Applications are currently closed.
About the Fellowship:
A foundational aspect of Indigo Arts Alliance’s mission is to amplify and empower Black and Brown artists who enrich our local community. The goal of the David C. Driskell Fellowship Program is to identify talented Maine based artists whose work is of excellent artistic merit and is open to all artistic career stages. That is why Indigo Arts Alliance is proud to offer rent free studio space to our Maine based and/or Maine rooted community!
The IAA mission is both local and global. We define Maine based as people who are living/working in Maine at the time of the residency period in a full time capacity. We define our Maine rooted community as people who have strong ties to Maine, and maintain community networks to the state. To qualify as Maine rooted, individuals must have a semi-permanent residency in the state, as well as a deep commitment to enrich the local community.
We are specifically working with “Black and Brown” artists. African descent refers to people from all African nations, African-American, Afro-Latin, and Caribbean. The geographic breadth of all the places where Africans were displaced as a result of the transatlantic slave trade. We describe “Brown” to include Native Americans, indigenous peoples, Latinx, East, and Southeast Asian, the Middle East and the Pacific Rim.
This exciting opportunity will enable artists to engage in their practice in ways that they may not otherwise have the space and/or resources to. As artists and creative professionals ourselves, we understand the value and rarity of having dedicated studio space for an extended period of concentrated time. In addition to having access to a 500 sq foot studio facility, selected applicants are awarded a $500 fellowship, thanks to the David C. Driskell Fellowship Program created by Indigo Arts Alliance.
About Indigo Arts Alliance:
We amplify the creative voices and visions of global and local artists and facilitate cross-cultural collaboration using a multidisciplinary approach. Our mission is to connect Black and Brown artists from around the world with Maine’s artists of African descent through a multidisciplinary artist-in-residency program that embodies a Black-led approach to creativity, community-building, and mentoring. We are an incubator for Black and Brown artists.
About David C. Driskell
David C. Driskell served as the Elder Advisor to Indigo Arts Alliance. His mentorship, advice and support helped to affirm and inform our unique model. David generously shared his wealth of knowledge and experience in ways that have been instrumental in helping to sow the seeds for the future growth of the organization.
David C. Driskell revolutionized the field of African American art through his scholarship, innovation and humanity.
A giant in the art world, he played a critical role in bringing awareness to the art of African American artists at a time when these artists were overlooked. His work made it clear that African American art is essential to the American art canon.
Black Seed Studio
Application Process
The program will use an independent jury of three arts professionals to award the fellowships. BIPOC Artists from all areas of Maine are eligible to apply.
Applications are currently closed.
Selected Fellows Receive:
- Rent free studio space for up to three months
- $500 (unrestricted): Fellowship funding may be used to enhance any aspect of the artist’s life, such as overhead costs, the purchase of materials, and other living expenses. Awards are subject to state and federal income tax guidelines.
- Support from Indigo Arts Alliance staff and menu of community resources and services.
- Black Seed Studio Visits: IAA coordinates a mid-residency studio visit with the current Indigo Arts Alliance Mentor/Mentee residents and a selection of arts professionals. These can be virtual or in-person depending on your comfort level.
Selection for use of Black Seed Studio will be based on artistic skill and commitment to your practice. Artists working at every level, emerging through established, are equitably welcomed and reviewed. Applications will be evaluated by a jury panel and selected applicants will be notified by email of acceptance. Artists are expected to credit Indigo Arts Alliance in all social media, exhibit announcements and any other public interface during the time they are in residency. This program is not open to currently enrolled students. We encourage those who are enrolled in a program to apply following their graduation. Applicants are evaluated and selected based on their work, as evidenced in submitted materials and work samples. Consideration is given to accomplishments to date as well as promise for continued development and the potential impact the fellowship will have on the artist. The distinguished jury panel will also be asked to consider the wide range of media, aesthetic considerations, social engagement, relationships to defined community, and cultural traditions that might be influenced by race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and geography.
Jury Criteria:
Artistic Merit: The artist presents a sustained commitment to their practice, risk-taking, and clear concepts and creative methodologies that advance artistic expression. This includes traditional studio practices, music/sound, creative writing to new forms that explore digital art mediums.
Creative Integrity: The artist’s work demonstrates integrity and ethical use of material demonstrates responsible social and/or environmental practice, models new forms of creative action.
Engagement with defined communities: There is a clear articulation of the role and relationship of the artist with the communities in which they are engaged. The artist engages in equitable creative practice which seeks to build social/structural/systemic equity.
Please note: Outside of the application open office session there are also Information sessions that will exist throughout the calendar year. Dates and registrations to come.
Covid Considerations:
Indigo Arts Alliance values the care and safety of our local and global community. The wellness of our artists, supporters, and allies is deeply important when navigating the world in a global pandemic. We at Indigo understand that crises surrounding health, access, and security hit our black and brown community the hardest, and it is deeply important that we care for the wellbeing of ourselves and our community of color during this time.
Vaccination Protocol
- We require proof of all Indigo Arts Alliance staff, interns, volunteers, and artists to be vaccinated prior to their extended time in the Indigo Arts Alliance facilities.
- As the pandemic continues to change and with the ever shifting landscape of COVID-19 variants, we are requesting that all residents are boosted and provide Indigo Arts Alliance staff with the proper documentation.
- For all indoor events, attendees are required to provide proof of vaccination and a legal photo identification.
- For those who are not vaccinated due to health related reasons, we require a negative PCR test from within the previous 48 hours or a negative ‘Rapid Test’ from the previous 72 hours of your residency start date.
Testing Protocol
- All artists traveling from out-of-state are provided an at home-rapid test kit and will share results with Indigo Arts Alliance staff prior to their arrival in the Indigo Arts Alliance studio to begin their residency.
- While we understand that at-home rapid tests could be in short supply at local convenience stores, we encourage local/traveling artists to also schedule a free test at the Maine Jetport Testing Portal Site at their earliest availability.
- For all traveling artists, if your test is positive prior to your arrival, the IAA team will coordinate with you to reschedule travel plans and residency dates. After waiting the one week quarantine period, any out of state residents are welcome to join us in the studios upon a negative test result.
- During your residency, if you begin to display symptoms we will help you make arrangements to be tested at the nearest facility.
- While awaiting test results you may remain in residence, but should effectively self-quarantine in your private living space, limiting your movement and interactions with others as much as possible. If you test positive, you will be asked to leave the studio and quarantine at the lodging provided. We will work with you to reschedule the remainder of your residency and honor or prorate the financial award as appropriate.
- If a fellow resident tests positive, they will be asked to return home to self-quarantine. All staff and other residents will be tested and all onsite work will be suspended until all results are received.
- It is entirely likely that this process will span multiple residency periods if it is needed. If the studio needs to be closed and your residency is affected, we will do everything possible to reschedule and honor or prorate the financial award as appropriate.
Please visit our COVID-19 Policies and Guidelines page to learn more about how we’re taking care of our artists communities.