Waiting Periods and Restrictions:

• Artists applying in a discipline that they teach at an undergraduate level are ineligible to apply in the Emerging category. They must apply in the Established category.
• Only one fellowship application may be submitted per year.
• Previous Individual Artist Fellowship recipients are not eligible to apply for a second fellowship in the same artistic discipline and category.
• Emerging Artist Fellowship recipients may apply in the Established Professional category in the same discipline after a three-year hiatus that begins after the Fellowship year.
• Fellowship recipients need to observe a three year waiting period before applying in a different artistic discipline at the Emerging or Established levels.
  • Exception: Artists may apply in the Masters category if they received an Established Fellowship in that discipline more than seven years ago regardless of subsequent awards in different disciplines.

Guidelines:

Applicants may select between the Emerging ($3,000 award) and Established ($6,000 award) Professional categories:

• An Emerging Professional is in the early stages of his/her career
• Established Professional is more experienced and has achieved some recognition for his/her artwork (example: prizes, awards, publication)

The Masters ($10,000 award) category is offered to artists who have received an Established Professional Fellowship in the same artistic discipline from the Division more than 7 years ago (prior to January 2012). The Masters is offered in select disciplines that rotate on a three-year basis:

• Fiscal Year 2020: Visual Arts and Folk Arts
• Fiscal Year 2021: Dance, Jazz, or Music
• Fiscal Year 2022: Literary and Media Arts

Download the 2020 Individual Artist Fellowship Guidelines here.

Deadline:

The next deadline for the Individual Artist Fellowship is 4:30 pm on August 1, 2019. Please read through the guidelines before applying. 

Application:

Applications must be submitted electronically through https://smartde.smartsimple.com/

Download the smARTDE Instructions to learn how to log in and navigate within the new system.

Application components:

• Artistic Statement (350 word maximum): The statement provides the juror information about your current work. This statement should convey things such as your artistic inspiration, philosophy, evolution of style, current direction, etc. Artistic statements must be written in the first person.
• Professional Resume: Upload a resume or a statement that outlines your artistic training, experience, and awards; publications, exhibitions, etc. This is for the Division’s use only – the jurors do not receive these.
• Work samples: Requirements vary depending on the artistic discipline. See guidelines for full details.
• Submission consent: Artists awarded a fellowship will enter into a contract with the State of Delaware. The Statement of Assurances is the contract that all Division grantees must sign. By submitting a Division of the Arts grant application, applicants are affirming that they are familiar with the requirements of the Delaware Division of the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts, as presented in the Division of the Arts Statement of Assurances.

Notes:

• Masters applicants must also submit a full CV or resume and a one-page narrative describing the breadth of their work to include the impact it has had in Delaware and beyond
• To maintain your anonymity, do not provide any information which might reveal your identity to the jurors. Do not include your name in your artist statement, your work samples, embedded metadata, or in the work sample file names. Visual artists are encouraged to obscure their signatures.

Notification:

All applicants will be notified by email after the December Delaware State Arts Council Meeting.

Grantee Requirements:

Artists awarded a Fellowship will enter into a contract with the State of Delaware. In the event that you receive an Artist Fellowship, this Statement of Assurances and Obligations serves as your contract, if you, as an applicant individual (ARTIST), are awarded a grant. Funding for the Division of the Arts (DIVISION) is provided by the Delaware General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts: Catalog of Federal and Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Partnership Agreement #45.025. Individual grants consist of state funds, federal funds, or a combination. Submission of the application and acceptance of a fellowship award signifies the intention to comply with the following requirements:

1.  The ARTIST shall present to the public in the State of Delaware, examples of work in an exhibit, performance, master class, screening, public reading, or other presentation appropriate to the artistic discipline in which the ARTIST works. The public presentation shall take place before the end of the Grant Year and shall be scheduled after consultation with the Division for full publicity and statewide exposure. Extensions may be granted, but final payment withheld until after the public presentation occurs.
2. The public presentation shall comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as amended; The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 as amended; The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act of 1990; The National Environmental Policy Act, if applicable; The National Historic Preservation Act, if applicable and where applicable; The Age Discrimination Act of 1975; statutes regulating lobbying with appropriated monies including Title 18 USC Section 1913, Sec 319 of Public Law 101-121 Certification regarding lobbying, etc., and Title 45 CFR Part 1158; and all other restrictions and requirements in the DIVISION grant guidelines corresponding to this PROJECT/PROGRAM.
3. In addition to the required public presentation listed above, the applicant is expected to participate in a group exhibition of Fellowship winners organized by the Biggs Museum and attend the Award Ceremony in Dover.
4. The ARTIST shall indemnify and hold harmless DDOA from any and all liabilities, losses, or damages including reasonable legal costs and fees, which DDOA may incur as a result of claims, demands, law suits, or judgments arising from or in connection with the ARTIST’s performance of this agreement.
5. The ARTIST shall submit a Final Report on or before December 1 of the Grant Year. Failure to do so may result in forfeiture of final payment and preclude the applicant from future funding.
6. Certify that he/she will comply with the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988. (45 C.F.R. sec. 1154.600, 48 C.F.R. subparts 9.4, 23.5, and 52.2)
7. Complete/update an e-supplier registration form via the State’s online portal for payments as an individual (not a business).

If awarded a fellowship, the ARTIST also affirms that:

1. Uses of funds may include, but are not limited to, studio rental, supplies and materials, technical production, score reproduction, continuing education, professional critique.
2. Funds received in conjunction with this application will not be used for lobbying or foreign travel or for tuition used in degree-granting programs. If the ARTIST enrolls in a degree-granting program for the arts during the year, a portion of the Fellowship may be forfeited.
3. The ARTIST must remain a resident of the State of Delaware until the Fellowship is completed. If the ARTIST moves out of state, a portion of the Fellowship may be forfeited.
4. The ARTIST acknowledges that his/her services in this connection shall be as an independent contractor and that nothing contained herein shall be construed to constitute him/her as an employee of the Division or the State of Delaware.

Final Report:

A completed Final Report is required of all fellowship recipients. Final Reports are due by December 1 of the fellowship year, and must be submitted through smARTDE.

Fifteen percent (15%) of the fellowship amount will be forfeited if the Final Report has not been submitted to the Division by the December 1 deadline.

Contact:

Roxanne Stanulis
Program Officer, Artist Programs and Services
302- 577-8283
roxanne.stanulis@delaware.gov