Mississippi Arts Commission – Artist Fellowship

The Mississippi Arts Commission (MAC) offers the Artist Fellowship program to recognize and support professional artists residing in Mississippi who exhibit exemplary creative work in their chosen fields. Designed as a merit-based award, the fellowship provides up to $5,000 to selected artists each fiscal year. These fellowships are not tied to specific projects and do not require matching funds, offering recipients flexibility to deepen their artistic practice or explore new directions in their work. Eligibility for the Artist Fellowship is limited to professional artists who are permanent, full-time residents of Mississippi, at least 18 years of age, and not enrolled as full-time students. Artists must demonstrate a serious commitment to their craft through regular practice, performance, or production, and should consider their artistic endeavors as a central part of their professional lives. Individuals who have previously received a fellowship may reapply after five years, and recipients may also receive an Artist Mini-Grant during the same fiscal year. Fellowship categories vary by year and cover a broad range of disciplines. For Fiscal Year 2027 (July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027), eligible categories include Fiction and Poetry under Literary Arts; Multimedia and Filmmaking; Music Composition, Dance Choreography, Theatrical Design, and Theatre Director under Performing Arts; and all-year categories such as Visual Arts, Fashion Design, Graphic Design, Public Art, Contemporary Craft, and Folk Arts. Each category has designated MAC staff contacts to assist applicants. Applications are submitted via MAC’s online E-Grant system, which offers guidance and video tutorials to support new users. The application period opens February 1 and closes at 11:59 p.m. on March 1. Reasonable accommodations, including paper applications, are available upon request at least two weeks before the deadline. Application materials must be anonymized and include an artist bio, artist statement, resume (where applicable), a fellowship impact statement, and appropriate work samples created within the last five years. Specific guidelines apply to each category, such as required page limits for literary samples or image resolution for visual arts. Evaluation is conducted through a blind peer panel that assesses artistic excellence, originality and vision, and the potential impact of the fellowship on the artist’s career. For Folk Arts applicants, reviewers also consider the artist’s connection to a community-based tradition. Final decisions are made by MAC’s board in June, with award notifications issued in July. Payments are disbursed in one installment upon return of a signed contract. Fellowship awards are taxable, and MAC reports them to the IRS through the Mississippi Department of Finance and Administration, which issues a 1099 tax form. The Artist Fellowship program demonstrates MAC’s commitment to enriching Mississippi’s cultural landscape by investing in artists who contribute significantly to their communities and artistic traditions.

Ensure anonymity in all submissions; follow media-specific sample guidelines; use strongest recent work.