The Design Trust is pleased to announce the launch of the 2026-2027 Photo Urbanism Fellowship and the opening of a call for photographers. The theme of this cycle is connected to our latest project and publication, Untaped, focusing on the dynamic events and programs happening in New York City’s public spaces.The Photo Urbanism fellow will create a new body of work on the theme of open and communal use of public space, present at a solo exhibition, and provide mentorship to our cohort of student photographers. Learn more on how to apply by 9/2/2026 below!
We believe that photography is vital to understanding our shared environment and is a powerful tool for illuminating the city’s complex public realm. The Photo Urbanism Program was founded in 2001 to support the creation of new work that explores New York City’s public spaces.
The 2026-2027 Photo Urbanism Fellow will create a self-driven photography project that documents the power of joy, creativity, and community in New York City's parks, plazas, open streets, and other public spaces. Through photography, the Fellow will capture how artists, community members, educators, cultural organizations, and local businesses transform shared spaces into places of belonging, celebration, learning, and connection, particularly in historically marginalized neighborhoods.
This fellowship is grounded in the belief that NYC public spaces are more than just recreational amenities; they are sociocultural commons where people gather, practice rituals, build relationships, and imagine new futures. The Photo Urbanism Fellow will create visual stories that illuminate both the everyday moments of joy and the collective efforts that make public spaces more welcoming, accessible, and equitable.
These stories will advance Untaped's mission to reimagine NYC public spaces with less red tape and more arts, cultural, and educational programming. The work will help to build a compelling visual archive of these events that can support advocacy for more equitable public space policies across New York City.
The Photo Urbanism Fellow will dedicate 5% of their fellowship to administrative tasks such as attending meetings, invoicing, and tracking expenses; 10% of the fellowship to provide mentorship to young photographers; the remaining 85% will be to developing project work, including, but not limited to, photographing, editing images, developing programming, and exhibition planning.
The fellowship award includes a $10,000 stipend and a solo exhibition.
End of Fellowship Deliverables:
One comprehensive project proposal
One final solo exhibition, including a written description of work/project, minimum of 5 final images (digital and print; size to be determined)
Participation as a Visiting Critic during the Youth Photography Workshop Intensive for 6 CUNY Macaulay Honors College undergraduate students
At least one program related to project work, e.g., a talk or panel regarding the photography series.
The Photo Urbanism Fellow must be based in New York City and be available to participate in meetings with the Design Trust, CUNY Macaulay Honors College, and the Youth Photography Workshop Intensive Teaching Fellow. The Design Trust will act as a resource and thought partner and will arrange two critiques and opportunities for feedback with local photographers. The fellowship requires a 9-month commitment, based on a mutually agreed-upon work plan.
Our Untaped project is tackling the regulatory barriers that are severely limiting New York organizations’ ability to activate and use public spaces for community programming. Based on extensive research with city agencies, cultural groups, and local organizers who work to put on creative cultural events in public spaces, the Design Trust has released a policy report calling for eight recommendations that can simplify the permitting process and make it easier for New Yorkers to use their public spaces. Untaped: Removing Barriers for Public Space Programming’s research is clear: public space programming strengthens social cohesion, catalyzes local economic growth, improves public health and safety, and expands access to arts and culture. Through this Photo Urbanism cycle, we aim to capture how important active public spaces are, and what we leave on the table when we discourage participation in the public realm and the nearly 30,000 events that animate New York's parks, plazas, sidewalks, and streets every year. From open streets to farmer’s markets, live music to circus acts in the park, and everything in between, public spaces are New York City’s heart and soul, vital community infrastructure, and venues for access to resources and cultural connection.
The Photo Urbanism Fellow will be selected by a diverse jury composed of creatives, photographers, and Design Trust Community members, including 2024-25 Photo Urbanism Fellow, Nathan Kensinger. All applicants will be notified by the end of September 2026. *Jury still in formation.
DEADLINE: Wednesday, September 2, 2026, at 11:59 pm Eastern Standard Daylight Time
ELIGIBILITY: Applicants must be at least 21 years of age and eligible to work legally in the United States. Full-time students are not eligible due to possible time restraints, but part-time students may submit. Applicants must be based in New York City to concentrate on the local content of the fellowship. Applicants with 5-7 years of photography experience preferred. Demonstrated interest in teaching youth/undergraduate students or leading youth engagement is preferred. The selected Fellow must be able to commit to a 9-month long fellowship starting in October.
KEY DATES:
Wednesday, September 2, 2026: Deadline to apply (before midnight)
Around Monday, September 28, 2026: Winner announcement
Thursday, October 1, 2026: Photo Urbanism Fellowship begins
April 21-April 29, 2027: Youth Photography Workshop Intensive dates
June 2027: Final Exhibition
Wednesday, June 30, 2027: Photo Urbanism Fellowship ends
MATERIALS: All application materials must be submitted to fellowship@designtrust.org by 11:59 pm on Wednesday, September 2, 2026. Materials that do not meet the following criteria will not be presented to the jury.
Work samples: A portfolio of three (3) jpg images showing representative work made within the last three years. Applicants are encouraged to include some images that demonstrate their approach to the urban environment.
Written materials: Save the following as one PDF named "lastname_firstname.pdf."
Project proposal and a brief description explaining your approach to the topic of capturing the essence and stories of shared spaces and programming in response to Untaped. Explain (a) why you are interested in this topic; (b) what you propose to do; (c) how this topic relates to your work; (c) what experience you have had working with youth/college students or teaching photography. Maximum 300 words.
Artist statement describing your approach to photography and the type of camera(s) you use. Maximum 150 words.
Artist resume including your education, exhibition history, mailing address, and email contact. Maximum one page.
Image list with corresponding image #, title, date, and location
Reference(s): At least two references, with a valid e-mail address and/or phone number. The references should know the applicant personally and be familiar with their work, and should be able to specifically address the applicant's professional capacity to carry out a self-directed project.
The 2026-2027 Photo Urbanism Fellowship is supported, in part, by public funds from the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council and the New York State Council on the Arts.