Gyo Obata Fellowship

The Gyo Obata Fellowship is a substantive, full-time, summer work opportunity for college undergraduates from backgrounds that have been traditionally underrepresented in the arts. The 10-week paid summer fellowship program will provide a minimum of ten college students working towards careers in arts administration with a hands-on introduction to arts nonprofits in St. Louis City and County.

The program will match undergraduate students from underrepresented backgrounds with host nonprofit arts organizations. The program is intended to be mutually beneficial, providing arts organizations with financially subsidized staff to support ongoing operations or address the needs of special projects during the summer months.

Students must meet the following qualifications:

• Currently enrolled in any bachelor’s degree-seeking program of an accredited college or university in the greater St. Louis area.
• Students who are enrolled in an accredited college or university outside of the St. Louis area may apply but must reside in St. Louis City or County.
• Entering their third or fourth year of undergraduate studies, have at least 60 credit hours from an accredited college or university, or have graduated within a year of the program start date.
• Must also be able to legally work within the United States.

Read our guidelines for more detailed information.

*The 2021 Gyo Obata Fellowship Program may at any point be altered due to COVID-19 restrictions at the discretion of the Regional Arts Commission. This may include but is not limited to: shifting to remote-based work and activities, altered work hours, shortened and/or altered programming, change in Host or Fellow selection, elimination of large gatherings, elimination of social events, and cancelation of program.

The Gyo Obata Fellowship is a program of the Regional Arts Commission (RAC), with major support from the St. Louis-based Gateway Foundation.