The Lyric McHenry Community Arts Fellowship
Lyric McHenry Community Arts Fellowship
Fellowship administered by IDA with support from the Lyric McHenry Community Arts Fund and Stanford Undergraduate Research and Advising.
Program Overview
The Lyric McHenry Community Arts Fellowship allows Stanford undergraduates the opportunity to conduct research with a community-based arts organization or an established community-based artist for 35 hours a week, over at least 9 weeks during the summer quarter. Projects coming out of this fellowship have a distinct interest in questions that further the arts at the intersection of social justice.
Applicants must propose their own placements with organizations with whom they have corresponded before the application deadline, and effectively demonstrate that their intended partner is a well-run organization where they will receive adequate guidance and supervision. Fellows assist in building and maintaining relationships with these arts organizations and the communities in which they are based.
Program Details
Students who need support finding an arts organization or artist with whom to work can reach out to IDA staff for additional support.
Recent Fellows have worked with the Laundromat Project, MACRO, BLD PWR, Women's Audio Mission, Dana Kawano Studios, Rashaad Newsome Studios, and more.
Each Lyric McHenry Community Arts Fellow receives a base stipend of $7,500 award to support travel and living expenses during the summer. Financial aid and supplemental funding up to $9,500 total are available to students who qualify.
Lyric McHenry Community Arts Fellowships are available only to Stanford undergraduate students.
Fellowship History
This program is named and funded in honor of Lyric McHenry (Stanford ‘14). While at Stanford, Lyric McHenry interned at IDA, majored in Comparative Studies in Race and Ethnicity, and performed in and directed a number of theater productions. Lyric’s appreciation for the effect of the arts in the fight for social justice propelled her dedication to writing and producing. Her unique talent for uplifting others showed itself in an infectious ability to support and empower those around her, speak up for what she believed in, and create art that shed light on racial inequity and identity. Lyric brought curiosity, brilliance, and warmth to everything she did.
In honor of Lyric’s passion for the arts and social justice, the Lyric McHenry Community Arts Fellowship gives students the opportunity to spend a summer working full time in the areas of curating, presenting, outreach and/or arts education with a focus on racial/social justice issues. Fellows may work in the United States or abroad.
Contact: A-lan Holt (aholt@stanford.edu)
Requirements
Lyric McHenry Community Arts fellows are required to work at least 35 hours/week for at least 9 consecutive weeks at their placements. Other commitments include the following:
Winter Quarter
- Attend an program information session.
- Participate in placement identification process.
- Submit application by March 2025
Spring Quarter
- Attend a program orientation in May.
- Design a personal learning plan for the summer.
- Meet with academic mentor at least once.
Summer
- Update staff with changes to contact information.
- Share learning plan with site supervisor and update accordingly.
- Check in with IDA staff at least once during the fellowship.
- Create a post for social media talking about your fellowship experience
- Submit a final report, complete a program evaluation, and correspond with fellowship donor(s) as requested by fellowship program staff.
Autumn Quarter
- Meet with academic mentor at least once.
- Attend a debriefing for the purpose of reflecting upon and evaluating summer experiences.
- Participate in campus presentations to share experiences and help publicize the program.
Eligibility and Selection Process
Up to five Lyric McHenry Community Arts Fellowships are awarded. Currently enrolled undergraduate students from all academic disciplines are encouraged to apply. Priority may be given to students who have taken IDA courses. All applicants should exhibit a demonstrated interest in the arts that relates to a particular field of study. Applicants vary in academic interests, community service involvement and experience. Graduating seniors may apply with the understanding that preference will be given to competitive continuing undergraduate applicants.
This fellowship is intended for individuals whose application, references, and interview demonstrate:
- Integration of the fellowship experience with the applicant’s academic, personal, and/or career goals
- Prior interest or involvement in the subject area, including related coursework
- Strong interpersonal and intercultural skills
- A commitment to exploring how the arts can be a means of working toward justice
Complete applications will be screened, finalists interviewed, and fellows selected by a committee with the intention to announce fellowship awards prior to spring break.
Meet the 2024 Lyric McHenry Fellows
Victor Meza - Apprentice w/ Arantxa Araujo (New York City, New York and Ciudad Juárez, Mexico)
This past summer, as part of the Lyric McHenry Community Arts Fellowship, Victor Meza ‘25, a queer Mexican multi-media artist, dedicated their time to archiving and amplifying the voices of marginalized communities. Working at the intersection of race, gender, and sexuality, Victor focused on preserving ephemeral artworks along the borderlands between El Paso and Ciudad Juárez where they grew up.
With support from the fellowship, Victor was an apprentice collaborating closely with artist Arantxa Araujo, planning performances confronting the issue of femicide in the borderlands, and supporting community organizations tackling gender-based violence in Latin America. Victor’s work ensures that these vital artistic contributions and community monuments are remembered and preserved.
Sky Walker - Apprentice with Marina Skye (Atlanta, Georgia)
This past summer, with support from the Lyric McHenry Community Arts Fellowship, Skylar Walker ‘24, a recent graduate in the Art and Art History Department worked alongside renowned Atlanta artist Marina Skye to design and build an immersive art installation in Atlanta's Underground. Skylar is deeply influenced by Atlanta’s rich history of activism and art, and used this opportunity to connect her passion for socially engaged art with her identity as a Black creative from the south.
Through hands-on experience in installation, she collaborated with Marina from the brainstorming stages through to the final creation of a new large-scale work. This experience not only strengthened Skylar’s connection to Atlanta’s Black creative community, but also set the stage for her post-graduation life as an emerging artist.
Rosana Maris Arias, Women’s Project Theater (New York City, New York)
This past summer, with support from the Lyric McHenry Community Arts Fellowship, Rosana Arias, an aspiring playwright and senior, deepened her craft at Women’s Project Theater in New York City. Passionate about storytelling that inspires social and racial justice, particularly within the Latinx community, Rosana spent her summer immersing herself in the theatrical landscape. She focused on reading contemporary plays, learning the development process of theater productions, and building connections with industry professionals, including her supervisor at WPT and Stanford alumni. Working with Women’s Project Theater, a platform known for championing Women+ theater makers, Rosana gained invaluable experience that enriched her journey as a playwright and strengthened her commitment to creating impactful, socially conscious stories.
Le Ha “Hazel” Ngan - Collective Focus Resource Hub (New York City, New York)
This past summer, with support from the Lyric McHenry Community Arts Fellowship, Hazel Ngan ‘26, a junior majoring in CCSRE and a creative writer passionate about social justice, worked with Collective Focus Hub, an artist collective in Bushwick, Brooklyn. Hazel’s role involved building connections with local artists and organizers, planning arts and cultural events, and helping to facilitate political education through different artistic mediums. They also supported the day-to-day operations, including logistical and administrative tasks, while participating in weekly community food distribution efforts and larger monthly events like the organization's annual Juneteenth celebration.
Hazel’s work also extended to emergency relief efforts in support of the local community, all while embodying the collective’s commitment to mutual aid and racial solidarity.
Ijeoma Alozie - Silicon Valley African Film Festival (San Jose, California)
This past summer, with support from the Lyric McHenry Community Arts Fellowship, Ijeoma Alozie ‘24, a recent graduate in the Film & Media Studies program, took steps toward realizing their dream of creating more opportunities for Black queer women in the film and television industries. Working with the Silicon Valley African Film Festival (SVAFF), Ijeoma immersed themself in the world of African cinema, helping to curate a diverse selection of films that highlighted the depth and complexity of African stories. Their summer involved blending their passion for storytelling, social justice, and community building, as they collaborated on festival planning and gained hands-on experience in the administrative aspects of advocating for filmmakers. This experience planted the seeds for Ijeoma’s future work in filmmaking and advocacy, providing them with valuable insight into both the creative and administrative sides of the industry.