the maine artist fellowship 2025

The Maine Artist Fellowship recognizes artistic excellence in the overall career of a Maine artist. Fellowships are not grants for artist projects; they are merit-based awards that evaluated by a review panel on the level of artistic creativity and vision shown in the artists’ support materials. One artist will be selected for each discipline, creating a cohort of seven Maine Artist Fellows. Maine Artist Fellowships are available in each of the following artistic disciplines:

• Belvedere Handcraft (Available only to residents of Hancock or Washington County)
• Fine Craft
• Literary Arts
• Media Arts
• Performing Arts
• Traditional Arts
• Visual Arts

Specific Fellowship Requirements:

• Belvedere Handcraft - Available to craft artists of Hancock or Washington County only. Artists working in clay, fiber, glass, leather, metal, paper, stone, wood or other studio craft mediums are eligible to apply. Craft artists in counties other than Hancock or Washington should apply for the Fine Craft Artist Fellowship.
• Fine Craft - Available for craft artists engaged in contemporary studio practice and/ or traditional materials such as clay, fiber, glass, leather, metal, paper, stone, wood, or other mediums. Craft artists residing in Washington or Hancock counties should apply for the Belvedere Handcraft Fellowship.
• Literary Arts- Available to contemporary literary artists in fiction, nonfiction, poetry, prose, and other writing genres. Literary artists who work in the medium of scriptwriting for the stage or screen should apply in the performing arts fellowship category.
• Multimedia/Film- Available to media artists and filmmakers working in the disciplines of film, video, animation, podcasts, web series, and other performative works that are presented through a mediating technology (not meant to be experienced live). Photography artists should apply to the Visual Arts Fellowship.
• Performing Arts- Available to artists working in disciplines including theatre, dance, music, scenic design, opera, script writing and other genres intended to be presented as a live performance.
• **Traditional Arts -**Available to a person for the experience and commitment to the traditional art form they practice. The program honors Maine traditional artists who have devoted their lives to keeping a particular traditional art form alive. These arts call for a deep connection to place and local practices and play an essential role in shaping a traditional artist’s work and repertoire. This could include maintaining cultural traditions in building, writing, music, dance, textile arts, carving, weaving, boatbuilding, and other heritage expressions practiced by established populations or new immigrant artists.
• Visual Arts – Available to artists working in disciplines including painting, sculpture, printmaking, drawing, photography, installation, and other visual arts genres. Digital art can fit within this category, but artists working with the moving image may wish to apply to the Media Fellowship.

Review Process:

Submitted applications are reviewed by Agency staff for completion, eligibility, and adherence to the guidelines. Compliant applications are read by a diverse panel of arts and culture professionals with appropriate expertise related to the fellowship program. Award recommendations are submitted by the panel to the Maine Arts Commission members at their bimonthly meeting for final approval. All applicants are soon notified of the awards.