Individual Artist Fellowships

• has a valid Maine address as a full time resident of the state, and
• is 18 years of age or older at the time of the application, and
• is not enrolled as a full-time student in a field related to the application, and
• has resided full-time in Maine for a minimum of two years at the date of application, and
• has completed and filed all final reports required for previous Maine Arts Commission grants.

Please do not submit work in elaborate file folders or packaging. Make copies of all forms and other application materials for your records prior to submitting them to the Maine Arts Commission. If you have questions about your Individual Artist Fellowship application, please contact Donna McNeil, contemporary art & public art associate at 207/287-2726, donna.mcneil@maine.gov or TTY/NexTalk 877/887-3878 User ID: donna.mcneil.

Review Process

A jury selects Fellows on the sole basis of artistic excellence. Jurors are selected for expertise in a specific field, as well as for a broad-based familiarity with other fields. Every attempt will be made to select nationally renowned jurors. Due to the competitiveness of the Individual Artist Fellowship program and to avoid conflict of interest, all jurors selected for this program reside out of state. Because the sole criterion for selection is artistic excellence, the jury may, at its discretion, make fewer awards.

All applications are reviewed anonymously to ensure equity. Supporting materials, including resumes and statements of intent, are only reviewed at the specific request of a juror. Separate juries are assembled to review visual, literary and performing arts. Therefore, the bulk of the review is based on artistic materials alone. The jury’s recommendations are presented to the Maine Arts Commission who approves the selection process at its next regularly scheduled meeting. Applicants will receive notice following that meeting.

Review Criterion

All grant proposals are reviewed on a competitive basis using the following criterion:

• Highest level of artistic excellence.

Frequently Asked Questions

Artistic Materials

Artists applying to the Individual Artist Fellowship program must submit materials in the format described on the following pages. Because of the competitiveness of the Individual Artist Fellowship program, the format for submitting artistic materials is more exacting than other programs. Digital, audio, video or manuscript clarity is the most important aspect of your presentation to the jury. It is essential that materials are of the professional quality necessary to represent your artwork well.

Formats

Please use the following instructions to insure your eligibility. All applications must include one set of artistic materials (applicants in literature must send four complete copies of the manuscript and if a synopsis is included please also include four copies as well ,) and a description list.

CD ROM for Visual Submissions

• The application package must include one set of ten images, depicting individual pieces, installations, designs models or products. Detail shots may be included.
• Preferred image format is a digital/scanned image saved as a .jpeg. The images need to be at least 5X7 inches (no larger than 8X10 inches) and saved at a resolution of no less than 300 dpi. Color images are preferred, so that they may be used on the web site (in color) or in printed publications (in color or black and white).
• When you save your image, use the following guidelines to name your file:
  Title of image_year of work.jpg
  For example: Untitled_2004.jpg
  Use no spacing in the name, instead use an underscore.
• Work samples must be accompanied by a list that includes the artist's name, titles of works, dimensions, materials and date of completion for each image submitted.
• Represented work must be current, which means preferably within the past three years, except in the case of large-scale installations.
• NOTE: Slide or .TIF format are no longer accepted for application to this program.

CD ROM and DVD for Audio and Video Submissions

• The application package must include four identical quality recording(s) in CD ROM or DVD format.
• Preferred formats are:
  Windows audio or video files (.avi or .wav),
  MP3 (.mp3 or .m3u),
  Moving Picture Experts Group (.mpeg, .mpg, .m1v, .mp2, .mpa, .mpe, .mp2v or .mpv2).
• Selection(s) should be no more than of 15 minutes in length, but may include the performance of more than one piece. Submissions may include a single selection that may be used to represent the artist’s main body of work, or an artist(s) may submit a compilation of excerpts from several different pieces. If an artist is submitting a commercially produced CD or DVD then they must clearly indicate selected tracks or portions of tracks. These submissions should allow for jurors to hear/watch selected segments of larger works without viewing the entire piece.
• DVDs and CDs should contain enough space between selections to alert the jurors that they are beginning a new work.
• Work samples must be accompanied by a separate sheet listing for the application review with the artist’s name, title(s) of work(s), chapter number, minute and second that each excerpt falls within the DVD, date(s) of completion, and additional production credits. Additionally, please leave at least 30 seconds of black space/sound if submitting a menu-less DVD.
• Represented work should be current, which means preferably within the past three years.
• NOTE: Audio cassette or VCR format is no longer accepted for application to this program.

MANUSCRIPT Submissions

• The application package must include four identical manuscript copies with up to five poems (not to exceed 20 pages total), or works of prose (up to 20 pages). Script and playwriting applicants should include one act or scene only up to 20 pages.
• All materials must be legible in 12-point or larger type, double spaced on 8 ½” x 11” paper and properly collated. The name of the author should not appear on any manuscript material.
• Selections from a longer script or work of prose must be accompanied by a synopsis of the complete work. Four copies of the synopsis are required as well.
• The manuscript must not include evidence of publication. Copied, published material that is not in original manuscript format will not be accepted. Authors who illustrate their own work may send in unpublished renderings.
• Represented work must be current; which means preferably within the past three years.

Biographical Information

Please include a resume, curriculum vita, or biographical sketch that speaks to your experience as a practicing artist. The jury will not favor one format over another, but please send only one version. For instance, an academic record may be of importance to one artist, an exhibition record to another and documentation of the passing of a cultural tradition to another. However, in the case of the Individual Artist Fellowship program, this material is referenced only if requested by a juror. Staff also uses these materials to promote the fellows once they are selected.

Although artistic materials are always the most important factor, a neat and well-designed resume, vita or sketch and carefully produced marketing materials speak to your professionalism. Please do not send letters of support, newspaper articles and other promotional materials.

Clearly label your submission with the name of the applicant and email to kathy.shaw@maine.gov or send on a CD Rom to Maine Arts Commission, Kathy Ann Shaw, Senior Development Associate, 25 State House Station, 193 State Street, Augusta, Maine 04333-0025.

Maine Arts Commission
193 State Street
25 State House Station
Augusta, Maine 04333-0025
phone: 207/287-2724
fax: 207/287-2725
tty: 1-877/887-3878
e-mail: MaineArts.info@maine.gov

© 2002 Maine Arts Commission
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