A NOTE ABOUT MIRA HELPING WITH APPLICATIONS AND PROPOSALS

Dear Gentle Readers,

So lately, for whatever reason (increased popularity of my blog, temporary insanity of a few people, astrological weirdness, or general confusion), I've been getting many, many proposals in my in-box and requests from people to read them through and give feedback. Usually a day or two before the applications are due. (By the way, it is bad form to do this on such short notice to people you know, let alone people you don't know personally.) These are proposals for various grants and fellowships or applications to residencies. (Oh, I also have gotten some rather strange and long-winded requests for money too. Lots of money. Odd, that.)

Anyway, most of you are very respectful and take it to heart when I say that I do this blog for free (translated: I spend many hours researching, managing, writing people back, etc.) and that if you have a burning question, you check my FAQs on the side bar first before asking me privately. However, for those of you who don't check my FAQs: dudes, scroll down and read them! I need you to. You need to be resourceful and figure this out and that is why I do this blog. To help people help themselves. As for reading people's proposals--as much as I would love to help, I simply can't. It is just way too time consuming. And if you read my article "Finding Money for Your Dreams," you know that I suffer from a brain injury. I don't mean to whine, so please don't take this the wrong way, but you need to know that the way it works is this: if I read something several pages one day, that means that I will then be way too exhausted to do my own writing later that day and maybe the next. So you see, it is too taxing on my wee brain. It's enough just to do this blog.

I'm about to go back into my book and re-edit it once again, as well as finish all the artwork. That means less time for Mira's List. I will do my very best to keep you all informed but please--do check those FAQs, use the comment forum at the bottom of the right hand sidebar so others can put their two cents in, and do not send me attached documents of your proposals, your Fulbright grant applications, your MacDowell applications, etc. I just can't do it. I get very, very tired just reading your emails asking me to help you. It doesn't mean I don't like you. It means I am not the person for the job.

I don't mean to complain. But things are getting out of hand so I had to say something. Please pass it on to others that I don't look at grant proposals. And if you feel like Mira's List has helped you in anyway whatsoever, consider making a small donation on the donation link on the right hand sidebar. Even if it's five dollars. Every little bit helps. I am trying to maintain this as a free site so any contribution would be appreciated, especially if you feel like you learned something from an article or you found out about an amazing opportunity here. Help keep this blog going or it will fizzle out in the future, as much as I'd like it to grow.

Thanks for listening. I guess I really got bombarded this month with letters and proposals, etc. Probably because the fall is a big application time and everyone out there needs money. Anyway, good luck with your endeavors, keep making art, keep applying for things and be courageous and go forth! I'm here to be your faithful resource and so I shall continue to....
Cheers,
Mira

LATE-BREAKING DEADLINES FOR MUSICIANS, WRITERS AND ARTISTS

Good morning to you all... I still am having formatting problems when I switch from a word doc or from an email to my blog post. The font size changes and other snafoos occur. I'm doing my best to figure this out...sorry once again if things look a little off. Drives me crazy! Anyway, below are some upcoming fall deadlines...best wishes, Mira.

(WRITERS) Biography Fellowships
The Leon Levy Center for Biography is offering resident fellowships at the Graduate Center, CUNY in New York City for the academic year beginning September 2010. Awards include writing space, access to research facilities and a $60,000 stipend. Deadline is October 15, 2009. For more information, go to: www.leonlevycenterforbiography.com.

The following announcements are from Kathleen Bitetti from Artist Alliance, an arts advocacy group. Check them out: www.artistalliance.us. Thanks Kathleen!

(MUSICIANS/MUSICOLOGISTS) Grammy Foundation Grants
DEADLINE OCTOBER 1st!: Funded by the Recording Academy, the Grammy Foundation Grant Program administers grants annually to organizations and individuals to support efforts that advance the archiving and preservation of the music and recorded sound heritage of the Americas. The foundation will also award Scientific Research Project grants up to a maximum of $20,000 each to organizations and individuals to support research on the impact of music on the human condition. Examples might include the study of the effects of music on mood, cognition and healing, as well as the medical and occupational well-being of music professionals and the creative process underlying music. Priority is given to projects with strong methodological design as well those addressing an important research question. The Foundation's Archiving and Preservation Project grants support efforts that advance the archiving and preservation of the music and recorded sound heritage of the Americas. The Archiving and Preservation area has two funding categories: Preservation Implementation ($20,000 maximum award each); and Planning, Assessment, and/or Consultation ($5,000 maximum award each).

A Letter of Inquiry is now required before submission of a full application. Inquiries must be received by no later than October 1, 2009. If the project is recommended for further consideration, the applicant will be invited to submit a full application in early November. Full applications will be due within approximately four weeks of notification and wards will be announced in March 2010. For more information, please go to: http://www.grammy.com/GrammyFoundation/

(FILMMAKERS) Native American Film Awards
National Museum of the American Indian seeks submissions of films on Native American Veterans. The National Museum of the American Indian is seeking submissions of four-minute films about Native American veterans that illustrate the impact and meaning of participation in the military for native peoples. All types of nonfiction film, including documentary, experimental, and animation, will be accepted. Prizes will be awarded to winners, and selected films will be shown on Veterans Day 2009 during a special program at the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C. Deadline October 18, 2009. Visit the Web site of the National Museum of the American Indian for further information: http://www.americanindian.si.edu/fvc/veterans/

(ARTISTS) NYFA Award for Excellence in Painting
New York Foundation for the Arts Announces New Award for Excellence in Painting. As part of this year's New York State Artists' Fellowships program, the New York Foundation for the Arts has announced a special award for excellence in painting. The Basil H. Alkazzi Award for Excellence in Painting will provide two painters with an award of $20,000 each. The award is open to painters of all nationalities, provided they are residents of New York State. All those who apply to Fellowships program will automatically be considered for the Award for Excellence in Painting. The awards will first be presented in 2010 and on a biennial basis thereafter. The Artists' Fellowships painting category accepts work that involves painting of any kind upon any surface. The deadline for the painting category is November 3, 2009. Visit the NYFA Web site for complete award information and Artists' Fellowships program guidelines: http://www.nyfa.org/level3.asp?id=658&fid=1&sid=1

SCHOLARSHIP SITE FOR U.S. AND INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

Good morning all...so I just got this great link from my friend Sticker Kitty: http://www.eastchance.com/index.asp. It's a site called East Chance and it's for those of you seeking funding for undergraduate and graduate school in the U.S. and abroad. It's for both American and international students. I have only just skimmed through it a bit but already found some useful things so hopefully, for those of you seeking academic funding, you'll find it helpful too. I have more announcements coming later today or tomorrow so come back and visit. In the meantime, don't forget to check out my google ad links on this site. A lot of them are for academic funding, government grants, other grant programs, etc. and every time you check them out with a little click, it helps out Mira's List a tiny bit. Don't go crazy clicking them just to help me though! But do check them out. Thanks and I'll talk to you all later....Mira

URGENT DEADLINES FOR FELLOWSHIPS, RESIDENCIES AND MORE!

(PRINTMAKERS) St. Michael's Printshop Residency in Newfoundland: Each year St. Michael's Printshop invites applications from international, national and provincial artists who wish to come and work at the Printshop for a one-month period. A total of six residencies are offered during the year. The one-month residency must be completed during the period of April 1st in the year in which it is awarded and March 31st of the following year. During the residency, the artist will be asked to give a workshop for the membership of the Printshop. Up to $1500 in funding for each artist plus 24-hour access to all facilities. Deadline is October 1, 2009. For more information, please go to: http://www.stmichaelsprintshop.com

(ALL) Radcliffe Fellowships: Fellowships for creative artists and scholars in the humanities. Stipends are funded up to $65,000 for one year with additional funds for project expenses. Some support for relocation expenses is provided where relevant. If so directed, Radcliffe will pay the stipend to the fellow's home institution. Fellows receive office or studio space and access to libraries and other resources of Harvard University during the fellowship year, which extends from early September 2010 through June 30, 2011. Visual artists and film, video, sound, and new media artists may apply to come for one semester only. The stipend is $32,500. Fellows are expected to be free of their regular commitments so they may devote themselves full time to the work outlined in their proposal. Since this is a residential fellowship, fellows are expected to reside in the Boston area during that period and to have their primary office at the Institute so that they can participate fully in the life of the community. For more information, please contactL [email protected] or call: 617-496-1324. Deadline is October 1, 2009. Visit the website at: http://www.radcliffe.edu/fellowships/apply.aspx

(ALL) Collaboration Opportunity: The Artists and Writers Alliance Internationale is a project dedicated to encouraging collaborative creative projects and is currently accepting listings for its website from artists of all disciplines interested in connecting with others to create collaborative works of art. All are welcome to submit a free listing to the AWAI website. AWAI brings together artists, writers and others in the arts from around the world; it is then up to the participants to contact one another directly for more detailed information for possible collaborative projects. For additional information contact: Sherry Steiner, Founder at [email protected] or visit their website: http://artistsandwritersallianceinternationale.org/

(WRITERS) Amsterdam Writer-in-Residence Program: Amsterdam Writer-in-Residence Program is from three to five months in the heart of the old city. Guest writers use their time in Amsterdam for their own work and research, but they will also be involved in the city's literary and cultural life. It has been decided to give preference to those authors whose works have been translated into Dutch or will be shortly, and authors who work in a wide range of literary genres. For more information visit: http://tinyurl.com/nqm542

(WRITERS) Hodder Fellowship: The Lewis Center for the Arts at Princeton offers the Hodder Fellowship, a fellowship created for artists in the early stages of their careers. In keeping with the bequest of Mary MacKall Gwinn Hodder, it is awarded to individuals during that crucial period when they have demonstrated exceptional promise but have not yet received widespread recognition. Typically, Hodder Fellows are poets, playwrights, novelists, creative nonfiction writers and translators who have published one highly acclaimed book and are undertaking significant new work that might not be possible without the “studious leisure” afforded by this fellowship. Hodder Fellows spend an academic year at Princeton pursuing independent projects. Preference is given to individuals outside of academia, and candidates for the Ph.D. degree are not eligible. You need not be a US citizen to apply. The stipend for 2010-2011 is $62,000. Material must be postmarked by November 1, 2009. For more information visit: http://www.princeton.edu/arts/lewis_center/society_of_fellows/

(FILMMAKERS) Emerging Documentary Filmmaker Grants: The Pacific Pioneer Fund gives grants to emerging documentary filmmakers or videographers who live and work in California, Oregon, and Washington. The term "emerging" is intended to denote a person committed to the craft of making documentaries, who has demonstrated that commitment by several years - but no more than ten - practical film or video experience. Grants range from $1,000 to $10,000. Fiscal Sponsor required. Funding Cycle: The board meets three times a year. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis. The applications deadlines in 2009 are 4/15, 8/15, and 12/15. For more information visit: http://www.pacificpioneerfund.com./

(MEDIA/FILM) Artist-in-Residence in Boston: The Artist in Residency at HOME, Inc. offers a three month to six month residency which may be renewable for an additional six months upon mutual agreement. The Residency provides free access to HOME's video production facilities at the HOME studios in Jamaica Plain (Boston, MA). Facilities include access to 4 Apple Studio Suite equipped editing systems, with Live Type, Motion, Final Cut Pro and other software. Additional equipment includes Betacam SP editing deck, and DVCAM camcorders, a camera boom, wireless microphones, fluid head tripods, lights etc. They also can provide a small office space. At this point there is no stipend included with the residency. HOME is particularly interested in video artists who are working on projects that have some social theme or value. For more information, contact [email protected]. Website: http://www.homeinc.org/opportunities.shtml

NEW FELLOWSHIPS AND GRANTS

(ARTISTS/WRITERS/FILMMAKERS) Call for Collaboration Proposals
The Liaison of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto is seeking proposals from artists and writers for the third series of Poetry Projections, provisionally titled Poetry Projections III: On Correspondence. Revisiting the film poem as an avenue for creative collaborations, LIFT is seeking proposals for ten commissioned films to be screened in Fall of 2010. Each new work will provide a stimulating perspective on the intersection of film and poetry "in correspondence." Selected participants will receive $200, temporary LIFT Membership, up to $1,000 in production equipment/facilities and post-production resources, up to $1,000 in film, materials and services, and more. For artists living outside the Toronto area, some travel assistance may be available. For more information, please visit the website at: www.lift.on.ca. Deadline: October 5, 2009.

(SCHOLARS) The Society for the Humanities Fellowships
The Society for the Humanities calls for scholarly reflections on global aesthetics. They are seeking interdisciplinary projects on aesthetics that reflect on the history and practice of artistic form in the context of historical cross-cultural exchange, economic and cultural flows, and contemporary global transformation. Scholars are encouraged to investigate transformations of global aesthetics and interdisciplinary practices across geographies, historical periods, disciplinary boundaries, and social context. The Society for the Humanities welcomes applications from scholars and practitioners who are interested in investigating this topic from the broadest variety of international and disciplinary perspectives. Fellows receive $45,000 for one year. Fellows from outside the U.S. receive an extra $2,000 to cover travel expenses.

Applicants must have received the Ph.D. degree before January 1, 2009. The Society for the Humanities will not consider applications from scholars who received the Ph.D. after this date. Applicants must also have one or more years of teaching experience which may include teaching as a graduate student. For further information: Phone: 607-255-9274. Email: [email protected]. Website: www.arts.cornell.edu/sochum/ Deadline is October 1st, 2009.

(ARTISTS) Artadia Awards for San Francisco Artists
Artadia: The Fund for Art and Dialogue is now accepting applications from visual artists in the San Francisco Bay area. Artists and collaboratives working in all media and at any point in their career are encouraged to apply. Artists receive between $3000 and $15,000 plus professional and mentoring assistance. For more information, please go to: www.artadia.org. Deadline is October 15, 2009.

(FILMMAKERS) Cinereach Grants Cinereach funds artful narrative and documentary films that depict underrepresented perspectives, cross international boundaries and start meaningful conversations. Film projects that are consistent with Cinereach’s ethos favor good storytelling over didacticism, complexity over traditional duality. Cinereach-supported films demonstrate creativity, visual artistry and take a character-based approach. In the past, Cinereach has awarded grants from $5,000 to $50,000 per project. The next deadline for projects is December 1, 2009. For more info, please visit Cinereach's website: http://www.cinereach.org/grants/granting-program-guidelines/.

(POETS) Spoken Word Grants
VERVE Grants of up to $3,000 are awarded to emerging Minnesota spoken word poets. An emerging artist is an artist whose work demonstrates a sustained level of accomplishment and commitment, but who has not yet received recognition/acknowledgement as an established creator from fellow artists and/or other arts professionals. Applications and more details are available online at: http://www.intermediaarts.org/verve-grants. Deadline is November 2, 2009.

(WRITERS/FILMMAKERS) Soros Justice Media Fellowships
These fellowships support individuals with innovative projects that address criminal justice-related issues, particularly in relation to communities of color, immigrants, LGBT communities and more. Fellowships are for one years and support print and radio journalism, film and video post-production and dissemination and book projects. Award includes a stipend and project of up to $45,000 plus $2500 for health insurance. Experienced artists/filmmakers only. Deadline is October 14, 2009. Please see website for more details.

FAQs: RESIDENCIES, ARTIST COLONIES, RETREATS AND AIRs

Here are some FAQs for those who want to learn more about residencies, artist colonies, retreats and AIRs (Artist-in-Residence Programs):

Q: What's the difference between a residency, a retreat, an artists' colony and an AIR (Artist-in-Residence)?

A: Residencies: When I talk about residencies on my blog, I'm generally referring to artists' foundations/institutions that offer a place to live and work for a set period of time, places such as Yaddo, Ragdale, MacDowell and the like. These are also known as "artist colonies" but I find that this term is used less and less as the years go by. Most places like the ones I just mentioned offer artists, writers, composers etc. respite from their normal routine. Often (but not always) there is no fee and the length of time one can stay varies (from two weeks to up to two months, but some are longer.) Usually food is provided and sometimes the artist is even cooked for! There is studio space provided for visual artists and other facilities for composers and dancers, if the residency can provide pianos, recording equipment, etc. Basically, a residency or colony offers much needed solitude and time.

Retreats: Although some residencies advertise their place as a 'retreat' away from the artist's normal life, retreats are something else. One example of a retreat would be my friend Patricia Lee Lewis' Patchwork Farm Retreat where writers can take workshops, or travel together and write while studying yoga, etc. AROHO's (A Room of Her Own Foundation) is another example. It's a summer retreat in New Mexico where women writers get together to attend workshops, to network, to write, to rest and replenish their creative juices. VERY DIFFERENT than going to a residency at a place like MacDowell Colony, where the writer works all day in his/her room and only join others for dinner and the occasional (and optional) evening reading or studio visit. Retreats also cost money, while many residencies, if you get accepted, are free or if they aren't free, they often offer need-based financial aid. And retreats tend not to be competitive and operate on a first-come, first-serve basis. That's not to say that they aren't valuable! Many people get a lot out of them and I recommend them highly for those who are seeking a therapeutic and creative experience.

Artist-in-Residence Programs are usually hosted by an institution (college, foundation, etc.) and generally last longer than a normal "residency" at an artist colony. Some last for a semester or a year and very often, the artist is given a stipend. They often involve involvement with the community, either academic community or the community at large. They all vary but most AIRs require the artist to participate by giving workshops or readings, i.e. some event for the public.

Q: How long can I stay at a residency?

A: Most residencies at artist colonies are from two weeks to two months, although some are longer (but not much longer). There are ones that offer time and space to artists, writers, etc. for longer periods, such as the Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown, Massachusetts, which last seven months I think. There is the Artist-in-Residence Program in Roswell, New Mexico (which I posted about here.) and that program is for one entire year. You get a house and stipend and can even have your family with you! (That is, IF you want them!). There are also ones in Europe that I have come across that offer places to stay for extended periods of time. For more information on the distinction between residencies, retreats, etc., go here (Washington Art) for more info.

Q: Where is the best place to look for residencies?

A: On Mira's List of course! Must you ask? Go to my labels on the right side bar, scroll down and click on "residencies." And for other sites to visit, there are none better than these (they are also listed on my sidebar in the links section, further down): Artist Communities, Res Artis, and Trans Artists.

Q: Can I apply for a Fulbright Grant to help fund a residency overseas?

A: Nope. Absolutely not. For more on Fulbright Grants, click here.

Q: I'm a very emerging writer and haven't had anything published yet. Can I still apply for a residency at an artist colony?

A: In most cases, you do have to have at least some publishing history, even if it is only a couple stories or essays published in a literary journal. However, it really depends on which place you are applying to. Read the eligibility requirements. Some places, like Yaddo, are very hard to get into and I wouldn't bother applying unless you have published. Other places are more open to emerging writers and artists. You just have to check on the website and if you can't find your answer, email the place to find out.

Q: I'm an emerging artist and haven't had any exhibitions yet. Can I still apply for a residency at an artist colony?

A: Please see the above answer because the same applies to you.

Q: I just got accepted to a residency overseas but don't have enough money to pay for all my travel expenses. Where can I look for funding?

A: This is probably my most frequently asked question. Finding funding for travel is the toughest thing to find. Here are a few suggestions: * Go to the links section on my side bar and check out those sites. * go to Trans Artists and click on their "funding" link to see what you can find. * Google the embassy or cultural council sites of the country you want to visit. * Contact the residency and ask them for ideas. * See if the country you want to stay in has a partnership with another country. For example, Japan and America have a special cultural relationship. The Japan-US Friendship Commission helps individual artists fund their international projects. The American-Scandinavian Foundation also offers funding for projects in Scandinavia. You MUST apply for these grants way in advance! * Go to university grant databases. Leave no stone unturned as this is the hardest thing to fund!

Q: Are international artists allowed to apply to U.S. residencies?

A: In most cases, yes! But always double-check with the institution. And if it is a residency or AIR that involves a long stay, i.e. longer than the normal tourist visa allotment (usually three months), you have to check with the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to see what the visa requirements are.

Q: Can my family stay with me if I get a residency?

A: If it is at a U.S. artist colony (residency), most likely no. Although the one I mentioned above, the program in Roswell, New Mexico, allows families. Some European residencies offer accommodations for families and some let families stay for part of the time. Some do not. You just have to check on the institution's website for their rules.

Q: I want to go to an artist colony with another artist so we can work for a month on our artistic collaboration. What should I do?

A: First check if the place you want to go to offers what you are looking for. Most places state that each artist must apply separately, even if they are collaborating on a project. But then you run the risk of only one of you getting in. When I come across a residency that is specifically looking for collaborative applicants, I label it, so always check my sidebar labels. I have noticed a trend of there being more and more collaborative residencies, which is great!

Q: Are artist colonies/residencies accessible for disabled artists?

A: Some are and some aren't. And most often than not, they will tell you right on their website. If you have special needs, never hesitate to write the institution and ask. Some places have really done some great things the past few years as far as accessibility goes. The Millay Colony in Austerlitz, New York, has an entire building completely designed for disabled artists, writers, etc. A couple years ago, I stayed in Ragdale's accessible artist studio and it was wonderful!

Q: How can I tell if the residency I want to apply for has an artist studio with natural light? That's really important to my work!

A: Why don't you write an email to them and ask them? And often, residency websites describe studios, performance spaces, housing, etc. in detail.

Q: How much in advance should I apply for a residency?

A: Most places have deadlines a couple times a year and are on a seasonal cycle. Some have open deadlines and you can apply at anytime. My rule of thumb is this: if you want to apply for a grant or a residency or fellowship, plan A YEAR IN ADVANCE. At the very least, plan six months before the time you want to go away.

Q: Can I bring my dog to a residency?

A: Don't I wish! I don't even bother applying to places anymore because I can't take little Sadie with me. Seems like a dumb rule, right? Oh well. Such is life. If anyone comes across a dog-friendly residency, PLEASE LET ME KNOW! Of course, you can bring a seeing-eye/companion dog in some places (you must double-check though). But you can't bring Fido just for company I'm sorry to say. I did run across one place in upstate NY that is a short-term sound artist residency and they say you can bring dogs. I'll have to search for that one....can't find it right now.

Q: Will you help me find a residency and help me find money to fund it?

A: While that would be a dream come true for any artist, it's just not going to happen, sorry to say. I do a lot of research and I do it all for free. My blog is specifically designed to help people help themselves. I want artists to be resourceful, read my articles, and use the labels and links on the sidebar to find what they need.

Q: Can I send you my residency application to look at?
A: You are joking, right?

RESIDENCIES IN NEW MEXICO, TEXAS AND MORE!

Hope you are all having a great weekend....so I am still dealing with blogspot issues but apparently it is a problem others are having as well. Hopefully it will be cleared up soon. In the meantime, please forgive any formatting problems that occur. Best wishes, Mira

(ARTISTS) Roswell Artist-in-Residence Program in Roswell, New Mexico: Well known by artists as the "Gift of Time," the Roswell Artist-in-Residence Program was established in 1967 to provide gifted studio based visual artists with the unique opportunity to concentrate on their work in a supportive, collegial environment for a whole year. This "gift of time" allows artists to work without distraction in an effort to break new ground and focus on individual goals. In-residence grants are offered to artists involved in painting, drawing, sculpture, printmaking, photography, installation and other fine art media. Grants are not made in the disciplines of performance art or production crafts. A stipend, or living allowance, of $800 per month is offered along with $100 per month for every dependent living with the grantee. Artists receive a fully furnished three bedroom house for one entire year. The goal of the Program is to be as free of institutional rigmarole as humanly possible. As a consequence, the usual apparatus of prestige, status and reputation are ignored. ***A note to non-US artists: While the visa process for non-US residents participating in our program has improved somewhat, we are still limited in our ability to assist with the long term visa issues that may arise for foreign participating artists. Overseas artists should consider visiting the USCIS web site and/or consult with local experts on this subject. For more information about the Roswell Artist-in-Residence Program, contact: Stephen Fleming, RAIR Program Director by phone: 575 622 6037 or e-mail: [email protected] or visit the website: http://www.rair.org. Deadline is December 1, 2009.

(ALL) The Helene Wurlitzer Foundation Residency Program, Taos, New Mexico: An artists' residency on 18 acres in the heart of Taos for three months. Open to both US and non-US artists alike. Provided are: Private housing (individual apartment/cabin/house), individual, fully furnished, private living and studio spaces (casitas). No meals/food provided and artists are responsible for a $150 deposit. The composer studios each have a grand piano and the visual art studios have adequate studio space and natural lighting.

The Foundation places no expectations upon artists but will facilitate exhibitions and readings upon artists' request. Contact Information: The Helene Wurlitzer Foundation of New Mexico, PO Box 1891,Taos, New Mexico 87571 United States, Work Tel: 505-758-2413, Fax: 505-758-2559, Email: [email protected]. For more info, visit: www.wurlitzerfoundation.org.

(WRITERS) Lynne and Louis M. Earle Writing Residency Program: The mission of the Lynne and Louis M. Earle Residency is to foster creativity by providing writers with a serene, private space to work and reflect in the inspiring surroundings of the Texas Hill Country. Residencies are three to four months in length. They run in summer (June 1 through August 31), fall (September 1 through December 31), and winter/spring (January 15 through May 31). Actual start and end dates may vary. One residency is awarded per term. The program accepts applications in the fields of poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and playwriting. Located 50 miles south of Austin in the heart of Texas Hill Country, the 52-acre ranch provides residencies year-round. The grounds include a working stable, the donors' main residence, and the writer’s cottage. Residents must provide their own food and supplies, and prepare their own meals. The residency requires a minimum work requirement of 1.5 to 2 hours per day, 6 days per week. Residents must provide transportation to and from the residency. Email [email protected] for more information or visit the website: www.badgerdog.org/earle-residency. Open deadline.

(WRITERS) Santa Fe Art Institute Writing Residencies: Emerging to mid-level writers working in all fields are encouraged to apply for one to three month residencies, which take place year-round. The Santa Fe Art Institute provides housing and studios. Artists are responsible for food, travel and materials. $25 application fee. $1,000 per month residency fee. Financial aid available. Accessible to wheelchairs and the visually impaired. For more info, write to the Santa Fe Art Insitute Writing Residencies, PO Box 24044, Santa Fe, NM 87502, call 505/424-5050, email: [email protected] or visit: www.sfai.org.

(ARTISTS) Artist Residencies: Visual Studies Workshop in Rochester, New York sponsors artists' residencies in photography, artists' books, digital video and multimedia, 16mm film and analog video. Residencies are project-based and are for a period of one month. VSW will provide access to facilities, and housing on the premises. An honorarium of $2000 is provided, (pending receipt of funding for 2010). Applications accepted until October 16th, 2009. For more information, contact: Visual Studies Workshop, Residencies, 31 Prince Street, Rochester, NY 14607, tel: 585-442-8676 ext 112, or email to: [email protected]. Visit: http://www.vsw.org.

Media Arts Residency in Brazil: Associação Cultural Videobrasil (locally ACV) is a public interest organization dedicated to fostering, disseminating, and mapping out electronic art. Residencies are granted to Brazilian and foreign artists who participate in Southern Panoramas, the competitive exhibition of the International Electronic Art Festival SESC/Videobrasil. Winners are selected by a commission comprised of members at Associação and its partnering institutions. For more information, please email: [email protected] or visit the website: www.videobrasil.org.br.

ALIENS OR FAIRIES, YOU DECIDE

Hi again,

Just so you know, something is crazily wrong with blogspot these days....my fonts change all of a sudden, weird things are happening with my HTML code, all kinds of weirdness is going on. Therefore, I apologize for the appearance of my blog lately---the font size changes, other things like that. Frankly, I don't know what's wrong. If anyone out there has a blog on blogspot and is particularly geeky, please drop me a line ([email protected]) and maybe you can help. I haven't found the answer to my problem on the support site(s). Once again, I suspect either aliens or red cap fairies. Mischievous creatures, those fairies. Or...perhaps pixies. Hard to say....
mb

TRAVEL FUNDING & INTERNATIONAL RESIDENCIES

Dear Gentle Readers,
Every day I get dozens of letters asking me how to find money for research/art trips overseas or to help fund international residencies. I'll be honest with you: this is one of the hardest things to find money for. In most cases, you have to be really creative in your search. First, see what is out there. Please use my links on my side bar, listed under "Funding for Travel and Research." Also, go to transartists.org and click under "funding" to see what foundations might fund overseas travel. Check with the embassy of the country you want to visit, or the cultural institute connected to the embassy. I got three language scholarships to Italy that way several years ago.

Another thing to try, after everything else, (including doing a google search for "travel grants artists" or something like that) is to google without using the words "writer" or "artist" and so on. You will most likely be sent to a university grant database and it is highly possible that you could find a travel grant in the humanities that would work for you. Don't be put off by academic library databases and the phrases they use, like "PhD candidates only or those with professional equivalent." If you are a professional artist of some kind, you just might qualify. Most practicing artists do not have a PhD anyway, nor do most writers/filmmakers, etc. Start by looking under "humanities" on these databases and you might find the right grant. On my links, I have the Michigan State University Library listed but there are many, many others. Some of you read my article on Fulbright grants and discovered that I got a Fulbright to go to Norway as an "independent scholar," even though I did not have a PhD. Do not fear academia! Make academia work for you. And PLEASE check out those links I set up for you. It will make my job (which I don't get paid for, mind you) a bit easier. And please read my FAQs before writing me a question that I might have already answered. Sorry to belabor this point but the more you figure out for yourself, the more resourceful and successful you will be in the long run. I still welcome letters, so fear not! It's just that sometimes it is clear to me that some people want me to do their work for them and I really can't.

One more thing on trying to find money for travel...you have to be imaginative and also plan WAY in advance. I can't tell you how many letters I get from people saying they got accepted to a residency in another country but don't have enough money for the plane ticket. They usually write me a month before they have to go. Plan a YEAR in advance if you can. And why not apply for another kind of grant, say, one that could pay your living expenses for a couple months---use that grant to pay for what it is for and then in the meantime, save the money you would have used for living expenses to buy that ticket to Spain or wherever your residency is. If you really want to go, you'll figure out a way to get there. Okay, I'm off my soap box. Now for some new opportunities!

(SCHOLARS) Short-term Research Travel Grants to Japan
The Northeast Asia Council (NEAC) of the Association for Asian Studies, in conjunction with the Japan-US Friendship Commission, supports a variety of grant programs in Japanese studies designed to facilitate the research of individual scholars, to improve the quality of teaching about Japan on both the college and precollege levels, and to integrate the study of Japan into the major academic disciplines. Please Note: Applicants in this category must be current AAS members. Grants of a maximum of $3,000 are available to cover expenses WHILE IN JAPAN conducting a specific project explicitly related to Japan which can be accomplished in the period of time requested. These grants are intended for short-term research trips by scholars who are already familiar with Japan and with their topic, but who need time in Japan in order to complete their work. Grantees are expected to seek supplementary funds from other sources and must include a detailed budget with their application. Grants are made only to people with a Ph.D. or comparable professional qualification. For more information, go to: http://www.aasianst.org/grants/main.htm#NEAC-JAPAN.

(ALL) Note to all: Travel Grants to Japan
The Japan-United States Friendship Commission (JUSFC) has a fellowship program that helps fund artists/writers, etc. to travel to/from the U.S. and Japan. Please check it out at: http://www.jusfc.gov/creativeartists.asp.

(WOMEN) American Association of University Women International Fellowships International Fellowships of up to $30,000 are awarded for full-time study or research in the United States to women who are not United States citizens or permanent residents. Both graduate and postgraduate study at accredited institutions are supported. Several of fellowships are available for study outside of the U.S. for members of the International Federation of University women. Deadline December 1, 2009. See web site for more details: website: www.aauw.org/education/fga/fellowships_grants/international.cfm

(UK & JAPANESE ARTISTS) The Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation Grants
The Foundation awards grants to individuals and institutions in the UK and Japan in all areas of the visual and performing arts, the humanities, the social sciences, science and engineering, mathematics, business studies, and education, including schools and universities, and grass roots and professional groups. They offer both small grants (£1,000- £5,000) and large (up to £15,000) to individuals and groups. Please check the website for more information on these grants: http://www.dajf.org.uk. I think the deadline for these grants is coming up soon: September 30th, but please check their site to make sure.

(INDIAN ARTISTS) Grants, Fellowships and more
For information on opportunities, grants, project funding, fellowships and scholarships for young artists in India, go to: http://indiaculture.nic.in/indiaculture/index.asp.

Also.....A couple good links you should know about:
Culturelink
A network of networks for established by UNESCO and the Council of Europe in 1989 to promote regional, inter-regional, and international research projects relating to culture.

Aid to Artisans
A nonprofit organization that works in partnership with international organizations and multilateral banks, among other institutions, to offer practical assistance to artisans and foster artistic traditions, cultural vitality, and community well-being worldwide.

Arts International
New York City-based Arts International is an independent, contemporary arts organization dedicated to the development and support of global cultural interchange in the arts and to educating audiences and the public about the richness and diversity of the arts worldwide.

More to come....Happy hunting!
Mira