KRESGE ARTS IN DETROIT
Kresge Arts in Detroit represents one facet of The Kresge Foundation's Detroit Program, a comprehensive community-development effort to strengthen the long-term economic, social and cultural fabric of the city and surrounding region. Learn more about The Kresge Foundation.
Kresge Artist Fellowships
Guidelines
Kresge Arts in Detroit provides significant financial support for 18 Kresge Artist Fellowships annually, each consisting of a $25,000 award and customized professional development opportunities for emerging and established metropolitan Detroit artists in the Literary, Performing and Visual Arts.
The Kresge Artist Fellowships recognize 18 artists whose commitment to innovation and artistic achievement are evident in the quality of their work. The fellowships recognize creative vision and commitment to excellence within a wide range of artistic disciplines, including artists who have been classically and academically trained, self taught artists and artists whose art forms have been passed down through cultural and traditional heritage. Kresge Arts in Detroit is committed to supporting artists from diverse cultural backgrounds at all stages of their professional careers. The fellows are selected through an open, competitive process as judged by an independent fellowship panel.
SELECTION CRITERIA
The Kresge Artist Fellowships of $25,000 each are unrestricted and given annually to 18 artists who:
- Have a demonstrated track record of artistic achievement and high quality work
- 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
- Must work in one or more of the disciplines reviewed each year
- Have the potential to grow and advance in their artistic career during the fellowship period
- Are at least 18 years old
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.
The 2010 Kresge Artist Fellowships will be awarded in the Literary and Performing Arts. Visual Arts Fellowships will be awarded in 2011. The following are the disciplines reviewed in each category:
LITERARY ARTS
Art criticism in all disciplines (ncluding literary, performing and visual arts), creative non-fiction, fiction, poetry, playwriting and interdisciplinary work within the above arts disciplines.
PERFORMING ARTS
Choreography, music composition (in all genres - classical, country, electronic, folk, hip-hop, jazz, rap, rock, etc.), performance art, spoken word, sound art and interdisciplinary work within the above arts disciplines.
VISUAL ARTS
Art and technology, book arts, ceramics, collage, drawing, fiber, video art, glass, installation, metalwork, painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture and interdisciplinary work that includes at least one of these arts disciplines.
Please note: Applicants may submit one application per category (Literary, Performing and Visual Arts), however, they may only receive funding in one category per two-year cycle.
Who Cannot Apply?
Individuals who:
- 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
- Are interpretive artists, such as actors, dancers and musicians, whose art involves presenting the work of other artists as opposed to creating original work of their own, such as playwrights, choreographers and painters
- Are residents of Michigan, outside of Wayne, Oakland or Macomb counties
- Are interpretive artists (such as actors, dancers and musicians) whose art involves presenting the work of other artists as opposed to creating original work of their own (such as painters, choreographers and playwrights)
- Have received a Kresge Artist Fellowship within the last two years
- Have received a Kresge Eminent Artist Award
- Are immediate family members of the staff of The Kresge Foundation, staff at ArtServe Michigan, current panelists 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 .
SELECTION PROCESS
The Kresge Artist Fellowship applications are reviewed by an independent fellowship panel. Panelists are experienced and well-respected national, regional and local artists and arts professionals and are selected according to the categories of arts disciplines being reviewed. The Kresge Arts Detroit Advisory Council selects Kresge Artist Fellowship Panelists who ensure knowledge of the art forms, a balance of artistic perspectives and an understanding of the local artistic environment. Panelists represent the diversity of artistic styles within the disciplines, as well as diversity of geography, ethnicity, age and gender.
The Kresge Artist Fellowship Panelists remain anonymous during the selection process. The names of the Kresge Artist Fellowship Panelists are revealed once the Kresge Artist Fellowships are announced.
TERMS OF THE FELLOWSHIP
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 Session is provided for the awarded fellows at the beginning of the fellowship period. Upon notification of a fellowship award, 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.
Use of Fellowship Funds
The purpose of the fellowship is to enable the artist to devote time and resources to whatever is necessary to deepen their art form, to experiment and to advance their artistic career. 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.
Professional Development
In an effort to provide further support and services to the fellows, ArtServe Michigan, working in collaboration with The Kresge Foundation and the Kresge Arts in Detroit office, will design and deliver a customized series of professional development and engagement opportunities for fellows. Fellows may participate in a range of artistic and professional development activities created to specifically respond to and support their needs and expectations. Professional development activities will focus on providing artists at any stage of their career with the skills, resources, knowledge and connections they need to continue to establish and fulfill their artistic and professional ambitions. Please see Professional Development Opportunities for more information.
Progress Reports
Fellows provide a mid-term and final progress report to the Kresge Arts in Detroit office during the fellowship period.
Kresge Arts in Detroit Festival
Each fellow is encouraged to participate in the bi-annual Kresge Arts in Detroit Festival, a public presentation of work by all awarded fellows during each two-year cycle.
Please note: The Guidelines for the Kresge Artist Fellowships may be subject to change.
