• Applicants must be 19 years old or older and a resident of Nebraska for two years prior to the application date and remain a resident of Nebraska during the fellowship award period of one year.
• In addition, applicants must also submit an attestation of Nebraska residency at least 24 months before submission and attestation of intent to remain in Nebraska during the fellowship, if selected.
• Applicants must not be enrolled in an undergraduate program in the artistic field in which the application is being made. Applicants may be enrolled in graduate or certificate-granting program in the artistic field in which the application is being made, the strength of the portfolio outside the graduate or certificate-granting program will be assessed.
• All applicants must be the originator of the submitted work, not an interpreter of the work of others.
• Previous winners are eligible to reapply. Previous winners must complete their grant award requirements and Final Report to be eligible, submit work not previously part of an award-winning application, and can only apply every three years.

This is a competitive program based on a professional peer review process. Applicants are adjudicated according to the merit of their work by out-of-state jurors selected for their expertise as established career professionals in the artistic discipline under consideration. Evaluation criteria are based on the quality of work, which includes innovation demonstrated by significant critical and aesthetic considerations explored through the art form.

Applicants may be awarded between $1,000 and $5,000 through the Individual Artist Fellowship program. Funds must be used for the creation of new art, presentations, training, and/or research.

• Artist biography:
  • Please provide your artist biography that highlights your artistic practice and any previous exhibitions, education or related experience. This will not be visible to the jurors, so you do not need to redact your name.
• Artist statement:
  • Please provide a descriptions of the body of work you submitted. In the artist’s statement, you can provide deeper insight into your work through your personal history or background, the themes you address, any influences or techniques you use in your process. Please redact your name from the artist statement.
• Work samples (literature)
  • Fiction and Non-Fiction Instructions: Use manuscript form, typed, pages numbered and double-spaced. Provide 1-2 short stories or novel chapters, not to exceed 50 combined pages in length. If a portion of a novel is submitted, a one-page synopsis can be included (optional, but encouraged) and does not count toward your 50 page limit.
  • Poetry Instructions: Clearly type your poems using the format in which you intend the poem to be read. Provide up to five poems, not to exceed 30 combined pages in length.

The current application is for Literature and is open from August 8, 2023 to November 15, 2023.

Artist biography: An artist biography highlights your artistic practice and any previous exhibitions, education or related experience. Information included is similar to a CV/Resume, but is in paragraph form. It delivers how your career highlights have propelled you to your current position and where you are headed.

CV/Resume: A List format with relevant dates and details for each accomplishment, including educational, performance, publication, positions, etc. For additional guidance writing a CV, try this link, or try this link for an artist Resume. (not required for program)

Originating Artist: The artist submitting the work is who created the work, which can be differentiated from an artist who performs, interprets, or present a piece of work of another artist.

Contact Meagan Dion for more information.