Several times per year we seek to coordinate solo and small collective creatives who apply into interdisciplinary groups of four to twelve artists to take over our space (for free or with stipends!) to work on projects they lack an opportunity to pursue in their daily practice. 

Open Calls

MidMountain Histories and Harmonies Fellowship  

Growing a more harmonious world today depends on us understanding the history of human oppression and celebrating the joy of liberation.

So in May 2025, MidMountain will focus on using marginalized storytelling about our collective past to create a more resilient future.

We invite you to apply to our fellowship opportunity from May 11-24.

We are offering six emerging creatives two weeks of free lodging and group meals, as well as a $250 award per individual (or $500 award per 2 person+ collectives) to cover their travel and compensate for performances on a related May 17 event. There will also be a cooperative share per performance or workshop for any suggested donations or ticketing from the May 17 event.

Additionally, you will be offered an opportunity to activate our space during programming in the fall. We encourage creatives working across all mediums (including but not limited to writing, music, visual art, sculpture, photography and more) to apply to make work that reflects untold or undertold histories, especially those that focus on outsider perspectives or have connections to our region.

Our collective is also particularly interested in centering members of marginalized communities, and those whose creative practices were recently disrupted by the Helene Climate Disaster as part of this Fellowship cohort. 

As part of this open call, we are also seeking to cast the two lead roles in Save from Oblivion, original MidMountain musical production that highlights the too often unsung story of Osborne Perry Anderson, the sole black survivor of the Harpers Ferry raiding party, as narrated by Mary Ann Shadd Cary—his near lifelong collaborator, as well as a Black female publishing and legal pioneer with ties to Howard University. One performer selected for each role will recieve an additional $500 stipend and be expected to join in 20 hours of rehearsals during May 11-16. See additional details here.

Expectations towards the artist:

Fellows will be required to submit at least one item to MidMountain's annual zine, participate in at least one public event while on site (Festival style event on May 17), join in one hour per day of community labor while on site, and take part in recorded exit interviews about their experience.  General information about our Fellowship process can be found here.

APPLY HERE

Applications Close March 31.

MidMountain’s Imagining Better Appalachian Future and Marginalized Storytelling programming is made possible through support from the Appalachian Community Fund, Mid Atlantic Arts’ Central Appalachian Living Traditions Program, and Virginia Humanities. 

The MidMountain Retreat space is also available for private rental on Airbnb and VRBO for private rentals not associated with creative pursuits or at discounted arts residency rates outside of our Fellowship cycles.