SANTA MONICA ARTIST FELLOWSHIP
Project Fellowship Application 2013
APPLICATION DEADLINE: 5:00 pm January 31, 2013
Contact Information:
Name
Address 1
Address 2
City, State, Zip
Email
Tel
Please refer to the 2013 Artist Fellowship Guidelines below before completing this form.
When the form is complete, print it out with your replies and send the hard copy, along with the
required attachments, to the address on page seven below.
The Santa Monica Arts Commission will make final decisions for Fellowship awards between April
and June 2013. Notifications will be sent by mail by June. Please contact Nathan Birnbaum (info
below) with any questions before the application deadline. After you submit your application, please
avoid calling to find out the status of your application until notification in June.
Note: Only hard copies of the Application Form are acceptable. Do not send this application in
electronic form, except for the artistic samples, which must be on CD or DVD.
Santa Monica Artist Fellowship Application 2013 p.1
Project Description:
1. Describe the project for which you are requesting funds. Fellowships are awarded to specific proposals
for study, individual exploration, in-depth exchange or creative opportunities related to the development,
completion, exhibition or performance of new work. Begin by describing the particular artwork(s) you are
focusing on. Describe your process in developing the work. Indicate whether there are plans at this time for a
public showing of the work, and how firm the plans are. If you wish, describe any benefits this project might
have for your career. [Click below in the space provided to write. Use only this page; do not add extra pages.]
Santa Monica Artist Fellowship Application 2013 p.2
Project Expenses:
2. Tells us how you propose to use the $3,000 Fellowship grant. Estimate the total expenses for your
project. Indicate which of those expenses you plan to support with the Fellowship grant. What additional
sources of income do you have to use for the project? Though actual costs may be approximate, the
specifics of your proposed expenses are critical to the evaluation of your application. Use the budget form
below to itemize only the expenses you plan to spend the $3,000 grant on. Include a short description of
each item. [Click below in the space provided to write. Use only the space provided, with as little or as much
of the budget as you need. Do not add extra pages.]
Santa Monica Artist Fellowship Application 2013 p.3
Budget:
Expense/Description
Amount
TOTAL
$3,000
Santa Monica Artist Fellowship Application 2013 p.4
Attachments:
3. Attach the following to your application (see instructions below):
(a) Artistic Samples
(b) Index of Artistic Samples
(c) Resume
(a) Artistic Samples. Your artistic work is the most important part of your application. Submit the best
quality documentation of that work that you can, in the most appropriate format.
Label each sample clearly with a number or letter that corresponds to a number or letter in your Index of
Artistic Samples (see below). The majority of your samples should represent work created in the last five
years, if possible. If some samples represent collaborative work, be clear about your role in the collaboration.
Do not submit PR or supplementary materials, including catalogs, reviews, announcements, etc.
Submitted material cannot be returned.
See page 6 below for the acceptable formats and standards for submission of artistic samples.
(b) Index of Artistic Samples. Submit a document listing your artistic samples, with a label and description
for each item. Each artistic sample must, in turn, be labeled with a number or letter that corresponds to the
identical number or letter in your Index of Artistic Samples. Descriptions must be placed next to the label in
the Index, and must include TITLE and DATE of work. If the work is writing or musical composition,
indicate if the work is published and the PUBLICATION DATE, if applicable. For the visual arts, list the
MATERIALS that comprise the work and the SIZE of the work, if applicable. For documentation of
performances, supply explanatory information about the performance, including the date, location personnel,
etc. Panelists cannot make judgments about work without these details.
(c) Resume – a hard copy chronology of your artistic experience of NO MORE THAN FIVE PAGES. (Do
not submit a narrative biography.)
NOTE: Send paper copies of your Resume, your Index of Artistic Samples and the application itself.
Only the Artistic Samples should be submitted in digital form.
Santa Monica Artist Fellowship Application 2013 p.5
Formats and Standards for Submission of Artistic Samples:
Visual Arts, including new media and performance art:
Still images: submit a CD with a minimum of 10 and maximum of 20 images. Images
must be digital files in the JPG format, 5.0 MB or smaller, 300 dpi recommended. Note that
the panel may view your work using a projector. Each separate JPG must be labeled to
correspond to a label in your Index of Artistic Samples.
Moving images: submit a DVD with 3 to 5 minutes of moving images. You may submit
a standard DVD, or a CD or DVD with files in WMV, AVI or MPEG format. Substantive
artistic excerpts of several works are preferred to short clips of many works. Keep individual
artworks separate; do not montage several works together. In the case of a standard DVD,
each item in your Index of Artistic Samples must correspond to a separate chapter on the
DVD. Files and chapters must be clearly labeled.
Internet work: Submit an MS Word document of active web addresses with navigation
instructions. Include a backup CD with images of your web pages in case the panel has
difficulty viewing your work online. Each web address must be must be clearly labeled to
correspond to your Index of Artistic Samples.
Creative Writing, including novels, scripts, poetry, creative nonfiction, etc.:
Submit ten (10) sample pages of writing in hardcopy. For poetry, five (5) poems will be
accepted; for scripts, twenty (20) pages will be accepted. Also submit a single page description
of the applicant’s publishing history. Each writing sample must be labeled to correspond to a
label in your Index of Artistic Samples Original manuscripts will not be accepted.
Musical Composition or Sound Composition:
Submit a CD with 3 to 5 minutes of original music or sound composition. For musical
compositions, also submit a copy of the score for each segment. Substantive artistic excerpts
of several works are preferred to short clips of many works. Do not insert edits or transitions
that are not part of the original work. Each segment of music or sound composition must be
a separate track, clearly labeled to correspond to your Index of Artistic Samples.
Choreography or Writing/Performance:
Submit a DVD with 3 to 5 minutes of performance excerpts. You may submit a standard
DVD, or a CD or DVD with files in WMV, AVI or MPEG format. Substantive artistic
excerpts of several works are preferred to short clips of many works. Do not insert edits or
transitions that are not part of the documentation of the performance. Files or chapters must
be clearly labeled to correspond to your Index of Artistic Samples.
IMPORTANT: Test your CD or DVD on a Mac, PC and CD/DVD player before submitting! Note
that images, chapters or tracks will be viewed or heard in the order they are presented on the disks.
Santa Monica Artist Fellowship Application 2013 p.6
Submitting Your Application:
Applications may be mailed or hand-delivered.
By mail:
Santa Monica Artist Fellowship
City of Santa Monica Cultural Affairs Division
P.O. Box 2200
Santa Monica, CA 90407-2200
By hand:
City of Santa Monica Cultural Affairs Division
1437 4th St., Suite 310
Santa Monica, CA 90401
Direct all inquiries to:
Nathan Birnbaum
Cultural Affairs Administrator, City of Santa Monica
Tel: 310.458.8350
Email: nathan.birnbaum@smgov.net
APPLICATION DEADLINE:
All application materials must be in our office by 5:00 pm January 31, 2013 (not a postmark
deadline). Any application or portion of an application received after that time will not be accepted and will
be returned to the applicant.
APPLICATION CHECKLIST
Your final application should be comprised of four items:
APPLICATION FORM (HARD COPY)
CD/DVD OF ARTISTIC SAMPLES, OR HARD COPY OF WRITING SAMPLES
INDEX OF ARTISTIC SAMPLES (HARD COPY)
RESUME (HARD COPY)
Santa Monica Artist Fellowship Application 2013 p.7
SANTA MONICA ARTIST FELLOWSHIP
2013 GUIDELINES
Purpose
The purpose of the Santa Monica Artist Fellowship is to recognize excellence, nourish and stimulate
the creation of new work by Santa Monicans and reinforce the community’s high regard for
creativity and innovation. The Santa Monica Artist Fellowship directly supports artists so that they
may dedicate themselves to the creation and exhibition of their work.
Process
Five Fellowships are awarded annually: three Project Fellowships of $3,000 each, selected via an
application process, and two Fellowships of $20,000 each, selected by means of a nomination
process.
Fellowships by application – Project Fellowships ($3,000)
Santa Monica Artist Fellowships of $3,000 each (Project Fellowships) are distributed to three Santa
Monica-based artists by means of an open application process. Artists may apply for a Project
Fellowship to pursue study, individual exploration, in-depth exchange, or creative opportunities
related to the development, completion, exhibition or performance of new work. Applications are
reviewed by a panel that then makes recommendations to the Santa Monica Arts Commission.
Fellowships by nomination ($20,000)
Santa Monica Artist Fellowships of $20,000 each are presented to two artists annually following a
nominations process. The Nominators are arts professionals chosen annually from inside and
outside the city and approved by the Arts Commission. Nominators submit names of qualified
artists. The work of those artists is then reviewed by a panel made up of distinguished artists and
arts professionals from outside Santa Monica chosen for their expertise and aesthetic breadth. After
review, the panel makes recommendations to the Santa Monica Arts Commission, which then makes
final decisions.
Review process
After applications and nominations are screened for eligibility, the panel selects a pool of finalists by
reviewing artistic samples only. Artistic excellence is the only criteria for the first round of
advancement in the selection process. In the second round, panelists review the Project Fellowship
applications and the supporting materials from the finalists among the nominated candidates. Five
artists are selected for recommendation. Excellence, productivity and impact are the primary
considerations for the panel’s recommendations. Final decisions are made by the Santa Monica Arts
Commission.
Santa Monica Artist Fellowship Application 2013 p.8
Fellowship obligations
Fellows are required to credit the support of the City of Santa Monica on whichever artwork
receives its first public exhibition, public performance or publication subsequent to the grant period.
Project Fellows are required to credit the City in the exhibition, performance or publication of the
work that is the focus of the supported project. The credit then becomes attached to the work on a
permanent basis. In addition, Fellows are required to present an artist talk to the public as part of an
ongoing City program of creative discourse. The artist talk may be videotaped and uploaded to the
Creative Santa Monica, Cultural Affairs or other City-affiliated website. Images of artwork by
Fellows may be presented wherever the city makes use of the arts, including City websites, phone
systems where music is employed, cable TV, etc. Lastly, Fellows are obligated to participate in a
public event acknowledging their award.
Use of funds
Use of Fellowship funds by nominated artists is at the discretion of the Fellow, limited to the
purpose of the grant, which is the creation of new work. Use of the Project Fellowship funds is
limited to the applicant’s project plan as approved by the panel.
Eligibility
Professional artists who create (rather than interpret) original work, and who either reside in the City
of Santa Monica, or who maintain professional studios in the city and retain a city business license,
are eligible to apply for or be nominated for a Fellowship.
Project Fellowship applicants must have lived or worked in Santa Monica for more than one year.
Nominated artists must have lived or worked in Santa Monica for a minimum of five years.
An eligible “professional artist” is one who is recognized by critics and peers, has verifiable training
and/or a reputation and credentials, makes all or a portion of her/his living in the arts field, and
creates new work in one or more of the following areas: visual arts, creative literature, new media,
playwriting, writing/performance, choreography, musical composition or sound composition.
Disbursement of funds
Fellowship funds will be issued in two installments, half at the beginning of the Fellowship period,
the remainder at the halfway point, upon completion of a progress report and a meeting with City
staff.
Rotating disciplines
Discipline categories for the nominated Fellowships rotate annually. The focuses for 2013 are
creative literature, playwriting, writing/performance, choreography, musical composition or sound
composition..
Project Fellowships are multi-disciplinary and are open to all eligible disciplines every year.
Santa Monica Artist Fellowship Application 2013 p.9