Joan Mitchell Fellowship

Eligibility & Selection Process

Each spring, we invite a diverse range of artists and arts professionals to nominate artists at any career stage who:

• are making exceptional work in the evolving fields of painting and sculpture
• are deserving of greater acknowledgment on a national level
• will benefit from the recognition and resources that the award provides

Eligibility

To be eligible to apply, artists must first be nominated by one of the Foundation’s invited grant nominators. Nominations are limited to:

• Artists based in a U.S. state or territory
• Primary practice is painting or sculpture
• Not a full-time student

Given that the Fellowship is an expansion of the Painters & Sculptors Grants (awarded 1994-2020), previous recipients of that grant are not eligible for the Fellowship.

Selection Process

Nominated artists are invited by email to apply. Fellowship recipients are then selected by a jury of artists and arts professionals.

Why do we use a nomination process?

By using a nomination process—rather than an open call for applications—the Foundation ensures a diverse pool of nominees from across the country, while maximizing the funds available for direct artist support.

How can I get nominated?

Our invited fellowship nominators remain anonymous, and artists cannot ask to be nominated. We cannot advise a single strategy to be nominated, given that our past grant recipients’ career paths are incredibly diverse, and the Foundation’s programs and nominators strive to capture artists at various points of their careers. That said, be sure you are connecting with your art community: network with other artists and art organizations, hold open studios, seek out professional development opportunities, and apply for open call grants and residencies offered by other national and local organizations. All of these activities will increase the odds that one of our nominators is familiar with your work.