Performing artists invited to apply for RACC’s 2010 fellowship award

After a one-year hiatus, The Regional Arts & Culture Council (RACC) is restoring its “Artist Fellowship” program and will honor one extraordinary artist in the field of dance, movement, music or theater by awarding a $20,000 fellowship in the performing arts this spring. Applications are now being accepted online at www.racc.org/grantapps.

RACC established the Artist Fellowship program in 1999 to honor and support uniquely talented local artists who have contributed to the community in very meaningful ways. The accompanying cash award allows the selected artist to explore a particular project, or enhance his or her artistic process. RACC rotates the discipline being honored every year, and past recipients have crafted ideas and developed works that reflected the shape of our region and the voice of their time. They include: Mary Oslund and Obo Addy (Performing Arts, 1999); Christine Bourdette and Terry Toedtemeier (Visual Arts, 2000); Jim Blashfield (Media Arts, 2001); Michele Glazer (Literary Arts, 2001); Tomas Svoboda and Keith Scales (Performing Arts, 2002); Judy Cooke and Michael Brophy (Visual Arts, 2003); Chel White (Media Arts, 2004); Craig Lesley (Literary Arts, 2004); Thara Memory (Performing Arts, 2005); Henk Pander (Visual Arts, 2006); Joanna Priestly (Media Arts, 2007); and Kim Stafford (Literary Arts, 2008).

RACC did not award a fellowship in 2009 because of the unstable economic climate. After thoroughly assessing the organization’s strong fiscal position and re-affirming the value of this career-changing award in our community, RACC’s Grants Review Committee recommended, and the RACC Board of Directors unanimously approved, restoring the fellowship program in 2010.

A panel of community representatives from both in and outside the tri-county area with expertise in the performing arts will select the fellowship winner. Review criteria for the Fellowship Award includes proof of sustained high artistic quality in the applicant’s work, as well as evidence of the applicant’s involvement in the community and the importance of his/her work to the local culture. Artists who are current, physical residents of Clackamas, Multnomah or Washington counties and meet strict eligibility criteria are eligible to apply. Guidelines can be downloaded from the RACC website and access to the online application form, www.racc.org/GrantApps.

All applications must be submitted electronically through RACC’s GrantsOnline system <www.racc.org/GrantApps>. To be eligible to apply, applicants must submit an “Intent to Apply” form electronically no later than 5:00pm, Wednesday, March 31, 2010. The deadline for electronic submission of the full application is April 7, 2010 by 5:00pm. Applicants are then required to physically submit hard-copies of the application along with supplementary materials.