There is certainly no shortage of great artists in Detroit – and more make their mark all the time.
They can often use a leg up. That’s what The Kresge Foundation’s Kresge Artist Fellowships are all about.
They are no-strings-attached, $25,000 prizes awarded to both emerging and established artists whose commitment to artistic achievement, in contemporary or traditional forms, is evident in the quality of their work. Fellowships also include a professional development program, designed and delivered by Creative Many Michigan.
“We know that Kresge Arts Fellowships offer significant financial support to awarded artists and elevate our arts community as a whole,” says Alycia Socia, Kresge Detroit Program fellow. “This program only succeeds because of the amazing talent and diversity of our arts community. It’s heartening that so many applicants come forward to reflect that every year.”
The fellowships are funded by The Kresge Foundation and administered by Kresge Arts in Detroit at the College for Creative Studies.
Now in its ninth year, the program will award 18 fellowships – nine in Live Arts and nine in Film & Music – to artists living and working in metropolitan Detroit (Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties).
Two $5,000 no-strings-attached Gilda Awards will also be awarded to emerging artists – one in Live Arts and one in Film & Music. Gilda Awards recognize artists who are early in their careers, are gaining momentum, and who demonstrate exceptional potential through creative risk-taking and pushing the boundaries of their chosen art form.
The awards are named in honor of Gilda Snowden (1954 – 2014), who was one of the 18 inaugural artists to receive a Kresge Artist Fellowship in 2009. Snowden served as interim chair and professor of fine arts at the College for Creative Studies where she taught painting for more than 30 years.
The application deadline for both is January 18, 2018.
“We strongly encourage all artists to submit an application, whether this is your first time or your fifth time applying,” says Christina deRoos, director of Kresge Arts in Detroit.
“New groups of artists, curators, critics, and producers are convened each year to review applications, bringing fresh perspectives to the process. Although everyone who applies will not receive a fellowship this year, everyone will have their work reviewed by local and national art community members, which often leads to opportunities that only became possible because an artist submitted their work for consideration,” she says.
To apply you must:
- be 18 years or older
- be a current legal resident of Macomb, Oakland or Wayne county
- have resided in Macomb, Oakland or Wayne county for at least the two years prior to the application deadline (January 18, 2016 – January 18, 2018)
- intend to remain a resident of the tri-county area throughout the year-long fellowship period
Who may apply:
- Students working toward any degree at the time of application, or individuals planning to begin a degree-granting program during the fellowship year (July 2018 – July 2019), with the exception of ABD (all but dissertation) status Ph.D. candidates
- Individuals who received a Kresge Artist Fellowship within the last four years (2014-2017) or a Kresge Eminent Artist Award
- Current Kresge Artist Fellowship panelists, Kresge Arts in Detroit Advisory Council members, Kresge Arts in Detroit staff, Creative Many Michigan staff, The Kresge Foundation staff, and immediate family members of any of these individuals
To learn more and apply, please click here.
There will be question and answer session Tuesday, January 9, 2018 from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at The Jam Handy, 2900 East Grand Blvd.
Fellowship applications are only available and submitted online. The online application opened on Friday, December 1, 2017 and must be submitted before 11:59 PM EST on Thursday, January 18, 2018. Guidelines and additional resources are available at kresgeartsindetroit.org.
Since 2008, Kresge Arts in Detroit has awarded nine Kresge Eminent Artist Awards ($50,000 each), 162 Kresge Artist Fellowships ($25,000 each), and six Gilda Awards ($5,000 each) for a total of more than $4.5 million given directly to individual metro Detroit artists.
Detroit artists encouraged to apply for Kresge Artist Fellowships’ $25,000, no-strings-attached prizes added by Marge Sorge on
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