Each year, the Windgate Fellowship identifies ten graduating college seniors with exemplary skill in craft. Awardees receive $15,000 — one of the largest awards offered nationally to art students.
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Photo courtesy of Caroline Kaufman
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“The Windgate Fellowship provides critical financial support as a bridge between college and graduate school or life as a working artist,” says Stephanie Moore, Executive Director. “The Fellowship instills confidence and fosters bravery to take risks and the chance to seek and engage in career-enhancing opportunities.”
The results of such early support are already beginning to emerge. Today, Windgate Fellows hold full-time faculty positions, are accepted into nationally renowned residence programs, mount solo shows, and establish successful studios. Over half have gone on to earn a Masters of Fine Arts degree. Their work can been seen in nationally traveling exhibitions, represented in galleries, and published in periodicals such as American Craft. Supporting the next generation is one of the Center for Craft’s main focus areas identified to build a thriving national craft field.
Grant goals
To provide visibility and networking opportunities for emerging makers
To financially support the careers of emerging makers
To recognize and affirm emerging talent
This grant is based on a closed nomination process. To inquire about become a nominating institution, please e-mail grants@craftcreativitydesign.org for more information.
- Nominees must be undergraduate seniors working in a craft medium.
- Nominees must be able to receive taxable income for the duration of the grant and report this grant as income.
- Nominees must be 18 years of age or older.
Requirements
- Seventy percent of the grant will be awarded upon execution of the grant agreement and receipt of the Fellow’s W9.
- The final thirty percent of the grant will be awarded upon receipt of the Fellow’s final report, including a two page summary of how the grant funds were spent, projects pursued, and ten high-resolution images of work created or projects pursued during the Fellowship.
- Grant permission for the Center for Craft to use the images from Fellow’s application and final report, or other high-resolution images the Fellow may want to provide, in press releases and/or reports of work by recipients of the Windgate Fellowship program.
- Acknowledge Support by the Windgate Fellowship Award administered by the Center for Craft, in any publication or press release during the grant period and anytime Fellow shows work made through the support of this grant moving forward.
- Attend and participate in a two-day Windgate Fellows convening at the Center for Craft in Asheville, North Carolina (date TBD).
Participating institutions develop the selection process in order to identify two graduating seniors who meet the following criteria:
- Student’s work must be informed by craft process, materials, traditions and/or sensibilities.
- Work should demonstrate a balance of content and design, as well as a mastery of materials.
- Applicants should demonstrate innovation and curiosity, commitment to growth, and show evidence of how their work will stimulate creative thinking or dialogue among other artists.
Nominee applications are reviewed by staff of the Center for Craft for completeness and evaluated by a panel of jurors using the following criteria to evaluate each application:
- Work represented in the ten application images demonstrates a balance of content and design as well as a mastery of materials.
- Proposal has the ability to advance work that is informed by the craft process, materials, traditions and/or sensibilities.
- Proposal demonstrates innovation and curiosity, a commitment to growth of applicant’s own work, and evidence their work might stimulate creative thinking or dialogue among other artists.
- Proposal includes a budget and timeline that are feasible.
Applicants must apply using the online application program SlideRoom using the private link provided to nominees by e-mail. Please review the sample application below before beginning your application.
All applicants should create a login to be able to partially complete the form and return to finish it at a later date. Before submitting your application, you will be directed to a confirmation page where you will be able to review your form and return to edit or delete your uploaded files as needed. Once you submit your application, you will not be able to access your form again. Applicants will receive a confirmation email once the application form has been successfully submitted.
2019 Windgate Fellowship SAMPLE APPLICATION
This is only a sample application, all applications much be completed in SlideRoom.
Cover Sheet
2019 Main Application
Budget
Timeline
1. Provide a timeline for the 18 months you have to complete the proposal beginning May 1, 2017 or from the date of your graduation if later. If you receive an award you will be asked to request the funding in no more than three draws relating to the proposal. Remember a Fellowship is considered income by the IRS and is reported for the year(s) in which you receive funding.
References
Please designate two individuals who support your proposal (e.g. an advisor, teacher, dean or community member) as references. You will need to request that they complete a reference form, due on the same date as the application, February 8, 2019 at 11:59pm EST
How do I become a nominating institution?
Please e-mail grants@craftcreativitydesign.org to receive more information.
Is my institution on the list of nominating institutions for the Windgate Fellowship?
Please e-mail grants@craftcreativitydesign.org.
What is the final deadline for submitting my online application form?
The application for 2019 Windgate Fellowship must be submitted via SlideRoom no later than 11:59 pm EST on February 8, 2019.
May I mail a hard copy of my application materials to the Center for Craft’s office?
No, hard copy submissions will not be accepted. The application must be completed and submitted through SlideRoom.
Can I work on my application and return to complete it at a later date?
Yes, creating a login account will enable you to complete the form in several online sessions.
I just submitted my application but I want to return to it and make an edit. Is this possible?
No, once your application is submitted, you will not be able to return to the form or change any submitted information. The application fee must also be paid at the time of submitting your application as you will not be able to log-in again to access the payment page again.
I have a question that wasn’t answered. How can I reach the Center for Craft?
If you have any further questions, please contact grants@craftcreativitydesign.org.
recipients
Four panelists reviewed a national pool of 99 applicants on the basis of artistic merit. They also discerned the potential of each applicant to make significant contributions to the field of craft.
Michele Cohen, Chair, Museum of Arts and Design, New York, NY
Fabio J. Fernández, Former Executive Director, Society of Arts + Crafts, Boston, MA
Mia Hall, Executive Director, Penland School of Crafts, Penland, NC
John Souter, Visual Artist and 2012 Windgate Fellowship Recipient, Philadelphia, PA
In order to increase the value and relevance of craft to society, the Center works to advance the understanding of craft in higher education, museums and cultural institutions, and across disciplines. Field building strategies include convening thought leaders, creating, documenting and disseminating research, and launching innovative leadership initiatives. We provide grants and fellowships to emerging and established craft artists, curators, and scholars in order to build a future for the field of craft.
Recognizing that Asheville and the surrounding area has been a bastion for craft in the United States dating back to the Cherokee, the Center is actively working to preserve and advance the craft legacy of Western North Carolina through the development of our property in downtown Asheville, North Carolina and through a series of exhibitions and community-focused initiatives.
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