2027 Maine Artist Fellowship
Current Status: Upcoming
Opens: September 1, 2026
Deadline: October 14, 2026
Award: $5,000
Award Cycle: January 1, 2027 to December 31, 2027
Supporting Information
Fellowship Details
The Maine Artist Fellowship recognizes artistic excellence in the overall career of a Maine artist. Fellowships are not grants for artist projects; they are merit-based awards evaluated by a review panel based on the artistic creativity and vision demonstrated through the applicant’s entire application.
One artist will be selected for each discipline, creating a cohort of six Maine Artist Fellows. Maine Artist Fellowships are available in each of the following artistic disciplines:
- Fine Craft
- Literary Arts
- Media Arts and Photography
- Performing Arts
- Traditional Arts
- Visual Arts
What an Artist Can Expect as a Maine Artist Fellow
- Unrestricted award to help advance the artist’s career as they see fit
- Artist bios hosted on the Maine Arts Commission website and included in digital publications
- Year-long promotion and communications of Fellow activities
- Fellowship reception with Maine Arts Commission staff and Commissioners in early 2027
- 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. The award amount is not subject to change during the FY2027 cycle.
Specific Fellowship Requirements
Applicants may apply in only one Fellowship discipline.
- 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.
- Literary Arts: Available to contemporary literary artists in fiction, nonfiction, poetry, prose, and other writing genres. Literary artists who work in the medium of scriptwriting for the stage or screen should apply in the Performing Arts Fellowship category.
- Media Arts and Photography: Photography, film, video, animation, audio, podcasts, digital art, digital media, web-based work, multimedia, and other lens-based or technology-mediated work.
- Performing Arts: Available to artists working in disciplines including theatre, dance, music, scenic design, opera, script writing, and other genres 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, installation, mixed media, and other visual arts practices. Artists whose work is primarily photographic, digital, lens-based, or technology-mediated should apply in Media Arts and Photography.
Eligibility Requirements
An eligible applicant:
- Is an individual Maine artist or part of an artist collective. Collectives may only apply once per award cycle, with one member serving as the primary contact and submitting 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 2 years prior to the application deadline.
- Will be a Maine resident throughout the Fellowship period.
- Is at least 25 years of age or older by the application deadline.
- Is not an enrolled student as of January 1, 2027. Please contact the Maine Arts Commission if you have questions about your student status.
- Has not been previously awarded a Maine Artist Fellowship.
Eligible Expenses
The Fellowship award is unrestricted and may be used at the artist’s discretion. All activities supported through the award must comply with applicable Maine state and local laws.
Ineligible Expenses
Expenses or activities that do not comply with applicable Maine state or local laws.
Application Requirements
All applications and materials must be submitted through Submittable. Applicants are encouraged to carefully review these guidelines and contact the Maine Arts Commission with questions before beginning an application.
Fine Craft, Literary Arts, Media Arts and Photography, Performing Arts, and Visual Arts
Applicants in these five Fellowship disciplines complete the questions below and submit the required materials.
Application Questions
- Artist Bio
In a few sentences, tell us who you are and what you do as an artist. Think of this as your 30-second introduction.
250 characters maximum - Connection to Maine
Tell us about your connection to Maine and how living and working here relates to your artistic practice.
500 characters maximum - Artist Statement
Tell us about your work as an artist. In your response, consider:- What ideas, interests, approaches, or traditions influence your work?
- How has your artistic practice developed over time?
- What are you currently exploring or deepening in your work?
Required Materials
- Resume, CV, or Expanded Artist Bio
Applicants may submit a resume, CV, or expanded artist bio. If submitting an expanded artist bio: Provide a brief bio describing your background as an artist. Include relevant artistic experience, accomplishments, and other information that helps reviewers understand your artistic practice and career.
1,500 characters maximum for the expanded artist bio - Artistic samples as described in the Artistic Sample Guidelines below.
Traditional Arts Fellowship
Traditional Arts Fellowship applicants complete the questions below and submit the required materials.
Application Questions
- Artist Bio
Provide a brief bio describing who you are and your background as a traditional artist.
500 characters maximum - Provide an overview of your traditional art form.
700 characters maximum - Provide a description of how you learned your art, including who taught you as well as other family, tribal, ethnic, or occupational influences on your work.
700 characters maximum - How long have you been practicing your art form?
500 characters maximum - Provide a description of the community where you practice your art. What is your role as an artist in this community?
700 characters maximum - Include a description of local, state, or national recognition of your work.
700 characters maximum
Required Uploads
- Artistic samples as described in the Artistic Sample Guidelines below.
Artistic Sample Guidelines
Artistic samples may include images, audio, video, writing samples, links, and other materials appropriate to the applicant’s artistic discipline.
Maximum Number of Samples
- Fine Craft: 8 maximum
- Literary Arts: 5 maximum
- Media Arts and Photography: 8 maximum
- Performing Arts: 8 maximum
- Traditional Arts: 8 maximum
- Visual Arts: 8 maximum
| Upload | File Type | Format and Tips |
|---|---|---|
| Images | JPG, PNG, PDF | Images will be viewed digitally and not printed. |
| Audio | MP3 | Include only the material intended for panel review. |
| Video | MP4, WMV, YouTube or Vimeo link |
|
| Writing Samples* |
|
|
| Links** | If providing links to access supporting materials, they may be listed in one document. Each individual link counts as one artistic sample. |
* Literary Arts applicants are limited to uploading writing samples such as prose, poetry, and other literary work.
** For any link submitted for review, 1 link = 1 artistic sample.
Important: Applications missing any of the required uploads or containing more than the allowed number of artistic samples cannot be accepted.
The Maine Arts Commission may use submitted materials solely for the non-commercial promotion of the artist and/or Maine Arts Commission programs.
Review Process
Submitted applications are reviewed by Maine Arts Commission staff for completeness, eligibility, and adherence to the guidelines. Eligible applications are reviewed by a diverse panel of arts and cultural professionals from around the country with appropriate expertise related to the Fellowship program. Fellowship review panels do not include Maine residents.
Award recommendations are submitted to the Maine Arts Commission for final approval. Applicants are notified of their award status following final approval.
Awards
The delivery of funds may take up to six months from the time of award notification. All applicants are notified of their award status via email. Successful applicants also receive documents and instructions regarding award acceptance. Awardees are listed on the Maine Arts Commission website.
Disclaimer
Our selection process is competitive and based on a thorough review of all applications against our established criteria as well as available resources. The acceptance of applications for this program does not guarantee the allocation of funds.
GRANT ASSISTANCE
Our goal is for all potential applicants to have the resources they need to submit a competitive application. If you have questions about the application process, please contact us. We are always happy to help!
Eli Cabañas, Grants and Website Manager
vog.eniam@sanabac.ile
207-215-5872
Accessibility
Grant information is available in large print format by request.
If you require an alternate format or need assistance accessing the guidelines or application, please contact ADA Accessibility Coordinator Eli Cabañas by email at vog.eniam@sanabac.ile or by phone at 207-215-5872.
It is the policy of the Maine Arts Commission not to discriminate on the basis of disability. The Commission is dedicated to making our programs accessible and inclusive for people with disabilities and assisting individuals with disabilities in connecting with resources for access to the arts. All programs funded by the Maine Arts Commission must also be accessible.