Spring Hill College professor named Alabama visual arts fellow
Reading time: 2 minutes
The Alabama State Council on the Arts (ASCA) announced its competitive fellowship grants for the fiscal year 2027 cohort, investing a total of $172,500 across the state.
To help local creators better fund their deep studio work and research, individual award amounts were increased this year from $5,000 to $7,500. Among the list of 23 fellowship winners, Mobile’s own Wanda Sullivan claimed her spot in the winner’s circle as the sole representative for the Gulf Coast region.
What to know about Mobile artist Wanda Sullivan
The state’s fellowship program rewards individual artists who demonstrate exceptional craft and a long-term commitment to their communities. Here is what you need to know about the local painter taking home the $7,500 award:
- The discipline: Visual Arts Fellowship (Oil Painting)
- Local role: Professor of Art + Director of the Eichold Gallery at Spring Hill College
- Background: Earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) from the University of South Alabama before completing her Master of Fine Arts (MFA) at the University of Mississippi.
- The work: Maintains an active studio practice in Midtown Mobile focused on large-scale oil paintings. Her pieces use highly saturated, vibrant botanical imagery drawn from her own yard to examine the intersection of the natural world, digital dependency + climate change.
“Supporting artists is one of the most meaningful ways we can ensure Alabama’s communities remain vibrant, connected, and full of possibility.”
Elliot Knight, Executive Director of the Council on the Arts
How to apply for upcoming state arts funding
The next funding cycle for local creators and organizations opens soon. The Alabama State Council on the Arts grants portal officially reopened Wednesday, July 1, for project grants and Folk Arts Apprenticeship requests.
Review the state eligibility requirements and deadlines at arts.alabama.gov.
