Lydia McCain Fund

Artist Fellowships

In 2016, Erie Arts and Culture committed to making a greater investment in the artists living and working in Erie County by establishing the annual Artist Fellowship program. Accepting applications from Performing and Literary Artists in odd calendar years, and Visual and Media Artists in even calendar years, this program provides cash awards to three artists from Erie County, helping them sustain or enhance their creative process and advance their careers in the arts. The Fellowship supports one artist for each career level: Emerging, Mid-Career, and Established.

    • Amount: $2,000 - $5,500

    • Source: Endowment

    • Eligibility: Erie County residents

    • Application window: July 1 - August 31

    • Grant activity period: December - November

    • Notification date: November 30

  • Erie Arts and Culture recognizes individual artistic achievement and potential through its annual Artist Fellowship program, which provides cash awards to three artists from Erie County. The Fellowship helps individual artists sustain or enhance their creative process and advance their career in the arts. The program includes three artist categories:

    • Emerging Artist Fellowship ($2,000): For artists in the early stage of their career with a modest independent body of work. Opportunities have occured primarily at the local level.

    • Mid-career Artist Fellowship ($3,500): For artists with an established independent body of work, recognized regionally and nationally through solo exhibitions or performances.

    • Established Artist Fellowship ($5,500): For mature artists with an extensive body of work and sustained national or international recognition.

  • Our Fellowship grants are unique in that the funds are unrestricted. Unrestricted funds can be used for any part of the artist's creative process, including training, professional development, and purchasing equipment or tools. The application is based on the merit of an artist's portfolio, so it does not require a proposed use of funds.

    • Must be at least 18 years old

    • Must be a current resident of Erie County, PA

    • Must not be a full-time student at the time of the application deadline

    • Must not be a member of Erie Arts and Culture’s Board of Trustees, subcommittees, or staff, or an immediate relative thereof

    • Fellowships will not be awarded to interpretative artists who solely perform the work of others; applicants must be the originators of the work (e.g., choreographers or playwrights)

    • Provide proof of permanent residence in Erie County, PA

    • Provide an Artist Statement, Bio, and CV

    • Submit up to 5 work samples that represent your creative practice

    • Erie Arts and Culture team reviews each application to confirm completeness and eligibility

    • Applications are then reviewed by an independent panel using an objective set of criteria

    • Applicants will be scored using a rubric that scores their artistic concepts, materials used, processes, and techniques.

    • Panel recommendations are reviewed by the Programs Committee and Erie Arts and Culture’s Board of Trustees

    • Panelists' names are kept confidential

Ready to apply? Use the button below to access the application via Submittable.

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Please note, the application is only visible during the application window.

Questions? If you have any questions or need more detailed information, please contact our team at info@erieartsandculture.org.