After celebrating ten years of consistent service to our creative community last month, FORGE is taking a moment to pause, breathe, and reconsider how we can best serve the makers who matter most to us.

 

Inspired by our partner IndieSpace's thoughtful "Deep Breath" last year, and witnessing the economic and cultural headwinds reshaping creative fields everywhere, we will be taking a portion of 2026 to ReFORGE, which will mean many things for us, but most immediately deferring the 2026 FORGE Fellowship to 2027.

 

Just as we encourage the artists + makers we serve to attend to process and expect emergence, we must honor our own imperative to reorient and evolve. The creative landscape has shifted significantly in the last decade; we must gather the insights and energy to step forward intentionally and provide the most effective and supportive programming we can to meet the moment. We remain committed to fostering a community of confident creators who actively challenge expectations, insist on what they need, champion each others’ opportunities, and ultimately, change the understanding of what we can do in the world.

 

For those who have already submitted 2026 Fellowship applications: your applications will be prioritized next year, ensuring your inclusion within our 200-application cap. Before we open general applications for 2027, you'll have the opportunity to update + refine your submissions based on where your work, life, and vision have grown. 

 

Thank you for continuing to inspire us! We look forward to sharing more about our ReFORGE through the end of the year. We are excited and hopeful for this next step in our creative innovation.

With gratitude and anticipation,
        - Chie + Greg