Artists 360 is designed to elevate and energize greater Northwest Arkansas student artists by providing them with:
- $1,500 grants to support creative practices and career advancement;
- Peer-based learning experiences to develop entrepreneurship skills and build enduring creative practices; and
- Connections to a dynamic regional artist network.
Six annual grants and professional development support are awarded to individual degree-seeking artists enrolled in Northwest Arkansas higher education institutions. Grantees receive practice-based funding and participate in peer-based learning experiences, including an in-person retreat, One-On-One mentorship, and small group discussions. These experiences develop entrepreneurial skills, while expanding a network of leading regional artists.
Download an application guide here: A360 Student Artist Grant Application Guide.pdf
Eligibility
To be eligible for the Artists 360 Student Artist Grant program, you must:
- Be enrolled for the 2023-2024 school year (part-time or full-time) in an accredited post-secondary institution located in one of the following counties: Benton, Carroll, Crawford, Sebastian, or Washington. (Student artists do not have to be arts majors to be eligible for Artists 360.)
- Commit to participating in peer-to-peer professional development activities during the grant year, including the Artists 360 Grantee Retreat at the 21C Museum Hotel in Bentonville, AR from 9:00 a.m. Saturday, October 21, 2023 through 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 22, 2023 (meals and private lodging provided).
- Be 18 years of age at the time of application.
- Must be a citizen, permanent resident, or have non-resident status.
- Create work in any artistic discipline, including, but not limited to dance, film, literary, music, theatre, and visual art.
- May not have previously received an Artists 360 Student Artist Grant.
Requirements
Each Artists 360 Student Artist application should include:
- Completed online application form including a description of how you will use the grant funds to enhance your creative practice and/or advance your artistic career.
- Artist Statement OR In your own words describe your artistic practice. (maximum 250 words).
- Artist Biography (maximum 100 words).
- Up to five artwork samples (images, audio files, video files, literary files, or URLs to audio, video, and/or literary files (1MB maximum per file).
- Work Sample Summary (maximum 1000 words).
- Proof of enrollment in your college or university.
Review Criteria
- Artistry: Successful applicants will demonstrate artistic excellence as broadly defined by the practitioners and norms in their discipline and show a deep commitment to their work.
- Program Readiness and Collegiality: Selected artists will have the desire to actively participate in a peer-learning environment to support creative practice advancement through work and process sharing, strategic planning, and engagement in a regional network of northwest Arkansas artists.
- Balanced Cohort: The overall balance of the group of grantees will be considered to ensure a broad representation of perspectives, disciplines, and experiences.
Student Artist Grant Program Timeline
- Applications
- May 1, 2023 – June 28, 2023: Application Period
- May 1, 2023 – June 28, 2023: Application Support from M-AAA staff
- Application Reviews:
- July – August 2023: Panel Review
- Notifications:
- September 1, 2023: Applicant notification
- Grantee Important Dates:
- October 21-22, 2023: Artists 360 Grantee Retreat
- January 2024: Funding distributed
- April 20 – 21, 2024: Artists 360 Alumni Retreat & Full Circle Showcase
- December 13, 2024: Final Reports due
