AMERICAN RIVERS Southwest Emerging Artist Scholarship

Funded by American Rivers + Freeflow Institute  |  Full tuition award  |  Open to emerging artists and storytellers with deep ties to the Southwest  |  For use on the 2026 Freeflow Grand Canyon experience

APPLICATION WINDOW IS OPEN THROUGH JANUARY 28, 2026

The Southwest River Protection Program at American Rivers and Freeflow Institute are offering one full-tuition scholarship to an emerging writer, artist, or storyteller to participate in the Freeflow Grand Canyon experience, April 7-24, 2026. Celebrated Diné poet and teacher Sherwin Bitsui will co-lead the Upper Canyon, and legendary desert writer-wanderer Craig Childs will join us for the Lower Canyon. The field experience will be facilitated by Freeflow’s founder, Chandra Brown.

Artists and writers from Indigenous and historically under-recognized communities are strongly encouraged to apply. Applicants may be aspiring storytellers in any medium, emerging journalists or artists, university students, faculty, or environmental, social, or educational communicators. Writers and artists of all backgrounds and all skill levels are invited to apply. 

The Southwest Emerging Artist Scholarship is open to any qualified applicant, from anywhere and any background, though preference will be given to Black, Indigenous, or Person of Color candidates with deep ties to the Southwest. There is no limit to the number of candidates that can apply from one institution, organization, or community.

Before you apply, please familiarize yourself with the visions of Freeflow Institute and American Rivers. Then craft a compelling pitch for an original creative project that is somehow related to the Freeflow Institute experience, that can be published and distributed on American Rivers’ webpage (at American Rivers’ discretion) once it is completed. It’s important that you’re able to research and craft an excellent creative project that meets the goals below. Examples of projects include: an essay of approximately 2000 words; a multi-media communications project; or an original work of art. We ask that your project be at least tangentially related to rivers in the American Southwest. Your project should focus on the following goals, utilizing whatever creative medium you choose:

  • Tell your story as it relates to a river or rivers, particularly in the Southwest
  • Enhance and expand public awareness of an issue facing a particular river, watershed, landscape, or people in the Southwest
  • Ignite compelling dialogue around important issues related to American Rivers’ mission to protect free-flowing rivers in the Southwest
  • Encourage people to celebrate, experience, and protect Southwestern rivers 

We can accept applications in written, audio, or video formats. If you have trouble understanding or accessing the application, please contact us and we will help you.

The hard deadline for ALL applications is January 28, 2026. We can’t wait to read about your ideas! Please get in touch with Mike at American Rivers at [email protected] or Chandra at Freeflow at [email protected] with any questions.

Scholarship Application Form

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This scholarship is for use on the 2026 Freeflow Institute Grand Canyon field experience. All applications must be received by midnight MST on January 28. Finalists will be notified by February 1. The award covers program fees and guide gratuities for one space on the Full Canyon (from Lee’s Ferry to Diamond Creek). It does not cover hotels, air travel, gear, or other associated costs. If you are offered and accept this award, you’ll need to be in Flagstaff, Arizona on the afternoon of April 7, and you’ll be on the river until April 24, 2026. The award is NOT transferrable to future programs or to other people. The Southwest Emerging Artist Scholarship is open to any qualified applicant, from anywhere and any background, though preference will be given to Black, Indigenous, or Person of Color candidates with deep ties to the Southwest.

PROJECT PROPOSAL | Please craft a compelling pitch for an original creative project that is somehow related to your Freeflow Institute Grand Canyon experience. Your project will be published and distributed on American Rivers’ webpage (at American Rivers’ discretion) once it is completed. It’s important that you’re able to research and craft an excellent story of approximately 2000 words, a communications project, or some other work of art. We ask that your project be at least tangentially related to rivers in the American Southwest. Your project should focus on the following goals, utilizing whatever creative medium you choose:

  • Tell your story as it relates to a river or rivers, particularly in the Southwest
  • Enhance and expand public awareness of an issue facing a particular river, watershed, landscape, or people in the Southwest
  • Ignite compelling dialogue around important issues related to American Rivers’ mission to protect free-flowing rivers in the Southwest
  • Encourage people to celebrate, experience, and protect Southwestern rivers

Please upload your proposal below in any format that works for you (written, visual, audio, etc.).

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    ADDITIONAL FILES | You might consider including your C.V. or resumé, glowing letters of recommendation, links to your work, or anything else that might help us better understand you. These additional elements are OPTIONAL. You may upload files here, or you may email them to us at [email protected].

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      What sort of other support will you need if you are awarded this scholarship?
      Note that this scholarship covers the program/ outfitting fees ($6600) and a small guide gratuity ($400). No other costs are covered by the award.
      You may choose to share a bit about your work, life experience, research, volunteerism, or leadership. You may also share with us how you’ve experienced barriers to the outdoors, to writing, or to creative work, generally. You may choose to share how your participation will contribute to a more inclusive and complex cohort.