The Eliza Moore Fellowship for Artistic Excellence is an annual award offered by the Oak Spring Garden Foundation (OSGF) to support a single early-career artist who creates new work addressing themes of plants, gardens, or landscapes. Open to a broad range of artistic disciplines—including visual arts, literature, music, dance, and performance—the Fellowship seeks to recognize an exceptional artist whose work contributes to deeper insight into the natural world and humanity’s connection to it.

The Fellowship includes a $10,000 unrestricted grant and a residency stay of 2 to 5 weeks at the Oak Spring estate in Upperville, Virginia. During their stay, Fellows have access to OSGF's expansive 700-acre property, its extensive rare book library featuring over 19,000 botanical art objects, and its sustainability-focused land management practices. Fellows will be scheduled to coincide with other Interdisciplinary Residents, facilitating opportunities for cross-disciplinary engagement through communal meals, shared accommodations, and optional activities such as garden work, landscape walks, and library appointments.

While on-site programming is flexible and respects the Fellow’s need for dedicated creative time, participants are encouraged—but not required—to give a 20–30-minute presentation to staff and other residents at the conclusion of their stay. Travel to Dulles International Airport will be arranged and funded by the Fellow using the award, and local ground transportation will be provided by OSGF. Accommodations include a private bedroom and bathroom, with shared living and kitchen spaces.

The application portal opens on February 14, 2025, and closes on May 31, 2025. Applicants will submit a résumé (maximum two pages), two short written statements—one on their artistic practice and another on how their work aligns with OSGF’s mission—and work samples relevant to their discipline. Applicants will also be asked whether they wish to be considered for other OSGF residency programs if not selected for this Fellowship.

Eligible applicants must be early-career artists not enrolled in an undergraduate program in 2026. Candidates should show some degree of recognition through exhibitions, performances, or publications but should not yet be widely established. Those with extensive solo exhibitions or numerous published books are considered late-career and are not eligible for this specific Fellowship, though they may apply for other OSGF residencies.

Selection is conducted through a rigorous multi-stage process involving internal staff, residency alumni, and external jurors. The primary evaluation criteria are the applicant’s alignment with OSGF’s mission, demonstrated artistic promise, and the quality of submitted work samples. Due to high demand, individualized feedback is not available for unsuccessful applicants.