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34 Finalists for Artist Fellowships Chosen

March 24, 2008—

Three panels of nationally recognized artists and curators have chosen 34 finalists from a competitive field of 485 applicants for 2008 Bush Artists Fellowships (BAF). The $50,000 fellowship is the largest artist grant in the Upper Midwest, and one of only three open-application artist fellowships of this size in the United States.

An interdisciplinary panel of artists from outside the region will choose the 15 fellows, to be announced at a June 9 event that will also include announcement of the first winners of the new $100,000 Enduring Vision Awards. All BAF finalists will receive $1,000 in recognition of their accomplishments. (Click here for bios and photos of the finalists. 34 Finalists for Artist Fellowships Chosen)

The Bush Artist Fellows Program provides artists who exhibit strong vision, creative energy, commitment to excellence and evidence of perseverance with $48,000 in unrestricted funds. In addition, fellows receive assistance in developing individualized communications plans, along with $2,000 to implement the plan, for a total of $50,000. The BAF has been the role model for numerous other artist grant programs at other regional foundations.

The 2008 fellowships are focused on three categories: visual arts (painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture, installation, works on paper, collage, mixed media, artists books, cartooning, ceramics and fiber arts), media arts (narrative, documentary, animation, or experimental time-based works using audio, digital, film and/or video media, and computer art) and traditional and functional craft arts (weavings, quilts, woodcarving, basketry, metal work, beadwork, ceramics, glass, wood, metal, fiber and recycled materials).

A Life-Changing Award

For many past recipients, the fellowship is a life-changing award. Writer Patricia Hampl was able to finish her groundbreaking memoir A Romantic Education while a fellow. During his fellowship, the late playwright August Wilson completed his second major play, Fences, which went on to win the Pulitzer Prize. Kathleen Norris worked intensively on her book The Cloister Walk, composer Ying Zhang produced his first American CD and photographer Paul Shambroom honed his negotiating skills to gain access to photograph nuclear installations for a groundbreaking project.

A Rigorous Selection Process

Fellowship applicants began the competitive award process in November by submitting a written application with an artist statement and samples of their work. Panels of artists and curators who are experts in each field of work reviewed the many applications over the winter, honing the finalist list to fewer than 10 percent of the applicants. An interdisciplinary panel meets in May to choose the final 15 award winners.

About the Bush Artist Program

The Bush Artist Program, established in 1976, is one of three fellowship programs of the Bush Foundation, a private grantmaking organization. Established in 1953 by 3M executive Archibald Bush and his wife Edyth, the Foundation made grants of approximately $40 million in 2007 to support programs and efforts to sustain communities in Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. With a mission to improve the quality of life in this region, the Foundation aims to be a catalyst to shape vibrant communities by investing in courageous and effective leadership that significantly strengthens and improves the well-being of the region’s people.