Beginning today, metro Detroit artists are invited to apply for a 2020 Kresge Artist Fellowship. Fellowships are funded by The Kresge Foundation and administered by Kresge Arts in Detroit at the College for Creative Studies.

Now in its 12th year, the program will award 18 fellowships – nine in Live Arts and nine in Film & Music – to artists living and working in the tri-county area (Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties).

Kresge Artist Fellowships are no strings attached $25,000 prizes given to both emerging and established artists whose commitment to artistic achievement, in contemporary or traditional forms, is evident in the quality of their work. Fellowships include professional development support, and the creation of a short, documentary-style film highlighting the artist’s work.

In addition, two Gilda Awards, $5,000 no strings attached prizes solely for emerging artists, will also be awarded – one in Live Arts and one in Film & Music. Gilda Awards recognize artists who are early in their careers, are gaining momentum, and who demonstrate exceptional potential through creative risk-taking and pushing the boundaries of their chosen art form. The awards are named in honor of Gilda Snowden (1954 – 2014), who was one of the 18 inaugural artists to receive a Kresge Artist Fellowship in 2009, and who taught painting at CCS for more than 30 years. Gilda Awards are chosen from the pool of Kresge Artist Fellows applicants. There is no separate application for the Gilda Awards.

Artists working in the following disciplines are eligible to apply for a 2020 Kresge Artist Fellowship:

LIVE ARTS FILM & MUSIC
Choreography
Animation
Dance
Film
Directing
Performance Art
Music Composition
Playwriting
Music Performance
Theatre Directing
Screenwriting
Interdisciplinary Work
Sound Art

Artists are strongly encouraged to attend applicant info sessions, which are designed to help artists submit competitive applications to Kresge Arts in Detroit as well as other sources of support for their creative careers. Visit kresgeartsindetroit.org for full details and to RSVP.

APPLICANT INFO SESSIONS
Work Samples, Resumes, & Application Strategies
Application Questions & Answers
Saturday, December 14, 11:00AM-1:00PM
Downriver Council for the Arts
81 Chestnut St. Wyandotte, 48192

Thursday, January 9, 6:00-8:00PM
Ant Hall
2320 Caniff St. Hamtramck, 48212

Since 2008, Kresge Arts in Detroit has awarded 11 Kresge Eminent Artist Awards ($50,000 each), 198 Kresge Artist Fellowships ($25,000 each), and 12 Gilda Awards ($5,000 each) for a total of more than $5.5 million given directly to individual artists.
In each category, fellows and Gilda Award recipients are selected by independent panels of distinguished local and national artists and arts professionals. Previous applicants are strongly encouraged to re-apply. New panels are convened each year, bringing fresh perspectives to the review process.

Fellowship applications are only available and submitted online. The online application, guidelines, and additional resources are available now at kresgeartsindetroit.org. Applications must be submitted by 11:59 PM EST on Thursday, January 16, 2020.
For further information, please contact Kresge Arts in Detroit at 313.664.1153 or

Kresge Arts in Detroit is generously funded by The Kresge Foundation and administered by the College for Creative Studies. The goals of Kresge Arts in Detroit are to enrich the quality of life for metro Detroiters by helping artists provide a broad spectrum of cultural experiences; celebrate and reflect the richness and diversity of our community in all its aspects; heighten the profile of arts and artists in our community; and strengthen the artistic careers of local artists. Since 2008, Kresge Arts in Detroit has awarded more than $5.5 million through 11 Kresge Eminent Artist awards ($50,000 each), 198 Kresge Artist Fellowships ($25,000 each), and 12 Gilda Awards ($5,000 each). kresgeartsindetroit.org

The Kresge Foundation is a private, national foundation that works to expand opportunities in America’s cities through grantmaking and social investing in arts and culture, education, environment, health, human services and community development in Detroit. Kresge’s Detroit Program collaborates with civic, nonprofit and business partners to promote long-term, equitable opportunity in Kresge’s hometown. The strategy includes place-based efforts to revitalize neighborhoods and improve the quality of life for residents; efforts to strengthen arts and culture, early childhood development, community development and other citywide systems of support; and efforts to bolster civic capacity, the ability of Detroiters to join, influence and lead the city’s renewal. kresge.org

The College for Creative Studies (CCS), located in the heart of Detroit, educates artists and designers to be leaders in the creative professions. A private, fully accredited college, CCS enrolls more than 1,400 students pursuing Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) and Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degrees. Students in the BFA program can major in Advertising Design, Communication Design, Crafts, Entertainment Arts, Fashion Accessories Design, Fine Arts, Illustration, Interior Design, Photography, Product Design, and Transportation Design, in addition to a dual major Art Education program. Students in the MFA program can major in Color and Materials Design, Interaction Design, Integrated Design, and Transportation Design. The College also offers non-credit courses in the visual arts through its Continuing and Precollege Studies programs and opportunities for youth through its Community Arts Partnerships programs. collegeforcreativestudies.edu