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Artist of the Month Program Updates
- Confluence Community
- Nov 2
- 6 min read
Updated: 8 hours ago
We want to take a moment to thank every artist who has submitted their work to the Artist of the Month Program this year. Your vulnerability, and willingness to share your work continues to inspire us.
Like many community initiatives, the Artist of the Month Program is a process of learning as we grow. Over the past year, we have tested, adapted, and refined our processes, exploring ways to build a program that is not just an "artist feature", but fosters real connection and support.
We experimented with different tools, formats, and workflows to better connect artists, share their work, and make the process more accessible and meaningful. With those lessons in mind, we are working on strengthening the foundation and structure for 2026.
Looking Ahead: A Year of Reflection and Renewal
We built this as a program, a structured experience, that allows us to develop deeper connections, care, and shared growth. It is not about ego, fame, or fortune, but building a creative community that honors authenticity, creativity, and compassion.
As we prepare for the coming year, we have been doing a lot of deep work, both personally and organizationally. We have asked ourselves the hard questions about purpose, impact, accessibility, and sustainability. We have listened to feedback, reflected on what has and hasn’t worked, and researched intently, and intensively.
This past year has been a process of finding our voice again, putting ideas into motion, experimenting and exploring our place in building community. It’s been challenging, at times frustrating, even heartbreaking, but also profoundly clarifying.
Growth often comes through loss and transformation, and that is exactly what this year has been.
We have some big things in the works for next year, and we hope you’ll stay tuned as we continue to deepen our community-building efforts. Everything we are doing is focused on sustainability: financially, emotionally, and socially. This cooperative is all volunteer-run, and while funding is important, we have spent this past year investing in something equally vital: connection.
Connection, care, and kindness cost nothing to give, and that is where real community begins.
Supporting Artists & Helping Raise Awareness
Alongside our Artist of the Month features, we will continue raising awareness about issues that matter to our community, our planet, and artists: from mental health and belonging to biodiversity and sustainability.
One of our main goals for the new year, is to find more creative ways to provide direct financial support to the artists, causes, and creative collaborators who make this program possible. In order to maintain space for genuine connection long-term, we must ensure that the people doing this work are supported in meaningful, tangible ways.
When artists, and people in general, have financial stability, it becomes easier to show up in community, to make space for others, and to inspire positive change in both personal and collective ways.
We know that money is a necessary part of existing in this world and economy. In our first year hosting the program, we focused on building connections and fostering community, taking money completely out of the picture. This program is free and volunteer-powered, and will continue to be free for artists. However, we still want to find ways that truly support artists, beyond just a shoutout.
We have seen how many programs charge artists for features while offering little real support in return. We are determined to do things differently, to create something that truly uplifts and values artists for who they are, and what they bring to the world.
In 2026, we will begin testing direct grant-giving opportunities and community support options that help fund:
Featured artists and their ongoing creative practice
Important causes we raise awareness for through art
Interns, contributors, and operational needs that make it all possible
Opportunities to Give
Buy the artist a coffee: A small act of appreciation that directly supports their creative practice.
Gift Supplies: Help the artist continue creating the work that inspires conversation and change.
Give a Grant: Fund a full Artist of the Month feature, supporting both the artist, the team, and the awareness campaign surrounding their theme.
AOTM Monthly Membership: For those who want to give throughout the year, with contributions directly supporting artists and the program. As membership grows, we will add new opportunities, like exclusive artist talks, where members can meet featured artists, and receive early access to upcoming features and virtual exhibitions.
Learning and Participation Opportunities
In addition to the Artist of the Month program, we have our Artist of the Month Internship Program open for 2026. These 3–6 month internships are designed to bring artists together to learn new skills, support each other’s creative journeys, and participate in the behind-the-scenes development of the program.
Interns will gain hands-on experience in areas like:
Website design and content maintenance
Virtual gallery curation and digital exhibition management
Writing and editing for artist features
Branding and marketing for creative programs
Community building and artist engagement
These positions are collaborative, educational, and skill-building, offering a chance to connect with artists across disciplines and countries, while learning how to grow and maintain creative programs and digital spaces.
If you are interested in contributing your skills, or learning new ones, while supporting other artists, we invite you to apply here.
For Businesses, Organizations & Partners
Small businesses, organizations, and community groups are encouraged to “Give a Grant”, a new kind of sponsorship centered on care, not advertising. This isn’t about plastering logos or ad placements everywhere, (we all know the world has enough of those); it’s about supporting creative and community-driven work that truly makes a difference.
Supporters will be recognized in our Thank You section, and through honorable mentions that celebrate genuine contribution, not commercial promotion.
Collaboration Over Competition
Galleries, museums, collectives, and community groups that have, or would like to start, their own Artist of the Month initiative, our creative team is happy to help design and build it. We can design and implement a customized version of this program for each community, complete with artist onboarding, virtual exhibition setup, and storytelling support.
By collaborating instead of competing, we can all learn from one another, grow together, and discover new ways to support creative and cause-driven communities that give back.
Interested partners or collaborators can reach out to connect@confluencecommunity.org for more information, or follow our updates online.
Platform Updates Coming in 2026
Upgraded Artist of the Month Page
We are redesigning the main AOTM featured artist page to include all AOTM content, and we will be moving the application and information about applying, to it's very own page.
Dedicated Application Page
The application will now have its own page, making it easier for artists to apply, learn more about the process, and track upcoming themes that are relevant to their work.
Artist Dashboard for Accepted Applicants
We are developing a new Artist of the Month Dashboard, designed to guide selected artists through their feature month, with program details, content preparation tips, AOTM Alumni group access, and resources to make participation smooth and supportive.
AOTM Alumni Group & Ongoing Resources
We are creating a space for past and present featured artists to stay connected, share updates, and collaborate long after their month has ended. This alumni group will include access to community discussions, mentorship opportunities, and collaborative projects that build from deeper connections with one another.
A Thematic Approach to Selection
Starting next year, we will curate the Artist of the Month selections in alignment with Confluence’s broader campaigns and community themes. This curated approach will connect artist features with the conversations we are having as a community, like topics related to sustainability, identity, healing, and the role of creativity in shaping culture.
Quarterly Selection & Announcement
Artists will be selected on a quarterly basis, giving us time to build thoughtful features and provide artists with greater visibility and support. The first round of 2026 selections will be announced between November and December 2025.
Keeping Submissions Open All Year
Applications will remain open year-round, allowing artists to apply at any time. If an artist applies, but is not selected for the upcoming quarter, their application will remain in the review pile for upcoming months. We recommend artists apply only once for the program, please do not submit multiple applications.
Thank You for Growing with Us
We are grateful to everyone who has joined us on this path.
As we pause November and December AOTM features, to make adjustments and review applications, we will be reaching out this winter with the next round of selected artists.
We are grateful for your patience, support, and belief in what we are building.
Thank you for helping shape this journey, one story, one image, and one connection at a time, and for creating a place where artists are seen, supported, and encouraged.
The Confluence Community Team
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