Rural and Traditional Arts Fellowship

The Rural and Traditional Arts Fellowship is a statewide funding initiative jointly administered by Shake on the Lake and the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA). Designed to celebrate and support the diverse artistic practices found throughout New York’s rural communities, this fellowship is tailored specifically for artists residing in or working closely with rural populations. The program reflects a strong commitment by NYSCA and the Governor’s Office to ensuring equitable arts access across the state, particularly in underserved areas where geographic barriers often limit opportunity. The fellowship provides a platform for ten selected artists to develop and present new work rooted in place-based engagement. Each Fellow receives a $10,000 award to support their artistic endeavors in their rural community, with an additional $1,000 travel stipend to facilitate intra-state travel connected to the project or required cohort activities. Artists are expected to engage deeply with their surroundings—farms, parks, specific plots of land, or other meaningful rural entities—integrating those elements into their proposed works. These projects must culminate in a live, virtual, or hybrid public presentation and may include a traveling component to other rural communities in the state. The program is open to individual artists, makers, and cultural practitioners across all disciplines who live and/or work in rural New York communities defined as having populations under 25,000 and not part of urban or suburban clusters. Applicants must demonstrate a clear connection to the place and community where their project will take place. Emphasis is placed on community collaboration, land-based inspiration, and amplifying traditionally underrecognized rural cultural practices such as quilting, woodworking, square dancing, and oral storytelling. Applications for the 2026 cycle must be submitted by February 20, 2026 at 4:00 PM through a JotForm portal. Applicants are encouraged to attend informational office hours and may submit drafts for feedback by February 10. Required submission components include a narrative response to four project prompts, a timeline of deliverables, a project budget, and work samples (5–10), along with the artist’s CV. While attending a grant seminar is not mandatory, it is highly recommended. Evaluation is conducted by a peer review panel of rural NY residents, who assess applications based on artistic merit, community relevance, and feasibility. Final decisions are subject to approval by Shake on the Lake’s board of directors. Selected Fellows are required to attend two in-person cohort learning exchanges, participate in monthly virtual check-ins, and submit a final report no later than January 31, 2027 or 30 days following project completion. They must provide advance notice for any public-facing events and share relevant promotional materials. In all materials and communications, Fellows must credit the support from the New York State Council on the Arts and Shake on the Lake, adhering to specific branding guidelines. The program emphasizes collaboration, accountability, and cultural validation, aiming to increase the visibility and legitimacy of rural artists across the state.

Submit draft for feedback by Feb 10; notify of events 30+ days in advance.