Maine Artist Fellowship

The Maine Artist Fellowship is a competitive, merit-based award administered by the Maine Arts Commission. This program is designed to recognize artistic excellence across a range of disciplines and support the sustained professional development of Maine-based artists. The fellowship does not fund specific projects; instead, it provides an unrestricted cash award of $5,000 to one selected artist in each of seven disciplines: Fine Craft, Literary Arts, Media Arts, Performing Arts, Traditional Arts, and Visual Arts. Artists are selected through a rigorous review process based on the quality and creativity demonstrated in their application materials. The award period runs from January 1 to December 31, 2026. Applicants must be individual artists or part of an artist collective, although collectives may only apply once per cycle, with one primary applicant. Eligibility is limited to Maine residents who have lived full-time in the state for at least two years prior to the application deadline and who will remain in Maine for the duration of the award cycle. Artists must be at least 25 years old by the application deadline and cannot be enrolled students at the beginning of the award cycle. Prior recipients of the Maine Artist Fellowship are not eligible to reapply. The application opens on July 23, 2025, at 9:00 a.m., and closes on September 3, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. All submissions must be made through the Maine Arts Commission’s online application portal. Applicants must upload a current resume or bio, a statement about their work, and artistic work samples relevant to their discipline. Specific sample requirements include five to eight materials, such as images, audio, video, or writing, depending on the discipline. Traditional Arts applicants are required to answer additional narrative questions describing their cultural background, training, community engagement, and artistic recognition. Awardees can expect public recognition and professional exposure. Benefits include an artist biography hosted on the Maine Arts Commission website, inclusion in digital publications, a reception with Commission staff and state officials at the Blaine House, and other networking opportunities throughout the year. All fellowships are promoted through official state communications, offering valuable visibility for the selected artists. The application process involves an initial review for completeness and eligibility by the Commission's staff, followed by evaluation by a peer panel of arts and culture professionals. The panel's recommendations are submitted to the full Commission for final approval. Applicants are notified of their status via email, and awards are typically disbursed within six months of notification. Artists are encouraged to contact the Commission well before the deadline to address any questions or seek technical assistance with the application platform. For general inquiries, applicants may contact the Commission at 207-287-2724. Technical questions about the application form or portal should be directed to Eli Cabañas, Grants and Web Manager, at eli.cabanas@maine.gov or 207-287-6746. The Commission is committed to ensuring accessibility and can provide grant materials in alternative formats upon request. The program emphasizes inclusivity and aims to support a wide range of artistic voices across Maine.