McKnight Fellowships 

2008 McKnight Artist Fellowships for Ceramic Artists

The McKnight Artist Fellowships for Ceramic Artists Program is designed to strengthen and enhance Minnesota’s artistic community by providing recognition and direct financial support for mid-career ceramic artists. The Fellowships are intended to significantly advance the work of Minnesota ceramic artists whose work is of exceptional artistic merit, who have already proven their abilities, and are at a career stage that is beyond emerging. Two grants of $25,000 each will be awarded annually. Awards may be used for, but are not limited to, supplementing living or travel costs, purchasing materials and equipment, experimenting with new materials and techniques, and collaborating with other artists.

Fellowship recipients will be featured in a group exhibition at Northern Clay Center and an accompanying catalogue, and will present a workshop to the public during their grant year. Recipients are required to submit a final report at the end of the grant period.

This program is made possible by the generous support of The McKnight Foundation, Minneapolis.

Eligibility

  • You must be a resident of Minnesota and have lived in the state for at least one year immediately prior to the application deadline.
  • You must retain residency in Minnesota until the end of the grant period.
  • You must be a ceramic artist. Your work may be either functional or sculptural. Your work may incorporate other materials, but must be primarily ceramic.
  • You must have completed all formal academic training and may not be enrolled either full-time or part-time in school.
  • You must provide evidence of your professional achievements over a period of at least five years, through inclusion in major regional or national museum or gallery exhibitions, or juried or invitational craft shows, or receipt of other awards, grants or fellowships.
  • Your work must demonstrate a sustained level of accomplishment, commitment and excellence.
  • You may apply to only one of the organizations per year offering fellowship grants that are supported by McKnight funds. In addition, no artist may receive more than $50,000 in McKnight support in any three-year period.

Schedule

Completed application forms and application materials must be received at Northern Clay Center in hard copy by 5 pm on Friday, April 25, 2008. THIS IS NOT A POSTMARK DEADLINE. No faxed, e-mailed or late applications will be accepted. For more information, please contact NCC at 612.339.8007.

Applications will be reviewed by a three-member panel, who will select recipients on the basis of perceived artistic excellence and demonstrated professional achievement, using proposed fellowship plans as support material. Applicants will be notified of the outcome of the selection process in May 2008.

Application Process

You must submit the following materials. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.
  • A completed application form.
  • Twenty high-quality, labeled 35mm slides or a disk with 20 digital images, corresponding image list and a SASE if you wish the slides returned. (Disks will not be returned.) Slide label information and image list must include artist name, date of work, dimensions of work, medium and image orientation. Please click here for additional information. Digital images must be saved as JPEGs at 96 ppi.
  • A current resume (maximum of five 8-1/2" x 11" pages) with your name at the top of each page.
  • An artist statement (maximum of two 8-1/2" x 11" pages) with your name at the top of each page.
  • Two or three actual piecesrepresentative of current work (while exercising all reasonable care, the Clay Center cannot assume responsibility for work submitted to NCC for such review, while the work is at the Center, or in transit).

McKnight Fellowship Application Form