Fellowship

The CAM Summer Fellowship is an arts-based immersive learning environment where you are pushed to your creative limits.

The first three weeks are hosted on-site in a sleep-away camp format in unincorporated Memphis at St. Columba Retreat Center. The relaxing and natural environment promotes an atmosphere of learning, introspection and connection. Fellows have access to a studio space where they are able to further develop their arts skills with instruction from advisors, local artists, and CAM Founder, Derek Fordjour. Students attend foundational arts courses at the University of Memphis daily, with the option of applying for 6 hours of dual enrollment (Art 101 and Art History).

The final week of the program is spent in New York City, where our goals are threefold: visiting artist studios, visiting major art museums like The Met and The Whitney, and visiting art colleges.

The Summer Fellowship Program is provided at no-cost to all Summer Fellows regardless of financial background. This includes all fees for instruction at UofM, lodging, food, supplies, and travel to New York City. There are no out-of-pocket expenses.

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Applications for the 2026 Summer Fellowship are closed. The Memphis portion of the 2026 Summer Fellowship runs from June 1, 2026 to June 19, 2026. The NYC Portion of the Fellowship begins on June 21 2026 until June 26, 2026.

Questions: Email Brittney Boyd Bullock at brittney@camsummer.org

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The artist cannot and must not take anything for granted, but must drive to the heart of every answer and expose the question the answer hides.

- James Baldwin from "The Creative Process" 1962

CAM Fellowship

Sample Portfolios

FAQ

What should my portfolio look like and what is your acceptance process?

CAM Summer Fellowship Program identifies fellows through a competitive process. The first step is applying for the program through our website. You will need to prepare a high-quality portfolio of work with clear examples of original artwork. This is what we recommend for portfolio submissions:

1. Create 3 to 5 original artworks using direct observation. Direct observational work can take many forms. Some examples are: Still lifes, self-portraits, plein air drawings & paintings, blind contours, shading studies, mark-making studies, color studies and figure drawing.

2. Create 3 to 5 original artworks using your own style and technique. When creating these works, please consider your concept or theme. * The chosen medium is entirely up to what is accessible to you, but CAM recommends the following mediums: charcoal, conte, ink wash, watercolor, acrylic paint, colored pencil and graphite. If you only have access to graphite pencils, we recommend experimenting with shading, mark-making and linework.

3. Document your 6 to 10 pieces with high-quality photos. When taking high-quality photos, ensure that you have bright and even lighting that does not cast shadows on your work. Ensure that the photos of your work are not angled. Instead, they should be straight-on and centered in the frame. Modern phones have the capability of taking high-quality photos. When uploading your artwork to the computer, check to see that it is uploaded with the highest quality settings possible.

Next, please thoughtfully answer the questions, submit your grades and secure up to 3 recommendation letters from an art teacher, counselor, teacher, pastor, etc. CAM's mission is to develop a pipeline of artistic talent; priority for acceptance is given to those applicants who envision an education or career in the arts. Applicants must be high schoolers currently in 10th or 11th grades. During the Summer Fellowship, all students must be rising 11th and 12th graders. If you have applied before and were not accepted, you can re-apply. ***The deadline for 2025 applications is January 23,2026.**

All applications will be reviewed by a CAM Jury, composed of working artists. The final step is an interview with the CAM team.

CAM 2025 Fellows will be notified of their acceptance to the Summer Fellowship by March 9, 2026. Each Cohort can only accept 25 Fellows.

I do not have a good art program in my school. How do I make art to show?

CAM understands that not all students have access to in-school arts programming and quality materials. We accept all forms of art in your portfolio of work. Drawings, sculptures, photography, paintings, prints, sketchbook work, animations, or digital work are all accepted. Find the space and time to create work, whether it is in your bedroom, kitchen, living room, school cafeteria, or classroom. Some amazing work can be done quickly in a sketchbook with limited time. Document your work to the best of your ability. Your instructors may be able to help you with this, but if that is not possible, find a space that has even, natural light and take a few clear, and focused photos. Limit shadows and crop the images down so that the art fills the whole image. For your benefit, we have purposefully ensured a lengthier application period so you can have time to develop these creative expressions for your application.

My art is good but my grades are not. Should I still apply?

You're Accepted into CAM. What's next?

Fellows must be available to attend all four weeks of the CAM Summer Fellowship. There are no variances from an abbreviated Fellowship or stay-at-home option to maintain program integrity. There will be an Orientation Day in March or April that is mandatory for all invited Fellows and their parent(s) or guardians to attend. Paperwork will be completed and head shots will be taken at this event (time and location TBA). Details will be provided at this event about packing, policies and procedures, etc. In order to prepare Fellows for the Summer Fellowship, there will be Readiness classes in April 2026.

What is life like at St. Columba in Memphis?

CAM Summer Fellowship Program is an on-site, sleep away immersive experience at St. Columba Retreat Center located in North Memphis. We have a separate CAM-only building on the campus, where Fellows will sleep, eat, learn, create and enjoy the beautiful, forested campus. Fellows will be housed in dormitory style rooms); there is a "mess hall," large hall for educational programming and screened in porches. Fellows will travel to the University of Memphis Monday-Thursday for university instructor led sessions, both in the morning and afternoon. Fellows will have the opportunity to earn dual enrollment (college credit) if they meet UofM criteria. Between Friday - Sunday, Fellows will experience local Memphis cultural institutions and a few spots to just have fun! Fellows will also participate in educational, professional and personal Pathways sessions, designed to help build their knowledge base. It's important to know that we will be asking Fellows to be "in the moment" -- to build community with their peers on campus. For this reason, there will be times without cell phone usage. (Parents/Guardians: Please note that there is a staff member with a phone at all times.) Fellows are also discouraged from leaving campus regularly during the Memphis-based program. (However, we do understand if an occasion comes up - medical, a religious service etc).

What is the New York City experience like?

New York City is a truly special experience - it is a big, bustling city that offers so many cultural activities. Fellows will be flying there; CAM staff will arrange ticketing and all logistics. Prior to the trip, Fellows will receive a briefing and a "travel 101" to help the group prepare for the experience. While in New York, Fellows will get to visit Derek's studio, spend time getting to see some university campuses, visiting galleries, iconic museums like The Met and meeting other artists. It's a fast-paced trip to a city of 8.3 million; we use a private motor coach to move around the city. Fellows will have their phones available during this portion of CAM.

What happens after the Summer Fellowship?

After Fellows complete the Summer Fellowship, they participate in Year-Round programming for continued arts education support and college and career guidance. Seniors participate in senior sessions focused on providing resources and direct support on college search and applications, scholarships, financial aid, and writing skills. This initiative is led by our College Coach and Writing Coach, with additional support from the Director of Programs and Executive Director. Fellows additionally participate in the Exhibition Program to learn about gallery management, installation and curation. Fellows also take part in foundational arts skills learning and workshops; these include hands-on art instruction, structured critiques, portfolio development, and open studio. Fellows are also invited to participate in Teen Art Lab.

What if I don't get accepted into the Summer Fellowship?

Although our Summer Fellowship is a competitive program, CAM is dedicated to providing accessible Arts Education support to all high school students in the regional area. In addition to the Fellowship and Year-Round programming, CAM is offering Teen Art Lab to Memphis area teens (ages 13-18) starting Fall 2024. Teen Art Lab provides young teen artists with a chance to engage in hands-on art instruction and mentorship at no cost. Participants can explore multiple disciplines across 2-3 sessions, including Drawing, Painting, Art history and more. Students who attend all of the semester's programs will be granted a certificate of completion, demonstrating a commitment to enhancing their artistic skills.