Alliance Diversity + Leadership Fellows

The Alliance's Diversity + Leadership Fellows Program is aimed at celebrating and supporting the careers of emerging residency leaders of color and emerging leaders with disabilities. It is a yearlong program that runs October – October (beginning and ending with AAC's annual conference). Leaders apply through an open call and nomination process.

The fellowship provides a range of networking and professional development opportunities - including a fellows leadership retreat and travel + registration for the 2018 AAC Conference. The fellowship supports residency leaders interested in:

• Building self-awareness and management strategies for successfully growing and leading a residency organization
• Developing leadership skills and other tools to strengthen business practice and impact of work
• Developing a deeper understanding of the context and landscape of the residency field through Conference attendance and networking opportunities
• Joining an international network of residency leaders
• Working closely with a field mentor
• Attending the 2018 AAC Conference in Philadelphia, PA (October 15-18, 2018)

Eligibility Requirements

Individuals who meet the following criteria are eligible to apply to the program:

• Identifies with one or more of the following underrepresented groups: a person of color (as determined by race and/or ethnicity) or a person with a disability
• Has at least two and no more than six years of experience working as a staff member of a residency program (in any role)
• Aspires to, or currently works with artists, in a residency program or artist centered organization
• Expresses an interest in advancing diversity, equity and inclusion in the residency field
• Has institutional approval to attend convenings and networking events
• AAC members and non-members are encouraged to apply.
• Applicants must be able to attend to all fellowship activities. Program costs are covered with travel and accommodation stipends.

The application is now closed.

The 2018 Diversity + Leadership Fellows program is made possible through a grant from The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts.

Alaska

The Alaska State Council on the Arts' Career Opportunity Grants provide financial assistance to professional artists and arts leaders in Alaska for travel to in-state, national, or international events, programs or seminars and for other activities that will contribute to the strength of the artist's professional standing or skill.

To apply: Applicants may request grants up to $1,000. Access the Career Opportunity Grants guidelines and application for more information and to apply. Deadline is September 1, 2018.

About the Alaska State Council on the Arts:
The Alaska State Council on the Arts is a state agency that fosters the development of the arts for all Alaskans through education, partnerships, grants and services. For more information, visit www.eed.state.ak.us/aksca.

California

The Center for Cultural Innovation's Quick Grant Program provides reimbursement funds to nonprofit organizations and individual artists in the San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles to enroll in workshops, attend conferences, and to work with consultants and coaches to build administrative and business skills and strengthen the economic sustainability of an organization or arts practice.

To apply: Arts organizations may receive up to $1,000 in professional development reimbursement funds for activities that will build administrative and business skills. Applications are due on the 15th of the month with a one-month turnaround. Applications received after the 15th of a given month will be reviewed in the following month's application cycle. See more at: www.cciarts.org/quick_grant.htm.

Center for Cultural Innovation:
The Center for Cultural Innovation (CCI) works to promote knowledge sharing, networking and financial independence for individual artists and creative entrepreneurs by providing business training, grants, and incubating innovative projects that create new program knowledge, tools and practices for artists in the field. For more information, see: www.cciarts.org.

Idaho

Idaho Commission on the Arts is able to support Idaho artists and arts administrators' attendance of the Alliance's October 2018 annual conference through QuickFunds Professional Development for Individuals grants. These grants provide up to $750 in 1:1 matching funds for costs related to conference travel and registration. The deadline to apply for this cycle of funding is June 11, 2018. Applicants are strongly encouraged to call the office well in advance (a month or more) of their application submission and request a courtesy review by agency staff.

To apply: Download guidelines and application at: https://arts.idaho.gov/grants/profdev-individuals/.

 Idaho Commission on the Arts:
The Idaho Commission on the Arts endeavors to provide quality experiences in the arts for all Idahoans. The Commission, funded by the state of Idaho, the National Endowment for the Arts, and by private funds, is both a service organization with a professional staff offering technical assistance and training, and a funding organization providing financial assistance. For more information, visit arts.idaho.gov.

Montana

The Montana Arts Council encourages attendees of the Alliance of Artists Communities' conference to apply for Strategic Investment Grants. The grants provide matching funds to professional artists, nonprofit 501(c)(3) arts organizations and Pre K–12 teachers in Montana.

To apply: Grant deadlines are monthly and individuals can apply. Grant amounts are up to $1,000 and require a 1:1 match of cash and/or in-kind. More information and the application are available at art.mt.gov/sig. The deadline to submit applications is the (15th) of the month; it is recommended you apply at least two months prior to your activity (by July 15, 2018).

Montana Arts Council:
The Montana Arts Council is the agency of state government established to develop the creative potential of all Montanans, advance education, spur economic vibrancy and revitalize communities through involvement in the arts. MAC's vision is that Montana will be known far and wide as "The Land of Creativity," where the arts are essential to the creativity, imagination and entrepreneurship that make Big Sky Country the very best place on earth to live, learn, work and play. For more information, visit art.mt.gov.

Nevada

The Nevada Arts Council encourage and support attendance at conferences like the Alliance of Artists Communities Annual Conference and offers Professional Development Grants for Nevada-based artists and administrators. No match required.

To apply: Organizations or individuals interested in this opportunity can apply for up to $650 to support attendance at the Alliance of Artists Communities conference on a reimbursable basis. More information and guidelines can be found here. Applications must be submitted at least one month prior to the activity for which funds are requested, unless authorized by NAC. Applicants are encouraged to apply early; funds are available on a first-come, first-served reimbursement basis throughout the year while funds are available

Nevada Arts Council:
The Nevada Arts Council is a division of the new Nevada Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs. NAC is divided into five programs: Artist Services, Arts Learning, Community Arts Development, Folklife, Grants. Through these program areas, NAC provides grant funding; offers professional assistance to the state's creative industry (artists, educators cultural organizations and schools); and coordinates statewide outreach programming, initiatives and activities for Nevada's residents and visitors. For more information, visit their website.

North Dakota

The North Dakota Arts Council encourages attendees of the Alliance of Artists Communities' conference to apply for Professional Development Grants. This grant program offers financial aid for, but not limited to, arts organizations, individual artists, arts educators, and educational institutions who wish to take advantage of informational, educational, and training opportunities relating to the arts and arts development.

To apply: Grant deadlines are monthly and individuals can apply. Grant requests may not exceed $1,000 or 80% of total project cost, whichever is less. Applications must be submitted no later than four weeks prior to the conference. Guidelines and application are available at nd.gov/arts/grants/general/professional-development.

North Dakota Arts Council:
North Dakota Council on the Arts works to promote, preserve and perpetuate the arts in North Dakota. For more information, visit www.nd.gov/arts.

Pennsylvania

Citizens for the Arts in Pennsylvania offers a Professional Development and Consulting Grant of up to $750 to Pennsylvania nonprofit arts organizations and arts programs for activities that take place between January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2018.  These grants are not available to individuals and funding will not be provided for programming.

To apply: Guidelines and application are available at https://www.citizensfortheartsinpa.org/pdcgrantguidelines/. This is a limited pool of funds and grants are awarded are on a "first come/first served" basis. The organization must be recognized as a 501(c)(3) organization by the IRS or must prove fiscal sponsorship. Once all funds have been expended, new grant applications will not be accepted. You may check on the status of this program by emailing Jenny Hershour at jlh@citizensfortheartsinpa.org.

Citizens for the Arts in Pennsylvania: As Pennsylvania’s only statewide multi-disciplinary arts organization, Citizens for the Arts in Pennsylvania is uniquely positioned to speak out on behalf of the arts.  Citizens communicates the value and impact of the arts to decision makers in media, government, corporate, and philanthropic sectors and takes a stand on legislation and public policy that affect the arts. For more information, visit www.citizensfortheartsinpa.org/.

Rhode Island

The Rhode Island State Council on the Arts is pleased to offer Rhode Island's arts leaders the opportunity to attend the Alliance of Artists Communities' 2017 Conference. RISCA is offering two $500 scholarships to a Rhode Island-based artist or arts leader to subsidize conference registration, travel, and lodging for this event. Conference registration is $350 for scholarship recipients, and attendees are asked to register by the early bird registration deadline.

To apply: Submit a current resume and a brief statement describing your background and professional interest in attending the conference, including the impact you hope it will have on your career in the arts. Preference will be given to an artist or arts leader who has not previously attended conferences of the Alliance of Artists Communities. Letters are due August 1, 2018 and should be sent to info@artistcommunities.org (subject line: RISCA Scholarship). The awardee will be announced August 10.

Rhode Island State Council on the Arts:
The Rhode Island State Council on the Arts is a state agency supported by appropriations from the Rhode Island General Assembly and grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency. RISCA provides grants, technical assistance and staff support to arts organizations and artists, schools, community centers, social service organizations and local governments to bring the arts into the lives of Rhode Islanders. For more information, see http://www.arts.ri.gov/.

Wyoming

The Wyoming Arts Council offers Professional Development/Career Advancement grants for Wyoming artists and arts administrators. The funds can be used toward registration, travel, hotel and meals for one or more staff members.

To apply: Organizations interested in this opportunity can each apply for up to $750 to support sending one or more of their staff to the Alliance of Artists Communities conference. More information and guidelines can be found at http://wyoarts.state.wy.us/wac-grant/professional-developmentcareer-advancement-grant-fy18/. Applicants are encouraged to apply early.

Wyoming Arts Council:
The mission of the Wyoming Arts Council is to enhance the quality of life for the people of Wyoming by providing resources to sustain, promote, and cultivate the arts. For more information, visit wyoarts.state.wy.us.