Lydia McCain Artist Fellowship

Erie Arts & Culture committed to making a greater investment in the artists living and working in Erie County by establishing the annual Artist Fellowship program. This program provides cash awards to three artists from Erie County. The Fellowship, which includes cash awards ranging between $2,000-$5,500, helps individual artists sustain or enhance their creative process and advance their career in the arts.

What is a Fellowship? 

Erie Arts & 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, which includes cash awards ranging between $2,000-$5,500, helps individual artists sustain or enhance their creative process and advance their career in the arts.  The fellowship program includes three artist categories: Emerging, Mid-Career, and Established.

What are unrestricted funds?

Our Fellowship grants are unique in that the funds are unrestricted. Unrestricted funds are funds that artists can use for any part of their creative process, and can include things like training and professional development and the purchasing of equipment/tools.

Important Dates

The application will be open annually from July 1-August 31.

Join us on Zoom on July 12th at 12pm to learn more about the Fellowship program, get insights into the application process, or ask questions.

Register here!

 

Become an Artist Fellow
Who is Eligible
  • To be eligible for the award, applicants must be 18 years old or older 
  • Be a current resident of Erie County, PA
  • Applicants cannot be a full-time student of any kind at the time of the application deadline
  • Applicants cannot be a member of Erie Arts & Culture’s board of Trustees, subcommittees, or staff, or be an immediate relative of a member of Erie Arts & Culture’s board of Trustees, subcommittees, or staff.
What Are The Categories
  • Fellowships will not be awarded to interpretative artists such as dancers, actors, or musicians who solely perform the work of others
  • Applicants must be the originators of the work; i.e. choreographers or playwrights
  • Emerging Artist Fellowship ($2,000)

    An emerging artist is someone who is in the early stage of their career and has a modest independent body of work. At this stage in the artist’s career, solo exhibitions or performances of their work are often limited and recognition and opportunities occur primarily at the local level.

    Mid-career Artist Fellowship ($3,500)

    A mid-career artist is an artist who has created an independent body of work over a number of years. At this stage in the artist’s career, one has received a number of solo exhibitions or performances through esteemed venues, either regionally and nationally.

    Established Artist Fellowship ($5,500)

    An established artist is mature in their career. They have created an extensive body of independent work and may even be an influencer in their respective disciplines. At this stage in their career, an established artist has an advanced level of achievement and has sustained national and even possibly international opportunities and recognition.

Application

Lydia McCain Artist Fellowship Timeline

  • Application Opens - July 1 - August 31

Apply here via Submittable

 

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Questions?

Please contact Casey Corritore, Program Officer of Capacity Building: [email protected].

Erie Arts & Culture

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