Description

Sense of Tomorrow is a photography and image-making fellowship led by Artist-in-Residence HATSUE, inviting you to explore connection, community, and the stories unfolding around you right now.

Through bold, high-impact photography and storytelling, you’ll learn how to capture what makes life meaningful from everyday moments to larger social narratives. This is your chance to slow down, observe deeply, and create work that reflects both where you are and where you’re going.

Your work won’t just stay in the studio. It will be exhibited as part of the 2026 FotoFocus Biennial, one of the region’s most significant photography events, placing your voice in a larger cultural conversation. Whether you’re considering a future in the arts or just want to explore your creativity in a meaningful way, this fellowship gives you real tools, real experience, and real visibility.

About the Artist: HATSUE 

HATSUE is a Southwest Ohio–based photographer whose vibrant, high-flash images capture the energy, care, and complexity of everyday life. Her work has been featured regionally on the covers of Cincinnati Magazine and Indianapolis Monthly, and nationally in Rolling Stone. As both a practicing artist, curator (Redtree Coffee & Art), and educator (adjunct professor at DAAP), HATSUE brings a unique perspective on balancing creative passion with real-world practice helping you build both your voice and your path forward.

What You’ll Do

•  Learn how to use a camera with intention, including manual settings and lighting techniques 
•  Explore storytelling through photography capturing people, spaces, and moments that matter 
•  Develop a cohesive body of work that reflects your perspective and ideas 
•  Receive direct feedback and mentorship from a working artist 
•  Collaborate with peers and contribute to a group exhibition 
•  Gain hands-on experience installing and presenting artwork in a professional gallery 

What You’ll Learn

•  How to create images that are visually compelling and emotionally impactful 
•  How to translate ideas into a strong visual narrative 
•  Technical photography skills, including exposure and composition 
•  How to talk about your work with confidence 
•  How to prepare your work for exhibition and sale 

Why This Matters

This fellowship acknowledges that we're all part of a bigger story, and asks: What kind of future do you want to create and how can you begin to show it now?

Through Sense of Tomorrow, you’ll explore how your perspective, your community, and your experiences shape the way you see the world and how you can share that vision with others.
 

Requirements

You Are Expected To...

•  Be aged 16–24 at the start of the program
•  Attend all studio sessions and key program dates 
•  Participate in exhibition installation and opening 
•  Engage fully in the creative process and group experience 

Key Program Dates

Studio Sessions: July 14 – September 4, 2026 |Tuesdays & Thursdays |4–7 PM

Installation & Professional Development: September 15th, 17th, 22nd, 24th, 2026 |4-7PM

Exhibition Dates: September 25 – November 4, 2026

Opening Reception: Friday, September 25, 2026 | 5–7 PM

Deinstallation: Thursday, November 5, 2026 | 4–7 PM
Artwork Pickup: Friday, November 6, 2026 | Time TBD

To Apply, You Will...

• Complete this online application by the deadline on June 29, 2026
• Submit 3–5 portfolio samples (PDF or website) using the additional materials button on the application. If needed, email your PDF to Grace Thanasiu at grace@artworkscincinnati.org. Portfolio is required and most important part of application. 
• Include: title, year, medium, dimensions, and brief description for each sample in the portfolio
• Show work that reflects your perspective and creative voice 

Final Note

You don’t need to have it all figured out.

This is a space to experiment, take risks, build skills, and discover what’s possible whether art becomes your career or simply a powerful tool for how you see and move through the world. Your perspective matters. Let’s build what’s next.