Are you an artist or arts worker looking for a transformative opportunity to fund your work, grow your practice, and immerse yourself in a dynamic community? The Tulsa Artist Fellowship (TAF)—one of the most robust arts fellowships in the U.S.—has officially announced its application period for the 2026–2028 award cycle!
Backed by the George Kaiser Family Foundation, this competitive, fully funded program supports artists who are passionate about creating social change and investing in community-driven arts. Whether you’re a visual artist, performer, writer, or multimedia creator, this could be your career-defining moment.
Funding Benefits – What Does the Tulsa Fellowship Offer?
Here’s a breakdown of what selected fellows receive during the three-year award term:
- $150,000 Award Stipend (for living costs, art-making, and project work)
- $36,000 Housing Stipend spread across three years
- $1,500 Studio Move-In Stipend
- Fully Subsidized Independent Studio Space with shared access to high-end facilities (ceramics, wood, metal, media, podcast studio, and more) valued at ~$36,000
- $3,600 Studio Assistant Stipend
- $3,600 Health & Wellness Stipend
- Childcare Reimbursements during Fellowship activities
- Free YMCA Memberships
- Community Events – including cohort meals, open studios, and performances
- Creative Autonomy – develop a project meaningful to both your practice and the Tulsa community
Who Is Eligible?
To qualify for this life-changing opportunity, you must:
- Be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, Tribal ID holder, or O-1 visa holder
- Be at least 25 years old by the application deadline
- Have a minimum of five years of experience working in the arts
- Be willing to reside and work in Tulsa, Oklahoma, for the full 3-year term (with limited travel exceptions allowed)
- Propose a community-engaged art project that is innovative, achievable, and will enrich Tulsa’s cultural identity
- Be working in any medium or discipline—visual arts, performance, literature, new media, etc.
Note: Former Tulsa Artist Fellowship recipients and employees of GKFF, TCF, or GKFF Operating LLC are not eligible.
Apply: https://www.tulsaartistfellowship.org/award.
Application Timeline – Mark Your Calendar!
The Tulsa Artist Fellowship 2026–2028 award cycle will begin accepting applications on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, and the application portal will remain open until Thursday, May 29, 2025. All applicants will be notified of their application status by September 2026.
Selected finalists will be invited to participate in virtual interviews during the Fall/Winter of 2026. The official start of the fellowship term is scheduled for January 2026, with the program concluding in December 2028.
