2025 Maine Artist Fellowship

The Maine Arts Fellowship recognizes artistic excellence in the overall career of a Maine artist. Donor Name: Maine Arts Commission State: Maine County: All Counties Type of Grant: Fellowship Deadline: 07/03/2024 Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000 Grant Duration: 1 Year Details: Fellowships are not grants for artist projects; they are a merit-based awards that evaluated by a review panel on the level of artistic creativity and vision shown in the artist’s support materials.  One artist will be selected for each discipline, creating a cohort of 7 Maine Artist Fellows. Maine Artist Fellowships are available in each of the following artistic disciplines: Belvedere Handcraft (Available only to residents of Hancock or Washington County) Fine Craft Literary Arts Media Arts Performing Arts Traditional Arts Visual Arts Funding Information Award: $5,000. Grant Period July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025. What an artist can expect as a Maine arts fellow? Unrestricted award to help advance artists career as they see fit Artist Bios hosted on Maine Arts Commission website and included in all digital publications Year Long promotion/communications of fellow’s activities. Fellowship Reception with Maine Arts Staff and Commissioners at the Blaine House in early 2025. Networking and other collaborative opportunities throughout the year. Note: Opportunities for fellows can change year to year and this list is subject to change throughout the year.(Award amount is not subject to change in this FY2025 cycle). Specific Fellowship Requirements Belvedere Handcraft – Available to craft artists of Hancock or Washington County only. Artists working in clay, fiber, glass, leather, metal, paper, stone, wood or other studio craft mediums are eligible to apply. Craft artists in counties other than Hancock or Washington should apply for the Fine Craft Artist Fellowship. Fine Craft – Available for craft artists engaged in contemporary studio practice and/ or traditional materials such as clay, fiber, glass, leather, metal, paper, stone, wood, or other mediums. Craft artists residing in Washington or Hancock counties should apply for the Belvedere Handcraft Fellowship. Literary Arts- Available to contemporary literary artists in fiction, nonfiction, poetry, prose, and other writing genera.  Literary artists who work in the medium of scriptwriting for the stage or screen should apply in the performing arts fellowship category. Multimedia/Film- Available to media artists and filmmakers working in the disciplines of film, video, animation, podcasts, web series, and other performative works that are presented through a mediating technology (not meant to be experienced live). Photography artists should apply to the Visual Arts Fellowship. Performing Arts- Available to artists working in disciplines including theatre, dance, music, scenic design, opera, script writing and other genera intended to be presented as a live performance. Traditional Arts -Available to a person for the experience and commitment to the traditional art form they practice.  The program honors Maine traditional artists who have devoted their lives to keeping a particular traditional art form alive. These arts call for a deep connection to place and local practices and play an essential role in shaping a traditional artist’s work and repertoire. This could include maintaining cultural traditions in building, writing, music, dance, textile arts, carving, weaving, boatbuilding, and other heritage expressions practiced by established populations or new immigrant artists. Visual Arts – Available to artists working in disciplines including painting, sculpture, printmaking, drawing, photography, installation, and other visual arts genres. Digital art can fit within this category, but artists working with the moving image may wish to apply to the Media Fellowship. Eligibility Requirements Is an individual Maine artist or part of an artist collective (collectives may only apply once per award cycle, with one member as the primary contact and who submits the application). If applicable, has completed Final Reports required by the Maine Arts Commission for previous awards. Is a current Maine resident who has resided full-time in Maine for at least one year just prior to the application deadline. Will be a Maine resident throughout the project period. Is at least 25 years of age or older by the application deadline. Is not an enrolled student at the start of the award cycle (July 1) (Please contact the agency if you have questions). Has not been previously awarded a Maine Artist Fellowship. For more information, visit Maine Arts Commission.