Over the past 35 years, the MacArthur Foundation selects between 20 to 30 individuals to participate in a fellowship dedicated to amplifying voices in creative spaces. The “no strings attached” award is comprised of a stipend worth $625,000 for each fellowship, paid over a span of five years. Winners are supported for their individual desires to change their career path, enhance their current expertise, or test out new innovations.
“While our communities, our nation, and our world face both historic and emerging challenges, these 23 extraordinary individuals give us ample reason for hope. They are breaking new ground in areas of public concern, in the arts, and in the sciences, often in unexpected ways. Their creativity, dedication, and impact inspire us all,” said MacArthur President Julia Stasch.
Fellows are nominated and then selected by a committee for “exceptional creativity, promise for important future advances based on a track record of significant accomplishment, and potential for the fellowship to facilitate subsequent creative work.”
This year, the class of 2016 features three dynamic black women with a great passion for the arts. Check out their unique perspectives below.
