Organizer Information
The Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD) administers the MCAD–Jerome Foundation Fellowship in partnership with the Jerome Foundation, a philanthropic organization supporting artists and cultural organizations. The fellowship is designed to provide meaningful resources and professional development to early career visual artists in Minnesota. The program emphasizes artistic experimentation, innovation, risk-taking, and the development of original work that challenges conventional artistic forms.
Title & Description
MCAD–Jerome Foundation Fellowships
The MCAD–Jerome Foundation Fellowship for Early Career Artists 2026/27 supports emerging visual artists in Minnesota who are developing distinctive and innovative artistic practices. Four artists will be selected through an independent jury process for fellowships running from December 1, 2026, through March 15, 2028.
The program supports artists creating original work across a broad range of contemporary visual art practices, including both traditional and new media. Fellows receive financial support, professional development opportunities, studio visits with established arts professionals, access to MCAD resources, and an exhibition at the MCAD Gallery.
Categories
- Painting, drawing, sculpture, and printmaking
- Photography and digital video/film in an exhibition or installation context
- Installation, conceptual, public, and social practice
- Sequential art and comics
- Textile, ceramics, glass, bead, metal, and paper art
- Graffiti and other contemporary visual art practices
Eligibility
Applicants must be legal residents of Minnesota and have maintained Minnesota residency for at least one year before the application deadline, since September 11, 2025. Artists must also remain Minnesota residents through the end of the fellowship period.
The fellowship is intended for early career artists with 2–10 years of eligible generative artistic practice, excluding time spent in degree-granting programs. Artists must have a demonstrable record of creating and publicly sharing their original work.
Applicants must work within a current visual art context and be actively creating new, original work. Students enrolled in degree-granting programs, full-time tenured faculty, previous MCAD–Jerome Fellowship recipients, and artists considered mid-career or established are not eligible. Artists with significant recognition or representation by prominent commercial galleries may also be excluded.
Collaborative teams may apply if every participating artist meets the eligibility requirements and the collaboration is an established part of their artistic practice.
Program Benefits & Awards
- $10,000 unrestricted award
- $1,000 professional development funds, reimbursed against receipts
- Three studio visits with professional critics, including a local curator, catalogue writer, and national curator
- Exhibition at the MCAD Gallery in January–March 2028
- A catalogue featuring a critical essay on each fellow's work
- Opportunity to participate in a public panel discussion
- Access to MCAD facilities and library
- 50% tuition reduction for MCAD Continuing Education courses
- Reimbursement for mileage and lodging when eligible Minnesota artists outside the Twin Cities travel for fellowship activities
Awards and professional development funds are subject to applicable state and federal income tax requirements.
Application Fee
None
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 11 September 2026
- Finalists/Second-Round Notification: October 30, 2026
- Online Studio Visits: November 12–13, 2026
- Final Selection Notification: By November 24, 2026
- Fellowship Period: December 1, 2026–March 15, 2028
- Fellowship Exhibition: January–March 2028
Location
Minnesota, United States
Additional Details
The selection process is conducted by an independent jury of three arts professionals. Applicants are evaluated for compelling artistic vision, thoughtful and technically proficient work, innovation, and risk-taking. The program uses a blind jury process for work samples.
Applicants may submit a combination of images, video, audio, and PDF materials, with a maximum equivalent of 10 work samples. Artist and fellowship goals statements are limited to 500 words each. The guidelines explicitly state that applicants must not use AI or ChatGPT to write either statement.
One-on-one application feedback meetings are available before submission, although meetings are not scheduled during the week immediately preceding the deadline.