About the Fellowship

The Diane Dammeyer Fellowship in Photographic Arts and Social Awareness, the first fellowship of its kind at Columbia, was established in 2014 by alumna Diane Dammeyer. The fellowship was created from Dammeyer’s interest in photography and passion for social awareness.

The fellowship 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 will open September 2024

The Diane Dammeyer Fellowship in Photographic Arts and Social Awareness creates a space for a socially engaged photographer or photo-based practitioner to immerse themselves in a community to produce a new and compelling body of photographic work. The fellowship allows the artist to create an authentic partnership between themselves and a community partner/organization. Preference is given to projects that involve Chicago based communities or creates links between a Chicago community and another community. This serves the larger goal of the fellowship, which is to use the photographic practice to elevate public collective awareness of social, economic, and cultural issues to inspire positive social change.

In addition to their work with a community partner, the fellow will also spend significant time at Columbia College Chicago, where they will connect with faculty members and students. The fellowship will culminate with a public presentation, exhibition and/or publication of the fellow’s newly created body of work at the completion of the fellowship period.

Because of the dynamic nature of the fellowship, a concentrated commitment is required during the months of September through to June. Fellowship hours will vary, as will the activities in which the fellow will be immersed. It is an advantage if the fellow resides in Chicago during the term of the award; however, if this is not possible the applicant must provide a draft detailed schedule of when they plan to be on location in Chicago. It is required that applicants align their projects with Columbia College Chicago's academic calendar to ensure maximum exposure to the college’s student population.

Talented individuals who have completed an MFA in photography or in another related creative field or have a BA backed by 5 years of post degree creative practice (equivalent experience) and who are committed to active immersion with a community partner/organization and Columbia College Chicago are encouraged to apply.

The fellowship is funded by former Columbia student, Diane Dammeyer. Diane's experience as a photographer for Heartland Alliance inspired her to create both an undergraduate scholarship and a postgraduate fellowship. Diane's vision is to assist artists as they conceive empathetic creative projects to elevate social awareness community organizations and the people they support.

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.

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