The True Blue Fellowship is run by Bow Seat: Creative Action for Conservation, a Massachusetts-based nonprofit founded in 2011 that works with young people on environmental issues through the creative arts. Each year the fellowship selects 12 young people aged 16–24 from anywhere in the world, each leading their own project that uses the creative arts to safeguard the ocean, waterways or the climate. Fellows receive up to US$2,500 toward the project and a year of workshops, expert and advisor sessions, and peer collaboration with the Future Blue Youth Council. The work happens remotely, in the fellow’s own community, across a fellowship year that runs January to December, with monthly cohort meetings and quarterly reporting. Projects must be new or emerging — no older than two years — and must use the creative arts as their primary method of enacting change.
Benefits & funding
- Funding of up to US$2,500 for the project; the final amount is set after evaluation of the application and the interview.
- Access to a community of fellow recipients and to Bow Seat capacity-building programs.
- Pairing with two to three Future Blue Youth Council members, with peer calls at least once a month.
- Skill-building workshops, sessions with experts in the field, and one-on-one sessions with advisors.
- Support from Bow Seat staff throughout the fellowship year.
Eligibility
- Open to young people worldwide, aged 16–24 at the start of the fellowship period in January.
- Applicants under 18 must identify an Adult Sponsor.
- Applications must be submitted in English, and applicants should be comfortable communicating in spoken English.
- Individuals, groups or organizations may apply; a group or organization designates one project leader to serve as the Fellow.
- Projects must be new or emerging, no older than two years. A group or organization older than two years may apply if the proposed project is less than two years old.
- Projects must use the creative arts as the primary method of enacting change and must relate to safeguarding the ocean, waterways and/or the climate.
- Only one application per young person is permitted.
- No nationality, residency or degree requirement is stated.
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Age requirement
16–24 yrs
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Application process
- 1Read the program page, the apply page and the FAQs, and check the project against the creative-arts and ocean, waterways or climate criteria.
- 2Prepare the project plan with a budget and timeline; applicants under 18 arrange an Adult Sponsor.
- 3Submit the online application form by 30 August, 11:59pm ET.
- 4The Future Blue Youth Council reads each application at least twice during September and October and draws up a shortlist of finalists.
- 5Finalists are interviewed through November by a committee of Future Blue Youth Council members, fellowship alumni and Bow Seat staff, which selects the 12 Fellows.
- 6Selected Fellows — and their Adult Sponsor if under 18 — are notified by email before the public announcement, and return a signed Affidavit of Eligibility/Liability Release, and where lawful a Publicity Release, within five business days of attempted notification.
Program timeline
Application deadline, 11:59pm ET
Aug 30, 2026
Future Blue Youth Council reviews applications and shortlists finalists
2026-09 to 2026-10
2026-11
Finalist interviews; finalists notified by early November
2026-12
Fellows selected and announced by early December
Fellowship year begins, opening with a virtual weekend orientation
2027-01
Fellowship year ends
2027-12