How will my Artist Fellowship grant application be evaluated?

Review Process

Peer reviewers evaluate submissions. They recommend grants based on overall scoring in combination with available funds for the program. The program awards grants at 3 award levels.

• Artistic Excellence
• Artist Fellowship
• Emerging Recognition

Review Criteria

Artist Fellowship applications are evaluated on the artistic excellence and artistic merit of the applications 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 personal impact of the award.

Reviewers also use NEA’s criteria for Artistic Excellence and Artistic Merit as a guide. However, the NEA guide is project focused and we focus on individual artists and their personal artistic advancements.