship is expanding to welcome more artists and more pathways into the Ox-Bow experience. The program will grow to 18 fellows and open eligibility beyond traditional academic enrollment to include artists with equivalent professional experience. New opportunities for peer mentorship, professional practice, exhibition, and campus stewardship will deepen an experience rooted in what Ox-Bow has always offered: time and space for artists to make, learn, experiment, and grow alongside one another.
Who Should Apply: The fellowship is open to senior BFA students, MFA students, postgraduates, and artists with equivalent professional experience. Applications are evaluated on the strength of your practice and your readiness for an intensive studio environment. The fellowship is highly competitive and actively encourages applications from artists at all stages and from all backgrounds.
““There are 50 to 100 artists at any given time, and you have a chance to sit and have a meal with them day after day. You get to meet so many people and have the most interesting conversations. Talking about art and seeing how different artists think [is a] beautiful thing outside of the classroom that you could really only experience in an immersive setting like this.”
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WHAT YOU RECEIVE
Private studio and room on campus
All meals prepared by Ox-Bow's culinary team
A stipend
24-hour studio access
Regular studio visits and critiques with visiting artists
Teaching assistant opportunities
Exhibition opportunities — on-campus at the Betsy Gallery, off-campus at Ox-Bow House
Opportunities to create on-campus programs and engage with art collectors, patrons, and the broader Saugatuck/Douglas community during public events on campus
Mentorship pairing with another fellow (new 2027)
Week-long professional practices intensive (new 2027)
Group exhibition at a partner gallery in Chicago or Detroit the following year (through September through May) (new 2027)
““It was my first time ever actually being exposed to craft and I just kind of stumbled into the glass studio, and now three years later, glass is like a central part of my practice. … Being here is where [it] all started - being inspired and challenged by the environment, it just shaped my practice as a whole.””
WHAT YOU CONTRIBUTE, Fellowship Work Study
The work fellows do on campus is part of Ox-Bow's live-work model and part of what makes the community function. Working in the kitchen, the studios, the grounds, the archive, or across communications and events is how fellows become embedded in the daily life of a historic artist-run organization, gaining firsthand experience in the labor that keeps it thriving. All fellows contribute 20 hours per week alongside Ox-Bow staff, and receive a $300 weekly stipend. Fellows may indicate their area of interest on their application, and assignments are made before arrival.
Fields of Study Descriptions
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This Fellow serves as an essential on-campus host, focusing on providing a warm welcome for artists on arrival days, and hosting weekly faculty artist talks and visiting artist activations. Additional administrative support includes presence at the front desk each week and collecting participant evaluations. This position is well suited for a socially engaged individual who is comfortable with public speaking, enjoys sharing their enthusiasm and knowledge of Ox-Bow, and can adapt easily to the evolving rhythms and interests of a creative community. No prior administrative or arts experience is required—curiosity, warmth, and flexibility are key.
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This Fellow plays a welcoming, public-facing role at Ox-Bow, supporting operations in the on-campus art store, the Tuck Shop. Responsibilities include offering art supplies, pulling espresso, and engaging in friendly conversation with the community—helping make the Tuck Shop a lively hub for connection and creativity. Barista experience is appreciated but not required. Beyond retail support, this Fellow collaborates across departments, working with the Events team to support logistical needs as they arise, and with Campus Office staff via presence at the front desk each week. The fellow will also help welcome the public to campus by selling beverages during our lively Friday Night Open Studio events. This position is well suited for a personable, organized Fellow who enjoys bridging multiple teams and engaging with people in a variety of contexts. It offers valuable insight into the day-to-day operations of an arts non-profit, from earned revenue and fundraising to community-building and donor engagement. No prior non-profit experience is required.
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This Fellow supports the successful day-to-day operation of the Ceramics Studio during their time on campus, with a primary focus on maintaining the physical upkeep and functionality of the space. Responsibilities include reconstituting clay, cleaning and maintaining equipment, and ensuring shared work areas remain safe and well organized. This Fellow will also gain hands-on teaching and technical experience by supporting faculty and participants throughout the learning process in the Krehbiel Ceramics Studio. This role is well suited for someone interested in deepening their technical knowledge of ceramics while contributing to a communal studio environment. Previous experience with ceramics processes is required.
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This Fellow supports the daily operation of Ox-Bow’s kitchen, a central hub of campus life that serves hundreds of guests each summer. Working as part of an energetic kitchen team, this Fellow contributes to the preparation and service of three meals a day, assists with basic food prep and cleaning processes, and helps uphold a culture of care and hospitality for the community. In addition to daily kitchen support, this Fellow serves as a liaison between faculty and the kitchen for food-based classroom programming and special events, often including communal dinners and celebratory meals. Responsibilities may include sourcing ingredients through Ox-Bow’s food delivery systems, local grocers, and farmers markets; assisting with menu planning; and providing basic accounting support for these activations. This role is well suited for someone interested in collaborative, creative food work within an arts environment. No prior professional kitchen experience is required, though enthusiasm for food, teamwork, and hospitality is essential.
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This Fellow plays a vital role as a Hot Shop Assistant during their time on campus, supporting the daily operation of the Burke Glass Studio. Working closely with the Glass Studio Manager and Technicians, this Fellow helps maintain a safe, functional, and well-organized hot shop while supporting classes and studio activities. In this role, this Fellow will gain both technical and teaching experience by assisting faculty and participants during demonstrations, work sessions, and critiques. Responsibilities may include preparing materials, maintaining equipment, hosting evening blow slots, and supporting studio workflows throughout the session. This position is well suited for someone with a strong interest in glass education and collaborative studio environments. Previous experience in glass working processes is required.
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This Fellow supports the care, functionality, and daily operations of Ox-Bow’s 115-acre campus of wooded dunes and lagoon landscapes, an environment that inspires all who study and work here. This Fellow assists with hands-on tasks that maintain and enhance the beauty and usability of the grounds and buildings. Tasks may include raking, trash and recycling removal, basic painting, light repairs, and general upkeep across campus. This position is well suited for someone who enjoys physical, outdoor work, takes pride in maintaining shared spaces, and values contributing to the behind-the-scenes care of a creative community. No previous facilities or maintenance experience is required; a strong work ethic and willingness to learn are essential.
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This Fellow supports Ox-Bow’s ongoing efforts to organize, document, and preserve its rich history as an artists’ school founded in 1910. Working with archival materials, ephemera, and documentation related to Ox-Bow’s programs and historic campus, this Fellow contributes to long-term projects focused on cataloging, digitization, and preservation planning for both collections and the built environment. Support tasks will include assisting with archival research, cataloging materials, supporting documentation of historic structures, helping develop systems for long-term stewardship, and a presence at the front desk each week. Each summer will include one special project that engages Ox-Bow’s history and/or collection, and may include: researching and writing didactics, identifying and acquiring materials for the collection, or collaborating on preservation projects. This role is especially well suited for students interested in historic preservation, arts administration, or art history who are eager to apply their academic training in a real-world context. Fellows are encouraged to propose research projects, organizational frameworks, or creative initiatives during their residency that support Ox-Bow’s long-term archive and preservation goals. Prior experience is helpful but not required; curiosity, care, and strong organizational skills are essential.
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This Fellow plays a vital role in sustaining the welcoming, communal atmosphere that defines life at Ox-Bow. Working alongside the Housekeeping team, this Fellow supports the care and upkeep of campus accommodations, which include historic dorm-style buildings, rustic cabins, and contemporary lodging where faculty, participants, staff, and visiting artists live together throughout the session. Additional support tasks include participating in daily cleaning routines of common spaces including bathrooms, preparing rooms for arrivals and departures, and helping maintain shared spaces to ensure comfort, cleanliness, and hospitality across campus. This role is well suited for someone who takes pride in creating warm, functional environments, enjoys collaborative work, and brings care and attention to detail to everyday tasks. No prior housekeeping experience is required—this Fellow will receive training on site and is encouraged to contribute their own thoughtful, creative touches to the spaces they help maintain.
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This Fellow supports management of on-campus collections of art, books, and other ephemera that Ox-Bow maintains for the use of its community and to tell its story on site. This position is an opportunity to do research on artwork in Ox-Bow’s possession, tell the organization’s history through objects, care for and manage the display and storage of artwork, and continue to build our library and zine archive. The Fellow will be invited to utilize the collections for campus-wide programs that enrich the experience of our community. This role is a good fit for artists whose practices intersect with collection and research, who are interested in art history and interpretation, and have a passion for building and maintaining unique resources for a temporary community. Each year the Fellow will be assigned a specific research project alongside larger regular management tasks that keep these resources vital.
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This Fellow serves as the lead documentarian of Ox-Bow’s summer sessions, capturing the energy, creativity, and daily life of the campus. This Fellow gains professional experience through a range of documentation efforts, from photographing studios, landscapes, and communal gatherings for use across Ox-Bow publications and platforms. Additional support tasks include organizing and delivering visual assets, being an active collaborator in team meetings, and assisting with communications needs as they arise throughout the summer. This Fellow is also encouraged to propose and develop a self-directed creative project that reflects their interests and can be shared with the Ox-Bow community (including video recaps, highlight reels, small publications, story writing, etc.). This role is ideal for a visually driven, observant Fellow who is personable and comfortable engaging directly with community members to create dynamic, authentic documentation, who enjoys working both independently and collaboratively, and who is excited by translating lived experiences into compelling images and narratives. Experience in photography is required; applicants should demonstrate both their artistic practice and documentation/commercial experience (such as event photography, editorial work, or content creation) in their portfolio. Applicants with additional experience in videography, writing, or communications are encouraged to highlight those skills in their application.
“When I came here as a fellow, it was one of the first times I felt like I was really working in a community to care for this place and for each other. That was so inspiring, and I think set the groundwork for the shape of my life.””
Fellowship Cohorts from 2023-2026. Each photo was taking by a Photo & Communications Fellow, Ian Solomon (2023), Dominique Muñoz (2024), Nolan Zunk (2025), and Mak Smith (2026).
““Ox-Bow feels more real than reality, and that’s why it’s magical. My life in Chicago is fast-paced and I feel detached from my mode of living. Ox-Bow has always felt more grounded.”
For questions or more information about the Fellowship program, please reach out to our Programming Team at oxbow@ox-bow.org
