ELIGIBILITY 

Proposals are welcome from 2023, 2024, and 2025 Teaching Artist Cohort grant recipients. This funding opportunity is dedicated to supporting artists who have already demonstrated their commitment to advancing craft education and practice through their participation in the Center for Craft’s Teaching Artist Cohort program.

Applicants must be in good standing with the Center for Craft and the Teaching Artist Cohort program at the time of application and must apply as individuals; collaborative groups or organizations are not eligible. Awardees are expected to commit fully to the six-month expedited project timeline. Proposals should outline a project or initiative that connects directly to both the applicant’s artistic and teaching practices in craft while demonstrating the potential for meaningful community impact.

By limiting eligibility to this group, the Craft-Based Education Grant acknowledges the dedication, innovation, and leadership of these mid-career craft artists who teach. This opportunity further invests in their ability to expand their impact, sustain their practices, and contribute meaningfully to the field of craft and education.

The Center defines a teaching artist as a practicing craft artist and/or maker who utilizes their skill sets and sensibilities to integrate their work and perspectives into a wide range of settings. 

‍Artists working in tenured or tenure-track positions may not apply. Funding for the Craft-Based Education Grants is geared toward artists and/or makers whose practice includes community engagement, museum education, and experience as adjunct faculty, workshop facilitator/instructors, visiting artists, community college instructors, and/or lecturers.

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EXPECTATIONS AND DELIVERABLES

‍Over the six-month timeline, applicants are expected to complete their full project. At the conclusion of the grant period, recipients will provide a brief written report, participate in an interview with Center for Craft staff, and present the resource or tool created during a virtual public program hosted by the Center for Craft. To be considered, applicants must meet all of the following criteria:

• Be a previous Teaching Artist Cohort awardee.
• Be 21 years of age or older.
  
• Be eligible to receive taxable income in the United States.
  
• Have resided and worked in the U.S. for at least the past two years and for the full duration of the grant period.
  
• Have maintained a studio practice for a minimum of five years.
  
• Have worked as a teaching artist for a minimum of three years.
  
• Be in good standing with the Center for Craft and the Teaching Artist Cohort program at the time of application.
  
• Apply as individuals (collaborative groups or organizations are not eligible).
  
• Propose a project or initiative that connects directly to both their artistic and teaching practices in craft.
  
• Demonstrate the potential for meaningful community impact through their proposed project.
  
• Submit a proposal that is timely and demonstrates readiness to benefit from this opportunity.

Applicants cannot be: 

• Tenured faculty at a college or university
• Tenure-track position at a college or university 
• Collectives, groups, partnerships 
• Disqualified persons, such as substantial contributors to the Center for Craft, as well as current employees, consultants, or board members of the Center for Craft, or immediate family members of such a person 

The Center for Craft prohibits discrimination, harassment, and retaliation based on sex, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability or perceived disability, age, marital status, gender identity, veteran status, or any other protected category. The Center encourages applications from historically underrepresented populations. Applying does not constitute a promise or guarantee of being awarded a grant.

REQUIREMENTS OF CRAFT-BASED EDUCATION GRANT AWARDEES

• The initial 70% of funds will be awarded upon completion of the grant agreement and receipt of the awardee’s W9. 
• The final 30% of the grant will be awarded upon completion of the grant cycle and an evaluation interview. 
• Grant permission for the Center for Craft to use the language and images from the recipient's application, including high-resolution images that the recipient may want to provide in press releases, social media, and/or reports of work by recipients of the Teaching Artist Cohort. 
• Recipients must acknowledge support from the Center for Craft by: 
  
  • including the tag: “Center for Craft Craft-Based Education Grant Awardee” in their email signature, website, and/or social media page for the duration of 6 months
  • adding the Center for Craft logo and the following credit line to the creation of any work, projects, resources, or materials (etc.) resulting from the grant: “This project was supported by Center for Craft through the Craft-Based Education Grant.”
• Recipients agree to present their completed project during a virtual public program hosted by the Center for Craft.
• Recipients agree to conduct a follow-up interview and final report about their experience before the end of the grant period.

CRITERIA/REVIEW PROCESS

The adjudication process will take place virtually. Applications will be reviewed by the Center for Craft staff for completeness, then evaluated by a selection panel via the SlideRoom online application review portal. The panel will consist of 3-4 people recognized as craft-informed experts working across sectors, such as writers, educators, artists, curators, and creative catalysts, to provide valuable insight into the grant-making process. Panelists free of any conflict of interest will evaluate the applications based on the following criteria:

• Project Relevance and Impact
  Does it clearly connect artistic practice with teaching practice in craft? Will it create meaningful educational or community impact?
  
  
• Feasibility and Readiness
  Is the project realistic within the six-month timeline? Does the applicant demonstrate readiness, clarity of goals, and the ability to follow through with the proposed activities? Are the outcomes (report, interview, documentation) achievable and measurable utilizing the resources of this grant award of $5,000?
  
  
• Artistic and Educational Excellence
  ‍Does the proposed project reflect strong artistic merit and innovation? Does the applicant reflect a clear plan for expounding and expanding the reach of their craft and teaching artist practice? Is there evidence that the project contributes to the advancement of craft-based education in the field?
  

Considerations in final selection:

The Center for Craft respects, values, and celebrates the unique attributes, characteristics, and perspectives that make each person who they are. We foster open communication among diverse perspectives and bring together a broad range of individuals to enrich and support programming. Ultimately, we will ask the Selection Panel to compose a set of recipients that prioritizes diversity and represents a range of geographies, materials, practices, and types of artist-educators. Priority will be given to applicants who received a Center for Craft grant.

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