The Spiral Shell Fellowship Grant

The Spiral Shell Fellowship, established in 2022 by VCCA Fellow Sandell Morse, supports writers attending the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts' residency at Moulin à Nef in Auvillar, France. This opportunity is exclusive to VCCA Fellows who have previously resided in Virginia. The fellowship offers an 18-day residency from March 16 to December 10, 2026, providing a $1,000 travel stipend, individual studios, and meals, fostering an environment for creativity and collaboration.

Virginia Center for the Creative Arts
The Virginia Center for the Creative Arts (VCCA) provides time and space for national and international writers, visual artists, and composers of talent and promise to bring forth their finest works, because the arts are vital, diversity is a strength, and creativity is essential.
Virginia Center for the Creative Arts (VCCA), one of the leading artists communities in the world with locations in Amherst, Virginia, and Auvillar, France, hosts more than 400 writers, visual artists, and composers each year. The artists who come to VCCA, whether emerging or established, are selected by peer review on the basis of the important or innovative work they are doing in their respective fields. In residence, VCCA artist-Fellows are provided with an individual studio, a private bedroom and three prepared meals a day so they can focus exclusively on their work. While uninterrupted time is assured and participation in community events or public engagement is voluntary, the dynamic interaction among the 22 Fellows in residence together, as they share work, discuss process, and enjoy each other’s company, is an important component of the creative space of VCCA. With a tradition of hospitality and welcome, VCCA schedules a diverse cohort of artists across disciplines.
Established in 2022 by VCCA Fellow and Board member Sandell Morse, The Spiral Shell Fellowship supports writers attending VCCA’s residency program at the Moulin à Nef in Auvillar, France (open only to VCCA Fellows who have already had a residency in Virginia).