P.R.O.O.F. FELLOWSHIP
The Print Residency of Ohio’s Future
Artistic Development. Personal Growth. Bold Comradery.
The PROOF Fellowship is a 6-month Fine Art Printmaking residency for Northeast Ohio Artists from historically underrepresented communities. The PROOF Fellowship is a six month residency program inspired by Zygote’s 2021-2023 BIPOC Fellowship artists-in-residence.
The PROOF Fellowship offers non-printmaking artists from BIPOC communities an opportunity to learn a variety of printmaking techniques including silkscreen, monoprint, relief, intaglio, lithography and RISO.
PROOF Fellows are introduced to both contemporary and traditional printmaking techniques through a series of workshops led by Zygote Press teaching artists and former fellowship recipients. For the duration of the Fellowship program, selected artists have 24/7 access to Zygote’s Printmaking Studio. Zygote also offers mentoring sessions and peer critiques for Fellows to hone their craft, discuss their work and focus their artistic research toward their individual goals.
PROOF Fellowship Class of 2026
Fellowship Recipients will receive:
-Twenty Two hours of printmaking workshop instruction ($2,500)
-Ten hours of individual printmaking support ($500)
-Yearlong Zygote Community Membership
-Six Months of 24/7 Access to Zygote’s Printmaking Studio ($960)
-A locker and flat file for the duration of the Fellowship
-A $500.00 Stipend
-Participation in the 2026 PROOF Fellowship Exhibition
-Exhibition and Installation support.
Additionally, PROOF Fellows will have ongoing 24/7 access to Zygote’s Printmaking Studio for the duration of the fellowship. Zygote will also host mentoring sessions and peer critiques for Fellows to hone their printmaking craft, talk about their work and focus their artistic research.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: 11:59pm June 1st, 2026
All application materials below must be in a single PDF file no larger than 10MB.
To apply, email the following materials to elyse@zygotepress.org:
(1) Letter of interest/project proposal (500 word limit)
(2) A portfolio of recent work (10-20 images)
(3) Short Bio (one paragraph limit)
(4) Artist Statement
(5) Resume or CV
PROOF FELLOWSHIP SAMPLE SCHEDULE
Sample Developed From Class of 2026 Proof Fellowship Schedule
Weeks 1 - 4: Relief Printing
Week 1:
Wednesday 5/28: 3pm-5pm Orientation Session with Zygote Staff. Tour. Intro To Print.
Saturday 5/31:10am-1pm Intro to Relief w/ Michael Whitehead, Anastasia Malone,& Ryan Harri
Week 2:
Wednesday 6/4: 1pm-5pm or 5pm-9pm Attend Open Studio (Optional).
Friday 6/6: 5pm-8pm Attend Queer Print Exhibition Reception at Zygote (Optional)
Saturday 6/7: 10am-1pm Intro to Relief pt.2 w/Michael Whitehead, Anastasia Malone, & Ryan Harris
Week 3:
Wednesday 6/11: 1pm-5pm or 5pm-9pm Attend Open Studio (Optional)
Saturday 6/14: 10am-4pm Intro to Letterpress w/ Brittany Hudak & RA Washington
Week 4:
Friday 6/20: 5pm-10pm Attend Zygote Summer Solstice Benefit (Optional)
Saturday 6/21: 10am-2pm Check-in Sessions. Individual 30 min/artist
Weeks 5 - 9: Stencil Printing Section
Week 5:
June 22nd-28th, 2025
Wednesday 6/26: 1pm-5pm or 5pm-9pm. Attend Open Studio Session (Optional)
Saturday 6/28: 10am-1pm Intro To Screen Printingw/ Paul Serrianne & Ryan Harris
Week 6:
June 29th-July 5th, 2025
Wednesday 7/2: 1pm-5pm or 5pm-9pm. Attend Open Studio Session (Optional)
Saturday 7/5: 10am-1pm Intro to Risograph Printing w/ Anna Tararova
Week 7:
July 6th-12th, 2025
Wednesday 7/8: 1pm-5pm or 5pm-9pm. Attend Open Studio Session (Optional)
Saturday 7/12: 10am-2pm Intro To Monotype w/ Chandler Mack & Anastasia Malone
Week 8:
July 13th- 19th, 2025
Wednesday 7/16: 1pm-5pm or 5pm-9pm. Attend Open Studio Session (Optional)
Saturday 7/19: 10am-2pm Critique Session 1
Week 9:
July 20th - 26th, 2025
Wednesday 7/23: 1pm-5pm or 5pm-9pm. Attend Open Studio Session (Optional)
Saturday 7/26: 10am-2:30pm Check-in Sessions. Individual. 30 min/artist
Weeks 10 & 11: Planographic Printing Section
Week 10:
July 27th - August 2nd, 2025
Wednesday 7/31: 1pm-5pm or 5pm-9pm. Attend Open Studio Session (Optional)
Saturday 8/3: 10am-1pm Intro to lithography pt 1 w/ Michael Whitehead & Thao Nguyen
Week 11:
August 3rd - August 9th, 2025
Wednesday 8/6: 1pm-5pm or 5pm-9pm. Attend Open Studio Session (Optional)
Saturday 8/9: 10am-1pm Intro to lithography pt 2w/ Michael Whitehead & Thao Nguyen
Weeks 12 & 13: Intaglio Printing Section
Week 12:
August 10th - August 16th, 2025
Wednesday 8/13: 1pm-5pm or 5pm-9pm. Attend Open Studio Session (Optional)
Saturday 8/16: 10am-1pm Intro to Intaglio pt. 1 w/ Michael Whitehead
Week 13:
August 17th- August 23rd
Wednesday 8/20: 1pm-5pm or 5pm-9pm. Attend Open Studio Session (Optional)
Saturday 8/23: 10am-1pm Intro to Intaglio pt 2 w/ Michael Whitehead
Week 13 is the final week of Curriculum Programming. The following months of the PROOF Fellowship will have a looser schedule with 1-2 group sessions per month. Fellows will receive 10 hours of individual artistic support while working on their proposed projects. Artistic Support hours can be used for additional instruction in a given process or for editioning/printing help. Individual sessions will be scheduled through Michael Whitehead and arranged based on the Fellow’s schedule.
September
Saturday 9/13: 10am-12pm Group Critique 2
Saturday 9/20: 10am-12pm Project Planning Session 1
Saturday 9/27: 10am-12pm Project Planning Session 2
October
Saturday 10/11: 10am-12pm Group Critique 3
Saturday 10/25: 10am-2pm Individual Check In Sessions
November
Saturday 11/15: 10am-12pm Group Critique 4
Saturday 11/22: 10am-12pm Final Check In Sessions. Complete Fellowship Survey.
December
Begin Discussions for 2025 Fellowship Exhibition MARCH 2025
Saturday 12/6: 10am-12pm Exhibition Planning Session 1
Thursday 12/12: 10am-12pm Exhibition Planning Session 2