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Application
Instructions > Program Guidelines
Program Guidelines - FY 2013
MCC's Artist Fellowships
The Artist Fellowships provide direct, unrestricted support to
Massachusetts artists in recognition of exceptional original work,
to foster the creation of new art in the Commonwealth. Artist
Fellowships in a range of disciplines are awarded to primary creators
of original works of art.
Awards
The Artist Fellowships provide competitive grants of $7,500 and
finalist awards of $500. The number of awards per discipline category
varies according to the number of applications reviewed, the recommendations
of each panel, and program funds available.
Disciplines and Deadlines
Artists may apply online in the following categories:
- Film & Video
- Music Composition
- Photography
Deadline: January 28, 2013.
APPLY
NOW
Crafts, Dramatic Writing, and Sculpture/Installation applications
were accepted August 15 - October 1, 2012.
Categories for the next (FY 2014) cycle will include: Drawing,
Painting, Traditional Arts, Choreography, Fiction/Creative Nonfiction,
and Poetry.
For more information, please refer to the Discipline
Definitions.
NEW THIS CYCLE: We have adjusted the category name "Playwriting"
to "Dramatic Writing." The category still accepts text-based scripts,
including plays, screenplays, musical theatre scripts, and other
works written for performance. The Dramatic Writing category now
accepts online submissions of work samples (rather than mailed
hard copies).
PLEASE NOTE: the Artist Fellowships Program recognizes contemporary
artists' work ranging from traditional practices to emerging fields.
MCC encourages all eligible artists, in a wide range of disciplines,
including cross-disciplinary forms, to apply to this program.
Please contact MCC
staff if you have any questions about the most appropriate
category or grant cycle.
Eligibility Requirements
Any artist 18 years or older who has been a legal resident of
Massachusetts for the last two years at the time of application
is eligible. All Artist Fellows/Finalists must be legal residents
of Massachusetts when grants are awarded.
The Artist Fellowships Program defines "legal resident" as an
individual who fulfills the description of a "full-year resident"
as defined in the Massachusetts tax code. See the Dept.
of Revenue for more information.
Please note:
- Any artist who has received an MCC Artist Fellowship in the
past five years is ineligible to apply. This includes 2008,
2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012. Finalists from these years may reapply.
Work samples previously submitted in a successful application
(resulting in a full fellowship) may not be re-submitted in
a new application.
- Students enrolled in a degree program directly related to
the discipline or whose degrees are pending at the time of application
are ineligible to apply. Undergraduate students and high school
students are ineligible to apply.
- MCC board members, staff, and their immediate family members may not apply for Artist Fellowships.
- Applicants should be generative artists who create original
work, as opposed to those who interpret or translate the work
of others.
If you are unsure whether you are eligible, please contact
program staff.
Eligible applicants may apply in more than one category. Please note, however, that individual artists may receive only one grant in any given fiscal year. If an applicant is recommended for funding in more than one discipline, s/he will be recognized as a fellow in both categories, but will be awarded only one monetary grant. Applicants may not submit the same work in more than one category. Different excerpts from the same piece do not constitute separate work.
A separate online application (with a new registration, username, and password) is required for each discipline to which an artist applies.
Collaborating artists interested in applying together must file and sign one joint application for a single Artist Fellowship and provide resumes for each collaborator. A collaborator may reside out of state, as long as the primary applicant is a legal resident of Massachusetts.
Review Criteria
There are two review criteria for the Artist Fellowships: artistic
quality and creative ability as evidenced by original work submitted.
Anonymity
MCC's Artist Fellowships review process is anonymous, so neither
your name, nor any information identifying commissions, awards,
reviews, and/or presentations should appear within or upon your
work sample(s). Please include your name and identifying information
only on your resume and where designated in the online application.
Work samples will be tracked by title #1.
Application Process
- Fill out MCC's online application and click on the "Submit"
icon by 11:59pm on Monday, October 1, 2012 (Crafts, Dramatic
Writing, and Sculpture/Installation) or Monday, January 28,
2013 (Film & Video, Music Composition, and Photography).
- For the visual arts disciplines (Crafts, Photography, and
Sculpture/Installation when submitting images) and Dramatic
Writing, all work samples must be uploaded and submitted with
your online application.
- For Film & Video, Music Composition, and Sculpture/Installation
(if submitting DVD): print your Artist Fellowship Application
Summary and send it with your work sample(s) to the MCC. If
you wish to hand-deliver your work sample(s), you must do so
by 5:00pm on the deadline day. Mailed work sample(s) must be
postmarked by October 1, 2012 or January 28, 2013 (Film &
Video and Music Composition) to:
Artist Fellowships
Massachusetts Cultural Council
10 St. James Avenue, 3rd floor
Boston, MA 02116-3803
[Indicate on envelope to which disciplines you are applying.]
Faxed or emailed work samples will not be reviewed, nor will late
and incomplete applications be reviewed.
Applicants will be informed by email of final grant decisions by
early February (Crafts, Dramatic Writing, and Sculpture/Installation)
or by early June (Film & Video, Music Composition, and Photography).
Work Sample Instructions
Work samples that do not adhere to the following guidelines will
not be reviewed. For tips on applying for an Artist Fellowship,
please visit our blog ArtSake.
CRAFTS - Deadline: October 1, 2012
Work samples that do not adhere to the following guidelines will not be reviewed. Work completed prior to 2009 is ineligible.
Upload five images, in JPG format, using the online form. Images will be simultaneously projected left to right, 1-5, during the panel review. Please consider this as you choose the order in which you upload images.
Preparing Your Digital Images
Images must be saved in JPG format, with the longest dimension (horizontal or vertical) no more than 768 pixels. The minimum image resolution size is 72 dpi. (Read a tip sheet on preparing your images.)
Panel review of work samples is anonymous. Therefore, neither your name, nor any information identifying commissions, awards, reviews, and/or presentations should appear on your work sample. Work samples will be tracked by title #1.
DRAMATIC WRITING - Deadline: October 1, 2012
Work samples that do not adhere to the following guidelines will not be reviewed. Upload a file of a manuscript of 30 pages or less. You may include a single work, or up to four excerpts. Any additional pages will be discarded from the end of the manuscript. If you choose to include title pages, character lists, etc., keep in mind these will be counted as part of the 30 pages.
Works in progress are eligible. Work completed prior to 2009 in ineligible.
Panel review of work samples is anonymous. Therefore, neither your name, nor any information identifying commissions, awards, reviews, and/or presentations should appear on your manuscript. Work samples will be tracked by title #1.
Work samples must be:
- Formatted using standard script format.
- On 8 ½” X 11” pages.
- Typed in Times, Helvetica, or equivalent font, no smaller than 12 point in size.
- Formatted with at least 1” margins on all sides.
- Page numbered and labeled with the manuscript title at the top or bottom of every page.
- Uploaded as .doc, .pdf, .txt, or .rtf. (For best results, please be sure the file names contain no punctuation marks.)
SCULPTURE/INSTALLATION - Deadline: October 1, 2012
Applicants must select either five digital images OR one DVD for submission to this category. Do not submit work samples in both media.
Work samples that do not adhere to the following guidelines will not be reviewed.
Work completed prior to 2009 is ineligible. Works in progress may be submitted.
Instructions for images
Upload five images, in JPG format, using the online form. Images will be simultaneously projected left to right, 1-5, during the panel review. Please consider this as you choose the order in which you upload images.
Images must be saved in JPG format, with the longest dimension (horizontal or vertical) no more than 768 pixels. The minimum image resolution size is 72 dpi. (Read a tip sheet on preparing your images (PDF).)
Instructions for DVD
Include up to four installations (no longer than 5 minutes total running time) on DVD (one copy).
Label the DVD with title(s) of work(s) you are submitting. Panel review of work samples is anonymous. Therefore, do not include credits or your name within the work itself, nor on the surface of the DVD.
If you wish to have your DVD returned through the mail, please provide a self-addressed stamped mailer or box with sufficient postage. The MCC assumes no responsibility for material lost or damaged in the review process, or for shipping costs.
Panel review of work samples is anonymous. Therefore, neither your name, nor any information identifying commissions, awards, reviews, and/or presentations should appear on your work sample. Work samples will be tracked by title #1.
FILM
& VIDEO - Deadline: January 28, 2013
Work samples that do not adhere to the following guidelines will not be reviewed. Submit two copies of a DVD with a sample or samples of recent work. You may include a single work, or up to four works or excerpts. Total running time must be 30 minutes or less. Please make sure your DVDs will work in a commercially available DVD player.
Works in progress are eligible. Work completed prior to 2009 is ineligible.
Label each DVD with title(s) of included work(s). Panel review of work samples is anonymous. Therefore, neither your name, nor any information identifying commissions, awards, reviews, and/or presentations, should appear on the surface of the DVDs or within the work itself. Work samples will be tracked by title #1.
The following types of work will not be accepted: instructional or corporate work, news programming, infomercials, and promo/resume reels.
If you wish to have work samples returned through the mail, please provide a self-addressed stamped mailer or box with sufficient postage. The MCC assumes no responsibility for material lost or damaged during the review process, or for shipping costs.
MUSIC
COMPOSITION - Deadline: January 28, 2013
Work samples that do not adhere to the following guidelines will not be reviewed. Submit two copies of a CD of no more than 60 minutes playing time, with up to four tracks. Label the CD with title(s).
Panel review of work samples is anonymous. Therefore, neither your name, nor any information identifying the commissions, awards, reviews, names of ensembles or individual musicians, and/or presentations, should appear on your CDs or packaging, or in the scores and other accompanying paper materials. Work samples will be tracked by title #1.
Works in progress are eligible. Work completed prior to 2009 is ineligible.
Submit up to 15 pages of scores, lead sheets, or other performance notes that correspond to the work sample(s) you are including. Please include two copies.
Written materials must be:
- On white, letter quality 8 ½” X 11” paper.
- Formatted with at least 1” margins on all sides.
- Page numbered and labeled with the title of the corresponding composition at the top of every page.
- Held together with paper clips, binder clips, or rubber bands. Do not use staples, plastic sleeves, or any binding.
If you wish to have your CDs returned through the mail, please provide a self-addressed stamped mailer or box with sufficient postage. The MCC assumes no responsibility for material lost or damaged in the mail or for shipping costs.
PHOTOGRAPHY
- Deadline: January 28, 2013
Work samples that do not adhere to the following guidelines will not be reviewed. Work completed prior to 2009 is ineligible.
Upload five images, in JPG format, using the online form. Images will be simultaneously projected left to right, 1-5, during the panel review. Please consider this as you choose the order in which you upload images.
Preparing Your Digital Images
Images must be saved in JPG format, with the longest dimension (horizontal or vertical) no more than 768 pixels. The minimum image resolution size is 72 dpi. (Read a tip sheet on preparing your images.)
Panel review of work samples is anonymous. Therefore, neither your name, nor any information identifying commissions, awards, reviews, and/or presentations should appear on your work sample. Work samples will be tracked by title #1.
Application Receipt Notification
For delivery notification, mail your work sample(s) "return receipt
requested" via the US Postal Service.
Review Process
After the application deadline, MCC convenes independent panels
to review applications. Panels are composed of artists and arts
professionals representing a range of aesthetic perspectives.
The review process is anonymous to ensure impartial assessment
of each applicant's work. Funding recommendations made by review
panels are presented to the MCC board for final award decisions.
Return of Application Material
Applicants in Film & Video, Music Composition, and Sculpture/Installation
(if submitting DVD) who wish to have work samples returned through
the mail must provide a self-addressed, stamped mailer or box
with sufficient postage. The MCC assumes no responsibility for
material lost or damaged during the review process or for shipping
costs. To arrange pick-up of work samples, contact the Artists
Department after grants are announced. Please call at least one
business day before you wish to retrieve your work samples. All
materials not claimed by July 31, 2013 will be discarded.
Access Policy
The MCC is committed to access not only as a matter of law, but
also as a policy designed to encourage the participation of all
segments of the Commonwealth's population in MCC-funded programs.
The Massachusetts Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity currently
designates the following as underserved: African Americans, Asian
Americans, Latin Americans, Native Americans, people with disabilities,
Vietnam-era veterans, and women. The MCC also considers low-income
communities, rural populations, and citizens over 65 years old as
underserved. The MCC does not discriminate on the basis of gender,
sexual orientation, religion, race, or disability.
Conflict of Interest
To ensure that all MCC review panels are free from conflicts of
interest and/or the appearance of such conflicts, panelists are
required to disclose any current or prospective affiliations they
or their immediate family members have with an actual or potential
applicant. "Affiliations" applies to employment, board memberships,
independent contractual relationships, advisory or policy relationships,
substantial contributor relationships, or other financial relationships.
In addition, panelists are required to disclose any past or current
adversarial relationships with actual or potential applicants of
a professional or personal nature. MCC board members are not permitted
to participate in discussions or votes relating to any applicant
with whom they have an affiliation or relating to any applicants
competing with that applicant.
Reconsideration Policy
An applicant may request reconsideration of an MCC decision on his
or her application if the applicant can demonstrate that the MCC
failed to follow published application and review procedures. Dissatisfaction
with the results of a review does not constitute grounds for reconsideration,
however.
The first step in the reconsideration process is to consult with
the appropriate Program Coordinator to discuss the review process
that concluded in MCC's decision. If the applicant wishes to pursue
a reconsideration, a request must be sent to the MCC's Executive
Director, in writing, within 30 days of the MCC's notification to
the applicant of its decision. All requests will go to the MCC's
board for reconsideration no earlier than its next scheduled board
meeting.
APPLY
NOW
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