How will my Artist Fellowship grant application be evaluated?
Review Process
Peer reviewers receive and review submissions. They recommend grants based on overall scoring in relation to the available program budget. Applicants may win one of three awards:
- Artistic Excellence
- Artist Fellowship
- Emerging Recognition
Final funding recommendations are presented to the Connecticut Arts Council for approval.
Review Criteria
Artist Fellowship applications are evaluated on the artistic excellence and artistic/aesthetic merit of the work samples submitted.
Reviewers apply these definitions of artistic excellence and merit:
Artistic Excellence – The quality of an artist’s work with a consideration of the creative and authentic voice of the artist, the understanding, mastery, and control of the medium, and an overall body of engaging work.
Artistic Merit – The ongoing commitment of an artist to their artistic practice and artistic career/goals with consideration of the quality and dedication in preparing and presenting application materials, a focus on the development of new work, and the impact of the award.
Reviewers also use NEA’s criteria for Artistic Excellence and Artistic Merit as a guide. We adjust the NEA guide and focus on individual artists and their personal artistic advancements.