Frequently Asked Questions
The questions (and answers) in this section focus mainly on eligibility requirements and our grant review process.
Visit the contracts section
for any questions about your Artist Fellowship contract.
When is my application due?
There are two Artist Fellowship deadlines per cycle, with artistic
disciplines divided between deadlines in October and in January.
Refer to the program guidelines
to see when your discipline will be accepted. Online applications
must be submitted by 11:59 PM on the deadline day.
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When will you announce the fellowship results?
We will announce Artist Fellows and Finalists by email. We will send this email by early
February (for October deadline) or by early June (for January
deadline).Please note: If you have opted out ("unsubscribed") from receiving Mass Cultural Council e-newsletters, you will not receive the announcement. We will also publish the results on Mass Cultural Council's web site.
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Can I get a printed copy of the Artist Fellowship
application?
All Artist Fellowship applications must be completed online. If
you do not own a computer and don’t have access to one, please contact the Mass Cultural Council. You may first print
out the discipline-specific
instructions so you can prepare your application before you
go to fill it out online.
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Which disciplines are funded through the Artist Fellowships?
Discipline categories rotate on a biannual basis.
Even year categories are:
- Choreography
- Drawing & Printmaking
- Fiction/Creative Nonfiction
- Painting
- Poetry
- Traditional Arts
Odd year categories include:
- Crafts
- Dramatic Writing
- Film & Video
- Music Composition
- Photography
- Sculpture/Installation/New Genres
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How much money can I receive through the Artist Fellowships?
Artist Fellowship awards are $15,000 and Finalist awards are $1,000. Please note that award amounts may change, year to year, depending on our annual budget.
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Can I apply in more than one discipline?
Yes. If you are selected as a grant
recipient in more than one discipline, you will be listed as
a winner in each discipline but will receive only one monetary
award. Also, keep in mind that you cannot use the same works
of art for more than one application.
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I received an Artist Fellowship in
the past. Am I eligible to apply in this funding cycle?
Recipients may not reapply for five years. For example, an applicant
who received a fellowship in 2015 is not eligible to apply again
until 2021.
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I was previously selected as a Finalist.
Am I eligible to apply in my discipline in this funding cycle?
Yes. Finalists may reapply at any time.
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Why can't I put my name on my work sample?
Except for Traditional Arts, all applications are evaluated in
a completely anonymous process. See the guidelines
for more information.
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How is my work evaluated?
Your work is evaluated by a panel of artists and arts professionals in your discipline. The evaluation is anonymous at every step of the process (except in Traditional Arts). Panelists judge only the artistic merit of the work submitted. First, panelists forward the most competitive applicants to a final round. The panel then ranks applicants and makes the determination of Artist Fellows and Finalists. If you apply in Traditional Arts, the process is different. Traditional Arts applicants are evaluated by a panel of folklorists, traditional artists, and other cultural specialists according to specific review criteria (please see guidelines). All panel recommendations are presented to the governor-appointed Mass Cultural Council board for final approval.
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Who are the panelists?
Panelists are artists, teachers, critics, and leaders in their
respective fields. We welcome new panelist recommendations. Email
the appropriate program staff,
and be sure to include contact information for the panelist you
are recommending.
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What is an artist resume?
An artist resume or biography details your achievement as an
artist. The resume can include awards or recognition in your
field; publications, exhibitions, or presentations of your work;
public readings; workshops of your art; conferences and master
classes you have taught, organized, or attended; national, regional,
or state affiliations in your field (i.e. "member of the
Dramatists Guild").
If you don’t have extensive artistic experience to list on your resume, don’t worry! Artist Fellowship panelists will not review your resume. We ask for resumes so we have information to better promote the Fellows and Finalists.
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Can I submit work that has been published?
Yes. But your material must be in document form, as specified
by the discipline-specific instructions. Do not include any information that identifies
publication, to help ensure that all work, published or unpublished,
is evaluated in the same manner.
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What size should my images be?
Images must be saved in JPG format. Resize your images so that H or W Pixel Dimension are at least 1200 pixels. You may resize greater than 1200 pixels (e.g., 2400 px) as long as the file size doesn't exceed 5 MB. More info.
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How many Artist Fellowships are awarded in my discipline?
The number of awards varies with each discipline. It depends on
the number of applicants, the recommendations of each panel,
and available funds.
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If I am awarded a fellowship, when can I expect
to receive the money?
You can expect payment of your award six weeks after
you complete and return the contract and other paperwork that
will accompany your notification letter.
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Is the fellowship taxable?
Yes. According to IRS guidelines, the fellowship money you receive
is considered taxable income.
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What if I have more questions?
Please read the instructions in the Artist
Fellowships Application, then contact the Mass Cultural Council's Artists
Department.
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