Fellowship

There is no cost to apply.

No. The Fellowship program is meant to support visual and performing artists, writers, filmmakers, fashion designers, musicians, graphic designers, architects, and other creative individuals.

We are looking for a diverse group of early- to mid-career artists who are invested in community engagement. To be eligible for the 2027 fellowship program, you must meet the following requirements: 

• Be at least 21 years of age.
• Be a U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident.
• Not be enrolled in a degree program during the fellowship.
• Live in the Omaha–Council Bluffs metro area.
• Be able to commit to the full 10-month program.
• Identify as an early career artist (2-10 years of active, self-directed professional practice, with a growing local footprint)

The selection process is a multi-stage review designed to be thorough and equitable. Initially, a select group of Union staff will review all applications anonymously to identify a pool of top candidates. From there, an internal committee will conduct a more in-depth review to narrow the field. The final round of candidates will then be invited to interview with key staff, who will make the final selection. Applicants will be notified of decisions by mid-December, 2026.

No, our program is designed for individual artists only.

Unfortunately, alumni are not eligible to reapply for the fellowship program. This policy is in place to ensure that new artists are given an opportunity to participate.

However, we do offer exclusive opportunities and resources for our alumni, so we encourage you to stay engaged with The Union.

Fellows must participate in all aspects of the program. Please do not apply for the Fellowship program if you are only seeking access to studio space. You may purchase a pass at www.u-ca.org/coopstudios.

Yes. A limited number of feedback sessions are available. Follow the link to register.

Each studio is approximately 400 square feet. The studios are wheelchair-accessible, with doors measuring about three feet wide. Every studio has at least two windows to allow in natural light.

Fellows must provide their own housing. Fellows may not sleep or reside in the building; the studios are for work only.

Yes, the building has Wifi throughout.

Using the provided studio space is a core component of the fellowship, and we expect it to be a significant part of your artistic practice during the program. Please only apply if you plan to use the studio for a minimum of 20 hours per month. We want to ensure that this valuable resource is utilized by fellows who will benefit from it the most.

Yes. There can be no toxic materials and no open flame in the studios.

We designed one studio to accommodate an artist working primarily in music or sound. However, The Union is housed in a 100-year-old building and there is only so much we can do about sound bleed. Musicians and sound artists are asked to be considerate of staff during regular business hours and when other Fellows are working.

Fellows have access to their individual studios 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Access to The Co-Op Studios is limited to regular Co-Op hours; check the website for the current schedule.

In addition to the monthly workshops, Fellows are expected to attend critique sessions, gatherings, one-on-one sessions, and at least two Union events.

The purpose of experiential learning is to deepen an artist's understanding and engagement with contemporary issues. It achieves this by moving beyond theory and providing hands-on opportunities to interact directly with the systems and communities an artist wants to address in their work.

This approach allows artists to:

• Build authentic relationships with community members, which helps them make informed decisions when portraying or working with those groups.
• Gain firsthand knowledge of social issues, ensuring their final projects are thoughtful, accurate, and respectful.
• Contribute their skills through direct service, collaboration, or support for a cause they are passionate about.

In essence, experiential learning transforms abstract concepts into tangible experiences, resulting in work that is more authentic, informed, and impactful.

A core requirement of the fellowship is completing 50 hours of experiential learning. Fellows are required to dedicate 30 of these hours to working with a community partner and the remaining 20 hours to Union programming. Reflection on these experiences is integrated throughout the program curriculum, including in workshop discussions and the final project.

The final project is an opportunity for each fellow to present new work at the end of the program. This project can be created in response to your experiential learning, in collaboration with a community partner, or as a culmination of the work you've focused on during the fellowship. You will have the chance to present your project during the Fellows Group Exhibition.

Yes. The group exhibition is designed to highlight the unique fellowship experiences of all participants. However, you do not need to present your work in a traditional gallery format. We challenge fellows to share aspects of their work in creative ways. This could include: video or audio recordings, live performances or demonstrations, workshops, installations, or another format that best suits your work.