Northeast Chapter

Read about our 2018-2019 Northeast Chapter Fellows!


The Northeast Chapter of the Civita Institute offers fellowships for independent study in the Italian hill town of Civita di Bagnoregio. NE Chapter Fellowships are open to architects and allied arts professionals, landscape architects and urbanists, visual and performing artists, environmental and agricultural stewards, archaeologists, historians and writers, who reside and practice in the the states of ME, NH VT, MA, RI, CT, NY, NJ & PA.

Fellowship recipients have the opportunity to pursue projects of their choosing in a highly unique setting, far from routine obligations. Projects must be consistent with the Civita Institute's philosophy and mission. NE Chapter fellows are expected to return to the Northeast upon completion of their fellowships, share their work at a NE Chapter sponsored public event, and provide documentation of their project for Civita Institute archives. We welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds and disciplines.

The Northeast Chapter Two Month Fellowship: This fellowship provides lodging for two months at Civita Institute facilities in Civita di Bagnoregio, a $1500 stipend, and $1000 for airfare. Professionals with a minimum of five years experience in their field may apply. Teams of two may apply, but  only one airfare will be reimbursed and the stipend remains the same.
 
The Northeast Chapter One Month Fellowship: This fellowship provides lodging for one month at Civita Institute facilities in Civita di Bagnoregio, and a $750 stipend (there is no provision for airfare). Professionals with at least two years of professional experience in their field may apply. Two of these fellowships will be offered. Teams of two may apply, but the stipend remains the same.
 
Fellowship stays must occur at a mutually agreed upon time between June 30, 2018 and Dec 31, 2019, and are encouraged between November and May, when Civita Institute facilities are in less demand and tourists are not as prevalent.

HOW TO APPLY:
Applications will be submitted online to: northeastchapter@civitainstitute.org

A complete application must include:
  • Curriculum Vitae
  • Project Proposal (3 page maximum)
  • Letter of Recommendation and contact information for two additional references
  • Portfolio Materials  (maximum 10 images or other suitable work samples), labeled with the applicant's name and briefly described (eg title, medium, dimensions). They may be submitted as links or in standard web formats (jpg, gif, pdf, png). Portfolio materials may be attached to the project proposal or emailed separately. If sent in separate emails, please include the applicant's name on each image.
  • Application Fee of $45 (waived if applicant has previously applied for a NE Chapter Fellowship)
Project Proposal:
The project proposal will include a clear description of the proposed research or project, its motive or intent, its inspiration, the means by which it will be realized, and the final form of the project. The proposal will explain how the project engages with Civita and its environs, why it is consistent with the philosophy and mission of the Civita Institute, the project's relevance to the Northeast region and how it furthers the applicant's professional goals. The applicant will indicate if he/she is applying for either the One Month Fellowship or the Two Month Fellowship or both. The Civita Institute strongly urges applicants to study the Italian language prior to departure.

Application Fee:
Applicants may submit the $45 application fee through PayPal on the Civita Institute website or by mailing a check payable to the CIVITA INSTITUTE to: Civita Institute, 1326 Fifth Avenue, Suite 650, Seattle, WA 98101  

CONTACT US
E-mail: info@civitainstitute.org

EVALUATION OF FELLOWSHIP PROPOSALS
Fellowship applications will be evaluated by an independent jury of four Northeast design or arts professionals not affiliated with the Civita Institute and one member of the Northeast Chapter. The jury will present NE Chapter Fellowship finalists to the Civita Institute Board for their final approval. The Board reserves the right not to award fellowships, should they find proposals unsuitable, and the Board reserves the right to make final decisions about exact dates for fellowship stays.

LOCATION OF CIVITA AND ACCOMMODATION FOR FELLOWSHIP RECIPIENTS
Civita di Bagnoregio is a hill town dating from Etruscan times, perched on a tufa promontory in Upper Lazio, about 120km north of Rome and  20km from Orvieto. It is accessed by a pedestrian bridge, a two kilometer walk or minibus ride from the neighboring town of Bagnoregio. Civita is a small village with only a few restaurants and services, but grocery stores, banks, a post office and public transportation are readily available in Bagnoregio.
 
The Civita Institute is a compound within the hill town, comprised of autonomous apartments, a garden and terrace, and a library that is available for Fellows' use. The library features materials on Civita and Italian hill towns, architecture and urbanism. Each apartment houses one fellow (or possibly two, in the case of joint fellowship recipients). It may be possible to accommodate spouses/ partners/ family members by prior arrangement and at additional cost. Summers in Civita can be hot and dwellings are not air-conditioned; winters can be cold, but dwellings are heated. Due to the unique configuration of Civita, handicap accessible facilities are not available.

The facilities of the Civita Institute were generously donated by the late architect and professor Astra Zarina and Tony Costa Heywood. Astra founded and directed the University of Washington's Architecture in Rome Program from 1970 to 1999, and the Italian Hill Town Program from 1975 to 2002. Tony Costa Heywood is an architect who resides at the Civita Institute.