KRESGE ARTIST FELLOWSHIPS
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is a Fellowship?
Kresge Artist Fellowships are for emerging and established artists and are intended to fund an artist's creative vision and voice. Fellowships are not project grants and no special conditions are attached to them. Fellowship funding may cover any aspect of the artist's life, such as, but not limited to, informal study, exploration of new artistic directions, overhead costs, travel as it directly relates to the artistic career, living and other expenses.
Kresge Arts in Detroit is committed to supporting metropolitan Detroit artists of diverse cultural, sexual, and ethnic backgrounds. Kresge Arts in Detroit does not discriminate based on the age, gender, ethnicity, sexuality or ability/disability of artists and welcomes work whose content reflects the lived experiences of the applicants.
How do I choose the appropriate category (Literary Arts, Performing Arts, Visual Arts) in which to apply?
Ultimately, this decision begins and ends with the applicant; please review the Guidelines carefully. Applicants are likely to be most competitive in a category if they can demonstrate a significant commitment to that particular category.
Can I apply in more than one category in the two-year cycle?
Applicants may ONLY apply in more than one category if they can demonstrate a significant commitment to each of the individual categories. If an applicant applies in more than one category, a completely separate application and set of support materials must be submitted for each application. Please note: Applicants that submit an application to more than one category may ONLY receive funding in one category per two-year cycle.
If I work in collaboration with another artist(s), how do I apply?
Artists who collaborate with other artists and who have an on-going demonstrated history of collaborative work are permitted to apply under one collaborative application. Collaborators ONLY create one account on the CueRate online application system. Applications should have one primary applicant and include the profile information for the additional collaborators. Literary Arts applications may have up to two additional collaborators, and Performing Arts applications may have up to four additional collaborators. Collaborative applicants should submit only one completed collaborative application that includes one collaborative Artist Resume/CV, one collaborative Artist Statement, one collaborative Narrative Statement, one set of collaborative Work Samples and one set of Letters of Recommendation in support of the collaboration. Please note: Each collaborative artist must meet all eligibility requirements in the Selection Criteria (Please see the GUIDELINES).
Can I apply if I am taking classes towards a degree-granting program?
You may NOT apply if you are working toward any degree program, arts or non-arts related, at the time of application or planning to work toward a degree during the course of the fellowship.
How should I choose the Work Samples to submit in my application?
Work Samples in the appropriate format should represent your recent artistic work (preferably within the last five years). Work Samples should demonstrate the depth and the strong stylistic presence of your current creative vision and voice.
What if I move out of the area after I have applied?
Your application would be deemed ineligible. Applicants must maintain permanent residence in metropolitan Detroit (Wayne, Oakland, or Macomb county) throughout the selection process and the fellowship period.
What happens after I submit my application?
Kresge Arts in Detroit staff initially reviews all applications for compliance only. The panelists will convene in Detroit in June to select the finalists. The Kresge Arts in Detroit staff will meet with all the finalists to confirm eligibility before the fellows are announced in June. Notification will be sent by mail to all applicants at that time.
Who is eligible to be selected as a fellow?
Artists who:
- Submitted a compliant Kresge Artist Fellowship application by the deadline
- Work in one or more of the disciplines reviewed each year
- Are current legal residents of the metropolitan Detroit tri-county area (Wayne, Oakland or Macomb counties) in Michigan, have resided in the area for the past two years and are expected to retain residence in one of the three counties during the fellowship period
- Are NOT working toward any degree program, arts or non-arts related at the time of application or planning to work toward a degree during the course of the fellowship
- Are at least 18 years old
- Have NOT received a Kresge Eminent Artist Award
- Are NOT immediate family members of the staff of The Kresge Foundation, staff at ArtServe Michigan, current panelists, current Advisory Council members and College for Creative Studies staff overseeing the Kresge Arts in Detroit office. Artist faculty and staff of the College for Creative Studies, NOT associated with the Kresge Arts in Detroit office, ARE eligible to apply.
What is the criteria for selecting the fellows?
High-quality Work Samples, as determined by the independent fellowship panel, are the key determinant to the selection of a Kresge Artist Fellow. The Artist Statement, Narrative Statement, Artist Resume/CV and Letters of Recommendation are made available to the panelists as secondary information to support your application. Both emerging and established artists are eligible to receive a fellowship.
Who selects the fellows?
The independent fellowship panel will be comprised of distinguished national and local artists and arts professionals. The Kresge Arts in Detroit Advisory Council has selected panelists with knowledge of the art forms being reviewed and a balance of artistic perspectives. Panelists represent the diversity of artistic styles within the disciplines, as well as diversity of geography, ethnicity, age and gender. The panelists remain anonymous and confidential during the selection process, however, their names will be revealed once the fellows are announced.
Kresge Arts in Detroit staff does NOT contribute to the decision-making process or the selection of the Kresge Artist Fellows.
How are the applications reviewed?
The panel review is conducted using a fair and balanced voting system. Application materials are reviewed and voted on by the panelists in multiple rounds; each round eliminates applicants producing a smaller pool. An artist's advancement is the outcome of the averaged, collective vote of the panel, therefore, one panelist cannot ensure an applicant's selection.
How and when will I learn if I received a fellowship?
All applicants will be notified by mail after the final decisions are made in June of each year. The names of all fellows and the panelists who selected them will be listed online at www.kresgeartsindetroit.org.
If I am awarded a fellowship, when should I expect to receive funding?
The fellowship period is 12 months and begins immediately upon an orientation provided for the awarded fellows. However, the fellowship period can be flexible according to the needs and plans of the artist as outlined in the application. An orientation is provided for the awarded fellows at the beginning of the fellowship period. Upon notification of being selected as a finalist for a fellowship, artists must first verify their legal residence in metropolitan Detroit (Wayne, Oakland or Macomb county) by submitting residency documentation for the past two years. Acceptable documents include tax forms, phone bills, utility bills, bank statements, etc. Funds are given in one payment at the beginning of the fellowship period. Most recent tax laws state that fellowships are taxable income; please consult your tax advisor.
If I submit videos by mail, are they returned to me?
Kresge Arts in Detroit does NOT return any application materials. Please do NOT send originals.
If I reapply, do I need to submit a new application?
Yes. Your login and password will remain on the CueRate online application system, however, all material must be resubmitted for each new application.
If I have a Green Card, am I eligible to apply?
Yes.
