FRONT Triennial launches $25,000 fellowship for marginalized artists, selects four inaugural recipients

FRONT Triennial has launched the Art Futures Fellowship, a three-year program that allocates $25,000 annually to support artists from marginalized backgrounds. The inaugural fellows include Amanda King, Antwoine Washington, Charmaine Spencer, and Erykah Townsend, selected from 80 applicants. Deidre McPherson, who oversees artistic and community initiatives at FRONT, noted the selection committee was torn between four exceptional candidates. Fred Bidwell, the executive director, emphasized the fellowship's importance in fostering a fairer arts landscape in Cleveland, pointing out that merely offering exhibition space won't fix the ongoing neglect of the BIPOC arts community. Each fellow will take one domestic and one international trip to connect with industry professionals, with their projects featured in the 2025 triennial. Directed by Prem Krishnamurthy, this week's FRONT Triennial spans Cleveland, Akron, and Oberlin, where he recently discussed art's role in healing and representation with ArtReview.