Newtown Odyssey, Newtown Creek
The Design Trust for Public Space is an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to the future of public space in New York City. 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 the natural and built environment of New York City. To learn more about Photo Urbanism, visit www.photourbanism.org
This year, we are happy to continue our Youth Photography fellowship, with a free five-day workshop which will take place from April 14th to April 18th. Up to five youth fellows will be chosen to participate in this fellowship, and create their own photography project. All five projects will be virtually exhibited on our Photo Urbanism website.
The Youth Photography Fellowship workshop will be led by photographer Nathan Kensinger, the 2024-2025 Photo Urbanism Fellow. Nathan is a Brooklyn based photographer, filmmaker, journalist, and artist whose work has explored New York’s changing waterfront over the past 20 years. As part of his fellowship, he is currently photographing projects around the city that represent an “Equitable Water Future for NYC.” During this workshop, he will lead participants on several field trips to photograph waterfront areas in Brooklyn, the Bronx, Manhattan, and Queens, engaging with unique public parks and green spaces.
The Fellow must be based in New York City and be available to participate in a week-long workshop based out of Pier 57 in Manhattan, from April 14th to April 18th.
WATER PHOTO URBANISM SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
DEADLINE: March 31st, 2025 at 11:59pm Eastern Daylight Time
JURY: The Design Trust staff and Photo Urbanism Fellow will be the Jury. The decision of the jury will be final, private and without appeal. All applicants will be notified on March 21, 2025.
ELIGIBILITY: Applicants must be between 14-19 years of age, and must be based in New York City in order to concentrate on the local content of the fellowship. Knowledge of or significant interest in NYC waterfront and social justice is preferred.
OVERALL STRUCTURE: This workshop will be based out of Pier 57 in Manhattan, where participants will meet each day to review work. There will be several field trips throughout the city, to waterfront areas in Manhattan, Brooklyn, The Bronx, and Queens. MTA fares will be covered by the workshop. Each day of the workshop will be approximately 9:30am to 5pm, depending on the schedule of field trips. The workshop will be led by Nathan Kensinger, with support from Akemi Sato, the Director of Programs at the Design Trust for Public Space. Lunch and snacks will be provided each day, depending on dietary restrictions.
MATERIALS: All application materials must be submitted to fellowship@designtrust.org by 11:59 pm on March 31, 2025. Materials that do not meet the following criteria will not be presented to the jury.
Work samples: A portfolio of five (5) 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 brief description explaining your approach to the topic of capturing New York’s waterfront. Explain (a) why you are interested in this topic; (b) what you propose to do; (c) how this topic relates to your work; and (c) why you think youth perspective is important in a project like “Equitable Water Futures in NYC” 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
Let us know if you have a camera and if, so what equipment you have.