The Diane Dammeyer Fellowship in Photographic Arts and Social Issues creates a space for a socially engaged photographer to produce a compelling and dynamic body of work highlighting human rights and social issues.

Applications for the 2025/26 Fellowship Now Open - Submit by June 1, 2025, at 11.59 PM CST

https://www.colum.edu/academics/initiatives/diane-dammeyer-fellowship

The Diane Dammeyer Fellowship in Photographic Arts and Social Issues provides a unique opportunity for a socially engaged photographer to produce a compelling and dynamic body of work that highlights human rights and social issues.

Columbia College Chicago, an institution with deep Chicago roots dating back more than 135 years, facilitates the fellowship, demonstrating a strong commitment to socially engaged art. The program aligns with Columbia’s dedication to academic excellence and fostering authentic, creative voices while supporting artists and the communities they engage.

The Museum of Contemporary Photography (MoCP) at Columbia College Chicago is now a proud partner in the Diane Dammeyer Fellowship. In collaboration with Columbia College Chicago, MoCP provides additional curatorial and institutional support, further enhancing the fellowship’s impact by integrating the museum’s mission of advancing photography as a means of social engagement.

How does the Fellowship work?

Fellows serve as a critical link between artistic practice, their chosen community partners, and Columbia College Chicago. The program seeks opportunities where the fellow’s work elevates cultural awareness and embodies the values of care and social responsibility in action. Throughout the fellowship, artists co-create meaningful opportunities for engagement and learning with their community partners, culminating in a final public presentation.

Orientation and immersion within the selected community are key components of the fellowship. Fellows spend significant time listening and learning before identifying areas of focus. They then engage others in collaborative practice to amplify awareness of social issues and support community aspirations.

By partnering with MoCP, the fellowship now benefits from additional mentorship and resources, reinforcing the museum’s role as a hub for socially engaged photography.

About Diane Dammeyer

Diane Dammeyer discovered her passion for socially engaged photography when she was a student at Columbia College Chicago, not long after retiring from a successful career in real estate. At the same time that she was taking classes, she was also serving on the board of Heartland Alliance. "I needed to learn a lot about the programs at Heartland, so I decided to go around and photograph them and include them in my assignments," said Dammeyer. Shortly thereafter, Dammeyer took her camera on the road, traveling internationally with Heartland Alliance to document the work they did in communities all over the globe.

It was this transformative life experience that made Dammeyer want to give back and fund a photography fellowship centered on social issues. "I just think it was a wonderful gift to me, to go to Columbia and to have my eyes opened," she said. Her hope is that the fellowship provides an opportunity for a photographer to elevate our collective awareness of social, economic, and cultural issues and to inspire positive social changes.

Read more about our Past Dammeyer Fellowship recipients.

We acknowledge the generous support of the Heartland Alliance team, especially Betsy Leonard, for helping in the initial years of this program. We also thank Professor Emeritus Judy Natal of the Photography Department for her dedication to the stewardship and fellow mentorship of the foundational years of this initiative. We are very grateful to Filter Photo for hosting some of our completed projects. We are appreciative of the team and community at Centro Romero for hosting the past three fellowship projects. And above all, we thank Diane Dammeyer for her vision and funding for this important initiative of the Photography Department at Columbia College Chicago.