The Vera List Center for Art and Politics at The New School is pleased to announce its 2025–2027 Focus Theme, _Matter of Intelligence,_ and Open Call_._ Our newly envisioned Open Call, now spanning two rounds, is designed to welcome ideas and project proposals that find support and advance across a range of VLC’s programs and initiatives, including our signature fellowship program. 

As part of our sabbatical, a year of slowing down and recalibrating our institutional rhythms and programmatic reappraisals, the Open Call has been reimagined to better support and celebrate the richness and diversity of creative practice, scholarship, and knowledge of our extended communities, thus shaping our curatorial thinking, approaches, and programs throughout our two-year exploration of intelligence. 

With _Matter of Intelligence,_ and an emphasis on forms of collective intelligence, this cycle of the Open Call places artists and their ideas at the forefront of our exploration from the outset, continually highlighting these voices and perspectives throughout the two-year inquiry. This approach builds on a solid history of past fellowship project proposals that have been successfully supported and presented through the center’s programs and publications.

Projects submitted in the first round will be considered for the VLC Fellowship, as well as a range of other programs, including the center’s seminar series, exhibitions, annual VLC Forum, and digital or print publications. A limited number of applications will advance to the second round and be invited to submit full proposals for fellowship commission projects. This new open call approach is designed to minimize the labor involved in the fellowship application, while continuing to engage and develop ideas and projects from the first round within the center’s programs.

Fellowship project proposals creatively and rigorously approach the Focus Theme in content and form and make an intellectual and artistic contribution that advances the understanding of intelligence. Up to four two-year, non-residential fellowships will be awarded to commission and support scholarly and creative work that critically engages with the Vera List Center’s 2025–2027 Focus Theme: _Matter of Intelligence._ With support from the Mellon Foundation, The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, The VLC Producers Council, Vera’s List, and other donors, the VLC Fellowship stipend for this cycle has been increased to $25,000.

  
**_Matter of Intelligence_ Open Call** 

**Process and Timeline**

Round I _Matter of Intelligence_ – Have an idea? We’d love to know! 

This first phase welcomes project proposals responding to the Focus Theme: _Matter of Intelligence_. Are you working on or have an idea for a project you would like us to know about as we embark on a two-year exploration of intelligence? Projects are considered for the two-year VLC Fellowship, as well as a range of VLC programs, including the center’s seminar series, exhibitions, annual VLC Forum, and digital or print publications. Applicants will be notified if their application has advanced to the next round for the fellowship, if it is being considered for support and development through the VLC’s other programs and initiatives, or if it has been declined. 

**January 30, 2025**

Notification of Advancement to Round II

Round II – Fellowship Proposals – Let’s take a closer look at your project!

Applicants who advance to this phase must submit a detailed project budget, timeline, and work samples for consideration for the VLC Fellowship, which will be reviewed by an ad hoc selection committee composed of VLC staff and Advisory Board members, past VLC Fellows, and New School faculty. Selection committee members make recommendations to the VLC team, who makes final decisions based on project feasibility, institutional capacity, and curatorial priorities. 

**March 7, 2025** 

Round II Fellowship Proposals Due 

**March 30, 2025** 

Fellowship finalists meet with the VLC curatorial team to confirm eligibility and fellowship requirements. 

**May 2025** 

Announcement of fellowship appointments.

**October 2025**

Vera List Center Forum 2025 and convening of 2025–2027 Vera List Center Fellows.

_Dates_ are _subject to change._ 
  
  

  
* **Funding:** The VLC Fellowship stipend for this cycle is $25000
* **Publication:** Projects are presented to the public through the Vera List Center’s interdisciplinary public programs and institutional networks, including digital or print publications
* **Exhibition:** Projects are considered for the center’s seminar series, exhibitions, annual VLC Forum, and digital or print publications
* Fellows draw from the curatorial, academic, and professional resources of the Vera List Center and The New School

  

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