PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Independence Foundation believes that a strong arts and cultural community is crucial to Philadelphia and the surrounding Pennsylvania counties. The Foundation recognizes the need to assist artists in furthering their training and professional development. To that end, the Independence Foundation has created the Independence Foundation Fellowships in the Arts. Fellowship grants are awarded to originating artists (painters, sculptors, choreographers, playwrights, composers, etc.) and interpretive artists (actors, dancers, musicians, etc.) There are two grant cycles annually, one in the Visual Arts (spring) and one in the Performing Arts (fall).

GOALS AND PRIORITIES

The Independence Foundation Fellowships in the Arts is an opportunity for exceptional artists to take a key step forward in their professional development. This is the primary goal of the program. Artists are encouraged to be creative in discovering the best possible way to expand their artistic horizons. There are no set boundaries for what is possible or what types of projects might be funded. However, a successful project should be well designed and of maximum practical value to the artist. In addition, the project must provide the artist with an opportunity for artistic growth and improvement in his/her primary area of work; such as assisting the artist in acquiring new skills relevant to his/her work; or providing the artist with a unique developmental opportunity.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

• ALL APPLICANT ARTISTS MUST BE NOMINATED BY AN OFFICIAL NOMINATING ORGANIZATION. Official nominating organizations are comprised of local non-profit arts and cultural organizations which are current grantees of the Independence Foundation, and who elect to participate in this program. Criteria for nomination may include overall artistic merit; future artistic promise; the strength of the proposed project; the likelihood that the project will be completed; and financial need.
• All applicant artists must be Pennsylvania residents of the five county Philadelphia region (Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery or Philadelphia counties).
• All applicant artists must have 3-5 years professional experience in the visual or performing arts.
• Artists who have received an Independence Foundation Fellowship in the Arts within the last five years are ineligible.

CRITERIA

As a result of the nomination process, it is expected that the quality of the projects under consideration for Fellowships will be extremely high and therefore the selection process will be highly competitive. Peer Panels, comprised of local professional artists and arts administrators, will review the applications and make recommendations to the Independence Foundation Board of Directors for final decisions. In making selections, the Peer Panels and the Board of Directors will consider the following three factors:

• Past Artistic Excellence, as demonstrated by reviews, awards, grants, fellowships, and artistic reputation.
• Future Artistic Promise, as evaluated from the application, nomination and letters of recommendation.
• The Proposed Project, as proposed by the applicant artist in his/her application, with particular emphasis on how this project will allow the artist to take a key step forward in his/her professional development and artistic career.

APPLICATION DEADLINE

There are separate deadlines for Visual (spring) and Performing Arts (fall). Applications must be received by the date listed below. Late, incomplete or non-nominated applications will not be accepted.

CURRENT CYCLE: Performing Arts
APPLICATION DEADLINE: Tuesday, October 14, 2008
NOTIFICATION: early 2009

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

For further information on the Independence Foundation Fellowships in the Arts, please call the Foundation at 215-985-4009.