Program sustains one of the nation’s largest, no-strings-attached awards amid shrinking arts funding

Applications are now open for the 2026 Kresge Artist Fellowships, inviting metro Detroit artists to apply for one of the region’s most significant no-strings-attached awards. This year, 10 artists working in Live Arts and Film & Music will each receive a $50,000 fellowship affirming Kresge’s long-standing commitment to sustaining artists amid a shifting national landscape.

Eligible artists residing in Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties may apply online through Jan. 15, 2026. There are no exceptions to this deadline. Applicants are encouraged to review the latest application guidelines before applying.

The fellowships are funded by The Kresge Foundation and administered by Kresge Arts in Detroit, an office of the College for Creative Studies. In 2026, Kresge Arts in Detroit will award 10 fellowships and 10 Gilda Awards in the Live Arts and Film & Music categories. The fellowships and Gilda Awards will be divided between the two categories based on the relative number of applications received in each category. Disciplines for each category include:

• LIVE ARTS: Choreography, Comedy, Dance, Performance Art, Playwriting, Storytelling, Theatre Directing and Interdisciplinary Work
• FILM & MUSIC: Animation, Film Directing, Music Composition, Music Performance, Screenwriting, Sound Art and Interdisciplinary Work

A total of 20 awards (10 fellowships and 10 Gilda Awards) will go to artists of all career stages. Kresge Artist Fellowships are $50,000, no-strings-attached, awards which include artist support opportunities and a short film highlighting the artist’s work.

Artists applying for a fellowship can also choose to be considered for one of the 10 available Gilda Awards, which are $5,000 unrestricted prizes for emerging artists living and working in the tri-county area. The awards honor the legacy of Gilda Snowden (1954–2014), who was one of the 18 inaugural artists to receive a Kresge Artist Fellowship in 2009 and who taught painting at the College for Creative Studies for more than 30 years. The online application allows artists to opt to be considered for a Gilda Award if they do not receive a fellowship.

Key dates

• Dec. 1, 2025: Online application opens
• Jan. 15, 2026, by 11:59 PM: Application deadline. There are no exceptions to this deadline.

The 2026 Kresge Artist Fellows and Gilda Award recipients will be selected by an independent panel of distinguished local and national artists and arts professionals. Previous applicants are strongly encouraged to reapply, as new panels, with fresh perspectives, are convened each year.

“My fellowship year has been one of the most incredible experiences of my life … I’ve made so many connections, friendships, progress towards finishing my documentary, but most importantly, I found more purpose as a filmmaker and found more worth as an artist because of the Kresge Artist Fellowship,” shared 2018 Kresge Artist Fellow Ben Corona.

Application information sessions

Kresge Arts in Detroit staff will hold an online application info session and walkthrough in December, followed by a second online Q&A session in January. While not required, applicants are encouraged to attend these sessions, which are designed to support artists in creating compelling applications for a Kresge Artist Fellowship. Artists can register to attend using the links below.

Application Info Session (virtual)
Dec. 10, 2025: 5:30–6:30 p.m. EST

Application Q&A Session (virtual)
Jan. 8, 2026: 5:30–6:30 p.m. EST

Visit kresgeartsindetroit.org for the complete guidelines, FAQs, and additional resources. Please direct questions about application requirements to Kresge Arts in Detroit at [email protected] or by phone at (313) 744-3204.