How Do I Get an Art Fellowship?

A fellowship is an often short-term opportunity for employment offered by a university or other educational institution. An individual who receives an art fellowship is normally given a certain sum of money for usually one to three years and may be required to organize programming related to the arts, teach classes, or give lectures and organize workshops. Artists who receive fellowships are normally chosen for the merit of their work. In order to get an art fellowship, it can be useful to first use various resources to learn about fellowship offerings for which you may be qualified. Next, it is probably necessary to develop a portfolio, compose a mission statement, and send application materials to the proper recipients.

There are thousands of art fellowships offered all over the world each year. Terms of fellowships vary in terms of qualifications, subject matter of the work, length of employment, size of the award, and responsibilities of the fellow. Lists of fellowships can be found online and in industry periodicals. Many artists choose fellowships based on location, whereas others make decisions based on the size of the award. Factors such as the kind of work preferred for a fellowship and the number or nature of responsibilities associated with a fellowship may also impact an artist's decision.

Each art fellowship opportunity has a number of qualifications required of all viable candidates. These may include factors such as minimum degree requirements, location, and thematic or material preferences. For example, an artist with an undergraduate degree who lives in Canada and works in video would not want to apply for an art fellowship that is only being offered to British artists who hold postgraduate degrees and who oil paint.

Once you have found fellowships for which you are qualified, it can be very important to put together a portfolio of work that meets the needs of the fellowships. Many opportunities may ask for a certain number of works in a particular format. It is a good idea to stick to the instructions as closely as possible.

Many fellowships require applicants to compose essays, statements of purpose, or mission statements as part of the application process. This document should describe in detail which kinds of goals you hope to achieve if you are awarded an art fellowship. The best essays tend to be written to fit the preferences and specializations of a university department or organization.

Most fellowship boards prefer to have application materials received in a certain way. If the application states that materials should be mailed, it is important to have the correct mailing address and to write a salutation that addresses the correct person. Likewise, if instructions state that submissions should be online or digital, do not send your materials to a mailing address until checking first with the relevant authority.