FY18 Career Opportunity Round 1 Grant

The Oregon Arts Commission's Career Opportunity Grants support individual Oregon artists by enabling them to take advantage of timely opportunities to enhance their artistic careers. This program does not support the creation of new artwork unless explicitly linked to an opportunity. The program recognizes and supports artists from the following disciplines: Literature (creative non-fiction, fiction, play writing and poetry), Dance including choreography, Music composition and performance, Theatre and performance art, Visual Arts (crafts, drawing, painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture, mixed media, and new media), Design Arts, and Film/Video.

Eligibility requirements include: domicile in Oregon for at least one year prior to the application deadline, age 18 or older, no prior Career Opportunity Program funding within the past 16 months, and not currently enrolled in a degree-bearing program. Emerging artists must show some history of publication, exhibition or performance that was juried, programmed, or edited by someone other than the applicant. Artists from underserved communities, including rural communities and communities of color, are especially encouraged to apply.

Grants support activities such as travel associated with external opportunities, preparation and shipping costs for materials, expenses for exceptional learning environments like residencies or intensive study with a recognized master/mentor, professional fees and services, and rental fees for equipment or facilities. OAC Career Opportunity Grants range from $500 to $1,500. Established visual artists and performing/literary artists may be eligible for up to $9,000 through additional funding from The Ford Family Foundation or The Oregon Community Foundation. Applications are evaluated by a multidisciplinary panel using criteria for career impact (45 points), artistic merit (45 points), and budget appropriateness (10 points). For more information, visit http://www.oregonartscommission.org/grants/career-opportunity or contact [email protected].