The Eliza Moore Fellowship for Artistic Excellence is awarded annually to one outstanding, early-career artist who is developing new works that address plants, gardens, or landscapes in the broad sense.  This award is open to visual artists, literary artists, dancers, and musicians. The award includes a $10,000 individual grant and requires a 2 – 5 week stay at Oak Spring Garden Foundation. While at OSGF, the Fellow will be able to meet with staff, explore the 700-acre landscape and efforts in sustainable land management, and visit a rare book library that holds over 19,000 objects, including many examples of botanical art.

OSGF intends to award the Fellowship to an exceptional artist whose works show remarkable promise to contribute to a deeper understanding of the natural world, and humankind’s place in it.  The Fellow will be scheduled to visit when there are other Interdisciplinary Residents or Fellows on-site. This scheduling will allow the Fellow to join in communal meals, and optional activities and field trips with other artists, ecologists, researchers, or scholars working on projects related to OSGF’s mission. Beyond time devoted to their projects, a Fellow’s typical day at Oak Spring might include a walk to enjoy the landscape or birds; an appointment to visit the Oak Spring Library; and/or a morning spent volunteering at the BCCF or in the formal garden.  These optional activities provide Fellows time to learn from, and interact with OSGF staff.  None of these activities are required. Fellows are enabled and supported to use their time as they best see fit.

At the culmination of their stay, it is encouraged, but not required, Fellows to give a 20 – 30 minute presentation with time for questions, to Oak Spring staff and any other Fellows, Residents, or program participants who might be on site.

Application Process

The application portal will open on February 14, 2026 and close on May 31st, 2026. Please note that there is one application for all of OSGF’s 2027 Residency and Fellowship programs, and you will be prompted to select which programs you would like to be considered for. You will be asked to submit:

1. A resume/curriculum vitae (not to exceed two pages);

2. 200 – 300-word statement describing your current body of work, creative projects, scholarship, or research.

3. 200 – 300-word statement explaining why Oak Spring Garden Foundation and why now. Please consider how your work aligns with OSGF’s mission.

4. 200-word or less statement describing a time when you were part of a community. What role did you serve in the community, and what aspects of being in community did you enjoy the most?

5. Work samples.