VMFA Visual Arts Fellowships 2013-14
Image: Untitled (detail), 2010, Amy Harris (2012-13 Undergraduate Fellowship recipient), oil on blacklight film, 36” x 48”. See works by all 2012–13 recipients.PDF Congratulations to the recipients of a 2012–13 VMFA Visual Arts Fellowship! See who won.PDF
The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Fellowship Program is a vital source of funding for the visual arts and art history in Virginia. VMFA is committed to supporting professional artists as well as art students who demonstrate exceptional creative ability in their chosen discipline and has awarded more than $4 million in fellowships to Virginians.
The Fellowship Program was established in 1940 through a generous contribution made by the late John Lee Pratt of Fredericksburg. Offered through the VMFA Art and Education Division, fellowships are still largely funded through the Pratt endowment, supplemented by annual gifts from the Lettie Pate Whitehead Foundation and the J. Warwick McClintic Jr. Scholarship Fund.
Application Form
Apply now for a 2013–14 VMFA Visual Arts FellowshipPDF
The application deadline is Friday, November 9, 2012.
Eligibility/Conditions
Professional Artists
You are eligible to apply if you are a citizen or permanent resident of the United States, as well as a current legal resident of Virginia, and have been so for at least 24 consecutive months prior to the application deadline. You must also continue to be a legal resident of Virginia for the grant period of August 2013 – May 2014. A legal resident has a valid Virginia driver’s license and/or pays income taxes in Virginia and/or is a registered Virginia voter. Applicants must be able to provide verification of residency upon request.
You are eligible to apply if you are not a degree-seeking student at the time of the application deadline, nor will you be during the grant period of August 2013 – May 2014.
Note: Recipients of a VMFA Professional Fellowship after July 2008 and full-time VMFA employees are not eligible to apply. No artist may receive more than three Fellowships in any category.
Graduate Students
You are eligible to apply if you are a citizen or permanent resident of the United States, as well as a current legal resident of Virginia, and have been so for at least 12 consecutive months prior to the application deadline. You must also continue to be a legal resident of Virginia for the grant period of August 2013 – May 2014. A legal resident has a valid Virginia driver’s license and/or pays income taxes in Virginia and/or is a registered Virginia voter. Students paying in-state tuition to an accredited Virginia college, university, or school of the arts qualify as legal residents of Virginia. Applicants must be able to provide verification of residency upon request.
If you attend an accredited college, university, or school of the arts in Virginia but do not qualify for in-state tuition, you may not apply for a VMFA Fellowship until you establish Virginia residency.
You are eligible to apply if you are planning to be enrolled full-time and qualify as a Virginia resident, as outlined above, for the entire academic year 2013 – 2014 at an accredited college, university, or school of the arts. Half-year fall semester Fellowship awards (worth $3,000) may be considered on a case-by-case basis for full-time students in the final year of a degree program who plan to graduate in December 2013.
Note: Full-time VMFA employees are not eligible. No artist may receive more than three Fellowships in any category.
Undergraduate Students
You are eligible to apply if you are a citizen or permanent resident of the United States, as well as a current legal resident of Virginia, and have been so for at least 12 consecutive months prior to the application deadline. You must also continue to be a legal resident of Virginia for the grant period of August 2013 – May 2014. A legal resident has a valid Virginia driver’s license and/or pays income taxes in Virginia and/or is a registered Virginia voter. Students paying in-state tuition to an accredited Virginia college, university, or school of the arts qualify as legal residents of Virginia. Applicants must be able to provide verification of residency upon request.
If you attend an accredited college, university, or school of the arts in Virginia but do not qualify for in-state tuition, you may not apply for a VMFA Fellowship until you establish Virginia residency.
You are eligible to apply if you are planning to be enrolled full-time and qualify as a Virginia resident, as outlined above, for the entire academic year 2013 – 2014 at an accredited college, university, or school of the arts. Half-year fall semester Fellowship awards (worth $2,000) may be considered on a case-by-case basis for full-time students in the final year of a degree program who plan to graduate in December 2013.
Note: Full-time VMFA employees are not eligible to apply. No artist may receive more than three Fellowships in any category.
Deadline
Mail applications to (mailed applications must be postmarked by Friday, November 9, 2012):
Fellowship Program Coordinator
Art & Education Division
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
200 N. Boulevard
Richmond, VA 23220-4007
Or hand-deliver applications to the main entrance of the Pauley Center on the west side of the museum campus (hand-delivered applications must arrive by 5 pm, Friday, November 9, 2012).
The museum does not accept application materials via fax or other electronic means. Late applications will not be considered.
Adjudication
Fellowship applicants’ works are reviewed anonymously by distinguished jurors.
Notification of Awards
Applicants are notified of awards by letter the first week in February 2013. VMFA does not provide written or verbal explanations regarding the awards. CDs and DVDs of Fellowship award recipients will be retained as a permanent record.
Award Amounts
$8,000 Professional Fellowships
$6,000 Graduate Fellowships
$4,000 Undergraduate Fellowships
Selecting a Discipline for your Application
Awards are made to those applicants of the highest artistic merit and are not based on medium. Please select the discipline that most closely corresponds to the nature of the work you are submitting.
Professional artists who can clearly demonstrate a history of ongoing collaboration may apply together with one set of documentation but must fill out separate application forms, noting names of collaborators. Collaborative applications must be delivered or mailed in one package. Collaborating winners will receive one fellowship to divide among themselves.
Applicants may submit only one application for the annual grant cycle. Applicants may apply for work or study in only one of the disciplines below:
• Crafts
• Drawing
• Film/Video*
• Mixed Media**
• Painting
• Photography
• Printmaking
• Sculpture
• Art History (graduate students only)
*Film/video refers to film, video, and audio submissions. Film and video applicants may submit personally conceived works in the following categories only: Narrative (fiction, dramatized events, and authorized adaptations of literary or dramatic works), Animation (the animation of graphics or three-dimensional objects), and Experimental (works that expand the traditional definition of film or video forms —live-action or animation techniques can be used). Only noncommercial, noninstructional works over which the applicant has exclusive control and primary creative responsibility will be accepted. No music videos will be considered.
**Mixed media refers to the combination of two or more media to create one work, including emerging media. Mixed media applicants may choose to submit digital images OR a DVD work sample. See “How to Apply” for more information.
How to Apply
A complete application must contain the following materials. A checklist of required materials is included with the application form for your convenience. Please include this checklist with your submitted application materials. Note: Extra items will not be seen by the juror(s).
1. Fellowship Application Form. Professionals: First page only. Students: First and second pages.
2. Work Sample. Submit your work sample as outlined below for your selected discipline.
Note: If you have received a VMFA Fellowship in the past, your work sample for the 2013 – 14 Fellowship application may not include any of the previous “winning” works.
Crafts, Drawing, Painting, Photography, Printmaking, or Sculpture Applicants
A work sample consists of a total of eight digital images. Of the eight images, at least six must represent individual works; no more than two images may be details of the individual works.
• Professionals only: All works must have been completed in the past three years. No works in progress.
• Students only: At least four of the works must have been completed in the past three years. No works in progress.
• Submit images on a PC-formatted CD-R, labeled with applicant’s name.
• Format digital images as JPEGS, no larger than 2MB or 1000 pixels on the longest side. No gifs, tiffs, or other formats are accepted.
• Number each image to correspond to the Work Sample List on the application form.
• Title image files on the CD in the following manner: 1_VMFA.jpg.
• Obscure any legible names or signatures on the digital images to ensure anonymity with the juror(s).
Mixed Media Applicants
A work sample consists of either A or B (only one of the following options):
A) A total of eight digital images. Of the eight images, at least six must represent individual works; no more than two images may be details of the individual works. No works in progress. See above guidelines for image formatting and labeling.
OR
B) A video sample of 15 minutes (maximum) in length. The video sample must show representations of at least six, and no more than eight, individual works.
• Professionals only: All works must have been completed in the last three years. No works in progress.
• Students only: At least four of the works must have been completed in the last three years. No works in progress.
• Submit work on a PC-formatted DVD labeled with the applicant’s name.
• Include a menu on the DVD with titles of each work and running times. Formats other than a standard DVD will not be accepted.
• Number videos and works to correspond to the Work Sample List on the application form.
• No legible names, credits, or signatures may appear on the DVD menu and/or the individual on-screen works, to ensure anonymity with the juror(s).
Film/Video Applicants
A work sample consists of a 15-minute (maximum) DVD sample of three works.
• Professionals only: All works must have been completed in the last three years. No works in progress.
• Students only: At least one of the works must have been completed in the last three years. No works in progress.
• On the application form, include the category of each work: Narrative, Animation, or Experimental.
• Submit work on a PC-formatted DVD labeled with applicant’s name, titles of works, primary creative responsibility, dates completed, and original format running times.
• Include a menu on the DVD with titles of each work and running times. Formats other than a standard DVD will not be accepted.
• No legible names, credits, or signatures may appear on the DVD menu and/or the individual on-screen works, to ensure anonymity with the juror(s).
Art History Applicants (Graduate students only)
A work sample consists of three research papers or published articles.
• Submit two hard copies of each, none of which will be returned to the applicant.
• All papers or published articles must have been written in the past three years.
• Art History applicants must have sole authorship of their work sample submissions.
3. Resume. One typed copy of your current resume.
4. Artistic Statement. A one-page typed artistic statement about the work you are submitting (200 words maximum). Applicant’s name should not appear on the artistic statement.
5. Transcript (students only). Your most recent transcript, officially stamped and sealed by your school’s registrar. Transcripts may be included with application materials or mailed under separate cover.
6. SASE Envelope (optional). If you wish to have your work sample (CD or DVD) returned, please include a self-addressed, stamped (not metered) envelope with adequate postage and packaging. Work samples will be returned in late February 2013.
7. Confirmation Postcard (optional). The only method to confirm the receipt of your application is by providing a self-addressed, stamped postcard marked “Entry Received.” It will be mailed to you to confirm receipt of your application.
Note: Failure to follow the specific criteria above will result in disqualification.