Artist Resources

This page brings together tools to help individual artists understand the application process, review criteria, and what panelists look for when evaluating applications. Whether you are applying for the first time or returning to reapply, these resources are designed to help you prepare a clear, competitive application.

Use these materials to understand how applications are reviewed, what strong applications demonstrate, and how to self-review before submitting.

NOTE: Traditional Arts Apprenticeship applicants can – support master artists teaching traditional arts and cultures to qualified apprentices. View more information on this opportunity [linked here]

General Reference Guide for Artist Applicants

This guide explains what to focus on in each section of the application depending on the grant type you choose. While all artist applicants complete the same application, panelists review Career Development, Collaboration, and Fellowship differently. Project Grants are a seperate application.

Use this guide to:

  • Understand what panelists are looking for in each narrative section
  • Adjust your focus based on your grant type
  • Avoid common mistakes related to career stage or scope

View the Artist Grant Application Reference Guide

Review Criteria & Panel Rubrics (By Grant Type)

All artist applications are reviewed by peer panels using published criteria. Each grant type has its own rubric that reflects the purpose of that award.

Panelists score applications based on Artistic Merit and Artistic Excellence, with expectations adjusted to the grant type and career stage.

Career Development Grant

For artists building or advancing their careers

Use this rubric to understand how panelists assess:

  • Clarity of career stage and next steps
  • Feasibility of proposed activities
  • Potential for artistic or professional growth
  • Quality of work samples and artistic skill

Review the Career Development Panel Rubric

Artist Collaboration Grant

For two or more artists working together

Use this rubric to understand how panelists assess:

  • Strength and purpose of the collaboration
  • Shared artistic goals and roles
  • Feasibility of the collaborative plan
  • Artistic quality across all collaborators

Review the Artist Collaboration Panel Rubric

Artist Fellowship

For established artists with a strong record of achievement

Use this rubric to understand how panelists assess:

  • Sustained artistic accomplishment
  • Artistic maturity and depth
  • Credible future creative direction
  • Quality, consistency, and mastery of work

Review the Artist Fellowship Panel Rubric

Project Grant (Individual Artist Applicants)

For artists creating or presenting a specific project

Project Grants are reviewed using project-based criteria that focus on:

  • Clarity of the proposed project
  • Public engagement and access
  • Feasibility, timeline, and budget
  • Artistic readiness to carry out the work

Use the Project Grant self-review tools below to understand reviewer expectations.

Pre-Submission Self-Review Tools

These tools help you step into a reviewer’s perspective before submitting. They are not scoring sheets or checklists for perfection—they are designed to help you check for clarity, alignment, and readiness.

Application Narrative Self-Review (All Artist Grant Types)

Use this tool to review:

  • Artist bio and statement
  • Grant-specific narrative
  • “Why Your Art Matters”
  • Artistic process and skills

Includes short grant-type lenses for Career Development, Collaboration, and Fellowship.

Use the Narrative Self-Review Tool

Project Grant Self-Review (Individual Artists)

Use this tool if you are applying for a Project Grant as an individual artist. It focuses on:

  • Project clarity
  • Public impact and engagement
  • Feasibility and budget alignment
  • Artistic readiness and work samples

Use the Project Grant Self-Review Guide

Sample Artist Applications

Sample applications are provided to help applicants understand what a strong application can look like under current guidelines. These samples are fictional and for educational purposes only.

They are not templates and do not represent funded projects or guaranteed outcomes.

Sample Career Development Application

This example demonstrates:

  • Clear career stage and next steps
  • Specific, achievable goals
  • Strong alignment between résumé, narratives, and work samples

View the Sample Career Development Application

Sample Artist Fellowship Application

This example demonstrates:

  • Sustained artistic accomplishment
  • Thoughtful career reflection
  • Credible future creative direction without a project plan

View the Sample Artist Fellowship Application

Sample Artist Collaboration Application

This example demonstrates:

  • A clear and compelling reason for collaboration, not simply parallel work
  • Defined roles and a realistic collaborative plan appropriate to the grant scope
  • Strong artistic alignment and complementary skills across disciplines

View the Sample Artist Collaboration Application

Sample Project Grant Application (Individual Artist)

This example demonstrates:

  • Clear project description and impact
  • Strong alignment between narrative, budget, and work samples
  • Appropriate scope for an individual artist project

View the Sample Project Grant Application

Final Tip for Applicants

Panelists are not looking for perfect language or a single “right” approach. Strong applications demonstrate:

  • Clarity
  • Alignment across sections
  • Artistic readiness
  • A good match between the applicant and the grant type

Use these resources early—and revisit them before you submit.

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