Program Overview
ABOUT NXTHVN
NXTHVN is a groundbreaking institution that combines the best of arts and entrepreneurship. Through access, education, programming and impact investing, NXTHVN launches the careers of artists and curators and strengthens the livelihood of its local community. Located in the historically African-American Dixwell neighborhood of New Haven, CT, the expansive adapted-reuse campus houses gallery, studio, office, performance and living spaces. Co-founded in 2018 by acclaimed visual artist Titus Kaphar and private equity investor Jason Price—both longtime residents of New Haven—NXTHVN represents a new national arts model for developing an equitable society.
FELLOWSHIP
Each year NXTHVN welcomes up to seven artists and two curators to participate in its paid 10-month intensive Fellowship Program. The application is open until February 26, 2024. Each Fellow will receive studio or office space, a stipend, and subsidized housing. Selected from an international pool of applicants, Fellows relocate to New Haven to participate in NXTHVN’s mentorship-driven curriculum which includes professional development sessions led by visiting artists, curators, scholars, and practitioners. Selected Fellows are also matched with a high school Apprentice, for focused one-on-one mutual learning, which gives the next local generation a chance to grow and excel in creative fields. The Fellowship year culminates with an annual group show at a prominent gallery space.
APPRENTICESHIP
Leveraging the professional Studio and Curatorial Fellows in residence at NXTHVN and, through one-on-one mentorship, the Apprenticeship program introduces high school students to creative professions and portfolio development. The Apprenticeship program’s one-on-one mentorship prioritizes empowerment, innovation, and technical learning. Under the leadership of our Student Programs Manager, apprentices work directly with the NXTHVN fellows and staff to build technical and professional skills supported by activities that are scaffolded to support the program’s core values of: Creativity, Connection, Purpose, and Power. Apprentices are local high school students who exhibit a strong interest in the arts, possess a desire to learn new professional skills, and are ready for the responsibilities of a paid commitment. Apprentices work up to 25 hours a month side by side with NXTHVN Fellows and staff, as well as a collective group on supplemental projects and activities.