Organizer Information
Amplify Arts is a nonprofit arts organization based in Omaha, Nebraska, working to build strong artists and unite the Omaha region's arts and culture sector. Since 2018, it has provided direct financial support to hundreds of Omaha-area artists through programs such as Generator Grants, which support artists organizing and presenting curated exhibitions and public programs, and Alternate Currents, a free professional-development program of discussions, studio visits, and critiques. Amplify Arts is committed to ensuring that the civic, cultural, and economic contributions of Omaha-region artists are both recognized and financially supported, positioning artistic inquiry as a method for examining the intersection of social, political, and environmental systems.
Title & Description
Amplify Arts Fellowship — 2027
Amplify's Fellowship program champions artists working outside conventional art spaces to investigate the layered civic histories, cultural traditions, and living ecologies that shape the Omaha region. The Fellowship is designed to support site-responsive installations, book and publishing projects, films, performances, and other publicly engaged project-based work, providing $10,000 in project support, individualized project mentorship, and feedback in a small cohort-based learning environment over a 12-month program.
Theme
Migration — exploring how movement shapes communities, environments, and collective futures, including the movement of people as well as the circulation of ideas, languages, labor, waterways, seeds, species, capital, and culture.
Categories
- Public Art
- Installation
- Video/Film
- Performance
- Writing
- Publication
- Interdisciplinary Arts
- Culture
Eligibility
- Open to any artist, artist collective, or collaborative group maintaining a residence within the Omaha/Council Bluffs Metro Area, including Washington, Douglas, Cass, Sarpy, and Saunders counties in Nebraska, and Pottawattamie, Mills, and Harrison counties in Iowa
- Applicants must be at least 19 years old
- Must submit a complete application, including an Artist Statement, Project Description, Project Budget, Work Sample, and Works Cited page
- A formal education is not required to apply
- Collectives and collaborative groups with a significant history of working together are also eligible
Program Benefits & Awards
- $10,000 in project support
- Individualized project mentorship from arts professionals working in and outside of Omaha
- Feedback and critical dialogue in a small cohort-based learning environment
- Regular group site visits, lectures, and studio visits with arts professionals throughout the year
- Matchmaking pairing with a mentor from outside the Omaha area early in the program
Application Fee
None
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Applications open: 31 August 2026
- Virtual Application Information Session: sources conflict — the pasted announcement states 8 September, 6:00–7:00 pm, while the Amplify Arts website states 9 September, 6:00 pm
- Virtual Application Office Hours: 15 September, 12:00–2:00 pm
- Virtual Application Office Hours: 17 September, 6:00–8:00 pm
- Application Deadline: 4 October 2026, 11:59 pm
- Application review: 5–18 October 2026
- Applicant interviews: 19–23 October 2026
- Application status updates delivered: 30 October 2026
- Fellowship period: January 2027 – January 2028
Location
Omaha/Council Bluffs Metro Area, Nebraska and Iowa, United States
Additional Details
- Up to three Fellows are selected each year through a four-phase review: an eligibility/completeness check by Amplify Arts staff, scoring by a panel of arts professionals, panel recommendation of up to five applicants to interview, and final selection by Amplify staff based on panelist recommendations
- Evaluation criteria include: the project is public-facing and speaks to the Migration theme; the project can be fully realized within the $10,000 budget; the work sample demonstrates an active practice and history of thoughtful work; and the application sparks interest in learning more
- Fellows are expected to attend and participate in all scheduled cohort meetings, responsibly manage their project budget and logistics with Amplify staff support, and share their work at a year-end event
- The application is available in Spanish and English, including read-aloud versions
- Amplify staff can assist with navigating Submittable, accessing a reliable wireless connection, or finding a quiet space to work on the application