Forge Project Announces 2026 Fellowship Recipients

Forge Project, a Native-led nonprofit organization on the unceded homelands of the Moh-He-Con-Nuck in Upstate New York, is pleased to announce the six recipients of the 2026 Forge Project Fellowship: Jay Bellis (Haida, Kootenay); Michael Bowman Sr. (Stockbridge-Munsee); Heidi Brandow (Diné, Kanaka Maoli); Charine Gonzales (San Ildefonso Pueblo (PoWohGeh Owingeh)); Robin Maxkii (Mohican/Munsee-Lenape); and Tiare Ribeaux (Kānaka Maoli/Kānaka ʻŌiwi).

“As a reflection of self-determined knowledge forms, which integrate embodied, intellectual, place-centered, creative and material ways of knowing and being, multidisciplinarity,  integration of cultural protocols with creative practice, and relationships on both intimate and international scales emerged as recurring themes in the selection of the 2026 Forge Project Fellow cohort,” said Forge Project Director of Relational Education, Dr. Sarah Biscarra Dilley (yaktitʸutitʸu yaktiłhini). “As the 2026 cohort that seeds the possibility for connection across contexts, we look forward to supporting overlapping residency stays, opportunities for engagement through informal gatherings and programmatic collaboration, while nurturing time for rest, reflection and respite.”

The six members of the Forge Project 2026 Fellowship cohort are reflective of the diversity of Indigenous thinkers, artists, activists, and cultural practitioners working in Native North America today. They represent a broad diversity of cultural practices, participatory research, organizing models, and geographical contexts  that build Native futures through multidisciplinarity and collective engagement.

Two of the fellowships have been awarded to members of the Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohican Indians in recognition of the peoples whose homelands Forge Project is situated within, and to encourage site-specific and relational projects.

About the Fellowship

Each Forge Project Fellow receives a total of $25,000 toward their practice and will have  access to the Forge Project site, libraries, and lending collection of contemporary Indigenous art during a residency stay of up to three weeks. 

This year one Fellowship was fully sponsored by Girlfriend Fund, who provides exceptional support of women artists as well as contemporary Native artists and exhibitions. Forge is inviting contributions to support the additional 5 fellows; please contact [email protected] if you want to join us in this effort.

Fellows have the opportunity to present their work to the local Forge Project audience on site as well as a wider international audience via social media. Fellows have the opportunity to work one-on-one with the Director of Indigenous Programs and Relationality, Sarah Biscarra Dilley (yak titʸutitʸu yak tiłhini [Northern Chumash]), and the Public & Relational Programs Coordinator, Monica Sekaquaptewa (Diné, Hopi), to develop public programming, to make connections and build contacts, and for support or mentorship during their stay.

The Forge Project space consists of two structures designed by Ai Weiwei in collaboration with HHF Architects. The larger of the two buildings consists of four equal-sized boxes, where Forge Project hosts its public programming, including special-topic talks with Fellows. Parallel to the main building is a Y-shaped building; the upper floor features a circular skylight that illuminates a central art gallery, and houses a fluid living and studio space for Fellows.

About the Juries

The 2026 Forge Project Fellowship applications were reviewed by a a juried panel of four distinguished Native cultural practitioners, artists, writers, scholars and former Fellows, including: Lou Cornum (Diné); Jeanette Jemison (Mohawk); Brittani Orona (Hupa); and Skye Tafoya (Eastern Band of Cherokee and the Santa Clara Pueblo Tribes).

The two Fellows from the Stockbridge-Munsee Community were selected in a parallel process by a separate juried panel of three Native knowledge holders and practitioners, including a former Forge Project Fellow: Joleece Pecore (Ho-Chunk, Stockbridge-Munsee Mohican, Oneida, and Menominee); Kristi Leora Gansworth (Kitigan Zibi Anishnaabeg, Onondaga); and Nicole Wallace (Second-generation Descendant of the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe).

Learn all about the new Fellows at forgeproject.com/fellowship.

About Forge Project 

Forge Project is a Native-led non-profit organization whose mandate is to cultivate and advance Indigenous leadership in arts and culture. A change-making model for Native cultural self-determination and leadership, Forge Project fuses traditional and contemporary knowledge and practices to build community, public education, and collective action.