Preparing young artists for career success.
About Us
Our Mission:
“Preparing young visual artists for career success through
mentorship, community engagement, professional
development and studio production.”
MACV Studio Arts Fellowship mentors young artists in the Grand Rapids area to prepare them for a future in the arts. Each semester fellows work in the studio, attend professional development sessions, learn eco-friendly processes, and serve the local community. We partner with organizations across the city to offer art lessons, paint murals and and transform interior spaces with large-scale installations. Through these activities, MACV Studio fosters relationships that broaden fellows’ perceptions of themselves and others. We prepare our team to work inclusively in the fine art field. If you are an organization or group interested in partnering with us for a future project, please reach out at macvfellowship@gmail.com!
Photo: Former fellow Britney Simone
Our Program
MACV Fellowship sets artists on a path of success. If you’re a fellow, here are some of the things you will do over the course of a semester:
- Develop a CV, Artist Statement, and Portfolio
- Exhibit Artwork and Apply to Open Calls
- Gain Teaching Experience
- Assist a Professional Artist in the Studio
- Collaborate with Community Organizations
Our Values
- Giving: we serve our community with our talents
- Learning: we listen to what our community wants and needs
- Teaching: we offer our knowledge to benefit others
- Connection: relationships give our work meaning
Our Impact
We’re multi-taskers.
MACV Studio invests in the careers of emerging artists and serves the community at the same time.
We believe the best way to learn is on the job. Whether fellows are teaching art lessons, painting murals, constructing large-scale installations, or presenting artist talks, they gain professional experience as they offer their talents to the community.
Organizations across Grand Rapids receive art services that propel the entire community. Fellows acquire skills that prepare them for the job market. It’s a win-win!
Previous and Continuous Collaborations:
Our Director
Mandy Cano Villalobos is a visual artist whose work spans installation, painting, drawing, performance, sculpture and video. Her practice centers upon concepts of memory, cultural narratives, unfulfilled desires and gender identity. She exhibits internationally. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, ArtNews, The Washington Post, Sculpture Magazine, and The Chicago Reader, among others. She is the recipient of a fellowships and grants from multiple organizations including the Gottlieb, Puffin, Frey, and Chenven Foundations, Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, The Folger Library, and the Foundation for Contemporary Arts. Cano Villalobos has lived in fourteen states and two countries. She maintains a studio in Grand Rapids, MI (USA), where she resides with her husband, three children and a hairless dog.
ACTIVITIES
FELLOWS
Liv Chow
Grand Valley State University
Grace Muchmore
Kendall College of Art and Design
Sheila Morken
Calvin University, graduate
Amelia VanWyck
Grand Valley State University
Sierra Valencia
Kendall College of Art and Design
Jenna Broderick
Kendall College of Art and Design