Define American Fellowship
Supporting immigrant artists and storytellers in their creative and professional development.
About the fellowship
The world is moved by stories and storytellers. Culture is changed by compelling narratives.
The Define American Fellowship supports artists and storytellers who happen to be immigrants who are working in narrative art forms. In 2022, we will select five fellows to participate in workshops and conversations around: defining and broadening their audiences, demystifying career paths and opportunities, and methods for building support for a creative practice both within their individual communities as well as in the larger national arts community.
Who should apply
The Define American Fellowship is open to immigrant artists working in a lead creative role in narrative-oriented art forms (writing, filmmaking, visual storytelling, theater, illustration, podcasting, etc.) with some experience in their chosen medium.
Examples of experience level:
(These ranges are only to be used as reference and are not a requirement for application.)
- Filmmakers who have completed 2-3 short films
- Writers who have published 2-3 short-form pieces and/or 1-2 books
- Theatre makers who have written and/or directed 1-3 produced plays
- Illustrators/Cartoonists who have published 2-3 pieces
- Podcasters with an established show they consistently either produce and/or write for
- Digital storytellers with a consistent audience and content output
What you’ll gain from being a fellow
- A $5,000 stipend
- Regular check-ins with Define American staff
- 6-8 professional development workshops and facilitated conversations
- Introductions to experienced artists and storytellers in their field
- An opportunity to apply for additional project-based funding
Conversations and workshops may include:
- Telling your own story
- Building digital audience through an artist website and social media
- How to find and apply for arts grants and other funding
- Culture change in the worlds of entertainment media, journalism, and digital storytelling
- The role of an artist in intersectional and ethical storytelling
- Best practices for engaging community organizations in your creative practice
Applications for the 2022 Define American Fellowship are now closed.
For specific questions regarding the fellowship, please email fellowship@defineamerican.com
2022 Fellowship Expectations
Duration
The fellowship runs May 1 – November 30, 2022.
Orientation
A weekend in-person orientation in a major U.S. city is planned for early May 2022. All travel, lodging, and meal costs will be covered for participants. If current health restrictions will not allow for travel or gathering, the orientation will take place virtually.
Regular check-ins
Fellows will schedule regular calls with Define American staff to check-in about their fellowship experience, how their projects are developing, where they are looking for connections and professional development, and more. These can be scheduled weekly, every other week, or once a month depending on what the fellow finds most helpful and at a time of day that works best for them.
Professional development workshops
Fellows will attend 6-8 90-minute webinar workshops and facilitated conversations over the course of the fellowship on topics including storytelling, communications, fundraising, culture change in various fields, and more. These conversations will be scheduled at a time that is most conducive for most fellows with the expectation that participation in these workshops is mandatory.
Conversations and workshops may include:
- Telling your own story
- Building digital audience through an artist website and social media
- How to find and apply for arts grants and other funding
- Culture change in the worlds of entertainment media, journalism, and digital storytelling
- The role of an artist in intersectional and ethical storytelling
- Best practices for engaging community organizations in your creative practice
Expected outcome
Over the course of the fellowship, artists will further define their creative and professional goals, the audience for their work, as well as identify support and supporters for the next steps in their career.
Stipend
Upon acceptance to the program, in order to receive the $5,000 stipend, fellows must send:
- Completed W-9
- Invoice made out to Define American
- Signed memorandum of understanding (MOU)
- Signed Define American Fellowship Agreement
End of fellowship
Each fellow will complete an exit survey and interview upon completion of the fellowship. Define American will use this feedback to continue to develop opportunities for creative professionals. Define American will also send surveys post-fellowship to gauge the continued impact of the fellowship.