To Apply

StatusClosedThird Wave Fund’s Artist-in-Residence Program AboutThe Artist-in-Residence program at Third Wave Fund is an annual, paid, and virtual residency supporting an emerging visual artist in strengthening their practice of creating art for social change. The artist will support Third Wave Fund’s visibility and engagement as a by-and-for community funder, amplifying our vision of gender justice and liberation, and mobilizing our network of activist donors. In 2026, the artist will collaborate with Third Wave Fund on two digital illustrations and one short-form, animated reel to bolster our storytelling and fundraising efforts.Key DatesApplication OpensApril 21, 2026Application ClosesMay 13, 2026Decision & NotificationsEarly June 2026OrientationJuly 14, 2026First Project MeetingJuly 21, 2026Second Project MeetingSeptember 16, 2026Mentoring SessionOctober 14, 2026Third/Final Project MeetingNovember 4, 2026Debrief/Closing SessionDecember 10, 2026Why an artist residency at Third Wave Fund?We believe art is one of the most accessible tools our movements have to move people from emotion to action. As a by-and-for community funder, we push traditional philanthropy to follow our lead with responsive and flexible funding where it's most effective: at the grassroots. We also organize individual donors of all class backgrounds—because to build the just, free, and fabulous world we all deserve, we know it’s going to take all of us. For this approach, it is integral to cultivate deep-rooted and collaborative relationships with values-aligned visual artists to ensure that our calls to action are clear, far-reaching, and irresistible!Program Structure & AccessibilityThe artist will receive a $10,000 stipend for a five-month residency that will run from July 13, 2026 through December 10, 2026. Third Wave Fund is a remote organization with staff located across the U.S. working from home. With this reality, we cannot offer dedicated studio space at this time. Meetings between TWF and the artist will take place virtually on Zoom. TWF will primarily engage in communication about art drafts with the artist through email. TWF has proudly operated on a 4-day work week since 2015, so all virtual meetings and email correspondences will only take place between Mondays and Thursdays.Program EligibilityTo be eligible for consideration, the artist must: Be at least eighteen years old or olderBe able to provide a valid SSN or EINBe currently residing in the U.S. or U.S. TerritoriesBe an emerging* visual artist with an active practiceNot be enrolled as a student in any degree-granting art programHave skills in digital illustration and light animation (see ‘FAQ’ for more information)Participate in the entirety of the residency, including attending several virtual meetings (see ‘Key Dates’ for more information)*An emerging artist is someone who is in the early stages of their art career, often with more than a few years of experience but no more than 10 years. We do not consider age (with the exception of 18+) as a factor in the stage of your art career. Program BenefitsArtist will receive a monetary stipend of $10,000 for their time and labor, as well as: Mentorship and guidance from long-time movement artists Feedback sessions Experience and portfolio buildingOpportunities to be spotlit and collaborative on posts of your artwork across TWF’s social media platformsTo ApplyThe application is now closed. Please check back in early 2027 for the next opportunity.Please note: We are unable to accept late submissions. Only completed applications will be considered. One artist will be selected. All notifications will go out by email in the first week of June. ‍Have questions or need support with the form? For questions that are not answered on this page or in the FAQ below, please email us at comms[at]thirdwavefund[dot]org. Please keep in mind that while we strive to respond as soon as possible, our response time could be at least three business days (Monday through Thursday).Past ArtistsChi Nwosu, 2025 — Our Pilot Program!Chi is a Black, nonbinary, queer Nigerian artist. Their art invites viewers to imagine collective liberation, envisioning communities rooted in kindness, compassion, and care. Their practice moves with spirit and the wisdom of feeling, shaped by kinship with the more-than-human world and by our living histories of international resistance.Learn MoreFAQsWhen does the Artist-in-Residence take place? The 2026 Artist-in-Residence at Third Wave Fund will run from July 13, 2026 through December 10, 2026. The residency will run annually for a five-month period with timing subject to change in 2027.What types of artists are eligible to apply? We love all artists! However, for the purpose of this residency, we’re looking to work with visual artists only. The artist chosen should be able to produce high-res digital illustrations and short-form animated reels. Examples of digital illustrations: One, two, and three Examples of animated reels: One and twoHow have you worked with artists in the past? Over the last several years, we’ve collaborated with values-aligned visual artists, many who identify as feminist, queer, trans, gender non-conforming, sex workers, and/or disabled. Together, we collaborated on creating compelling digital illustrations and logos that have strengthened how we communicate our commitment to a fully-resourced, intersectional gender justice movement. We often came to the table with mood boards and messaging ideas. Artists we’ve been honored to collaborate with on individual commissions in past years include Acacia Rodriguez, Chiara Galimberti, CozCon, Cristy C. Road, Frances Mead, Graeson Rosa, Kae Goode, Rebeca Soto, Rommy Torrico, and Sol J Brager.Will you still work with individual artists outside of the AIR programming?Yes! When opportunities arise for additional illustration or design needs, we keep a running list of artists and designers chosen at our discretion to reach out to for comm