About the Fellowship
The Sara Pennypacker Fellowship supports artists whose focus is on creating substantive work for children (eligibility rotates among writers, visual artists, and composers). The fellowship includes a fully-funded, two-week VCCA residency at Mt. San Angelo and a $500 stipend. The residency includes a private bedroom with private bath, a separate individual studio, and three meals a day in a community of cross-disciplinary artists.
Fellowships Details
Eligibility: Visual artists creating substantive work for children
Residencies Available: September 1 – December 31, 2026
Fellowship Length: Two weeks
Stipend: $500
Application Opens: October 1, 2025
Application Deadline: January 15, 2026
Application Fee*: $30
Recipients Notified: by April 30, 2026
To be considered as a Sara Pennypacker Fellow, complete the “Application for Mt. San Angelo Residencies, VCCA in Virginia – Fall 2026,” selecting your fellowship interest in Question 2.
* If the application fee presents a significant barrier to application, please write to vcca@vcca.com by January 10, 2026, to request an application fee waiver.
Future Eligibility
2027: Writers creating substantive work for children
2028: Composers creating substantive work for children
2029: Visual artists creating substantive work for children
A Word from Sara Pennypacker
“In twenty-five years of writing for kids, nothing has helped me more than my residencies at the VCCA, where I have been given the time, the space, the support, and the inspiration to produce my best work. It’s a thrill to be able to offer the same opportunity to others who illuminate the paths of kids with their art.” Sara Pennypacker
Pennypacker Fellows
- Sharon Harrigan, writer
- Leah Reid, composer
- Suzanne Tanner-Chitwood, visual artist