Dan Blask, Program Officer
Mass Cultural Council believes that the work of individual artists is essential to a thriving society. We are excited to announce the launch of the 2021 grant cycle of the Artist Fellowships to support Massachusetts artists and the excellence of their creative work.
The Artist Fellowships are unrestricted, anonymously-judged awards, with grant decisions based solely on the artistic quality and creative ability of the original work submitted*.
Currently, we welcome Artist Fellowships applications in Crafts, Dramatic Writing, Film & Video, Music Composition, Photography, and Sculpture/Installation/New Genres. The deadline for applying in these categories is February 8, 2021.
There are 12 Artist Fellowships categories in total, with six categories accepted each year. Next year (FY22), we will welcome applications in Choreography, Drawing & Printmaking, Fiction/Creative Nonfiction, Painting, Poetry, and Traditional Arts.
This fiscal year (FY21), the Artist Fellowships process is launching later than usual due to the COVID-19 pandemic and a prolonged state budget process. Because of the delayed state budget, the 2021 Artist Fellowships grant amounts are yet to be determined. Award amounts for last year’s Fellowships were $15,000 for Artist Fellowships and $1,500 for Finalist awards.
Who should apply for an Artist Fellowship? We welcome applications from Massachusetts artists who create original work and meet the eligibility requirements. Read our Discipline Definitions and our tips on applying for an Artist Fellowship.
Attend an Office Hours virtual event on January 6, 2021, 10am.
Read full program guidelines, eligibility requirements, and application instructions.
* Please note one exception: in the Traditional Arts category, the review is not anonymous and there is additional review criteria.