(Princeton and West Windsor, NJ)  Mercer County Community College (MCCC) and the Lewis Center for the Arts at Princeton University are now accepting applications from visual artists living and working in the City of Trenton for the inaugural Trenton Arts Fellowship. The new program is a collaboration between the two institutions to support artists in Trenton modeled on the Lewis Center’s other artist fellowship programs. The online application deadline is November 14. An open house event including a workshop on the application is being offered on September 20 at MCCC’s James Kerney Campus in Trenton.

The program has grown from conversations among Lewis Center and MCCC faculty and administrators as a way to recognize and support artists of exceptional promise in the capital city. Artworks Trenton, an anchor artists’ organization in the city, is also a collaborator. One visual artist will be selected in this first 2026-27 round with the hope to expand the program in the future. The artist will receive a $10,000 stipend, of which up to half can be used for living expenses with the remainder for materials and research connected to their work. They will also receive access to shared studio space in Trenton Hall on the MCCC James Kerney campus from September 2026 through June 2027. In addition, the fellow will receive an appointment through MCCC (no teaching is required), will have access to both MCCC and Princeton University resources, and have the option to participate in workshops, public conversations, open studios, and/or exhibitions in an MCCC gallery space.

The Trenton Arts Fellowship opportunity is open to all individuals, without regard to identity or other protected characteristics. To be eligible, applicants much live and work in the City of Trenton (proof of a Trenton address may be required) and may not be enrolled in an institutional program of study during the fellowship period (applicants may be in school during the application process). The fellowships are not intended to fund work leading to a degree.

Artists can learn more about the program and the application process on September 20 during the annual citywide Arts All Day open studios event presented by Artworks. A reception in Trenton Hall at 137 North Broad Street will begin at 12 p.m. At 1 p.m., a brief presentation on the application process and form will be offered with an opportunity to ask questions. Starting at 1:30 p.m. MCCC faculty member Michael Chovan-Dalton will host a workshop on the third floor of Trenton Hall that will share a few options for successfully photographing artwork for a portfolio. Emphasis will be on the fundamentals of making the image square in the frame, troubleshooting formatting, color, and lighting. He will also touch upon basic Photoshop editing. Chovan-Dalton has a good deal of experience reviewing portfolios and will integrate his experience into his presentation.

Applicants will be required to apply online. The application submission consists of a resume, a 500-word project proposal for work to be done during the 10-month fellowship, work samples, and a 150-word statement on how the submitted work samples relate to the proposal. Applications are due by November 14, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. EDT. Questions can be directed via email to trentonartsfellowship@mccc.edu . The selected inaugural Trenton Arts Fellow will be announced in March 2026.

Visit the Trenton Arts Fellowship webpage to learn more about the fellowships.

About Mercer County Community College
Established in 1966, Mercer County Community College is a publicly supported comprehensive institution that provides opportunities for higher education through an open-door admission policy. The scenic 292-acre West Windsor Campus was opened in 1972 to serve the needs of Mercer County residents. MCCC’s James Kerney Campus, located in downtown Trenton, serves as an educational and cultural hub for city residents that meets the changing needs of thousands of students and community members seeking educational fulfillment and personal and career growth. President: Deborah E. Preston, Ph.D.; www.mccc.edu


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Trenton Hall on the MCCC James Kerney Campus, the site of the studio the inaugural Trenton Arts Fellow will have access to and which also houses MCCC’s Trenton gallery.