ArtsLink 2023 International Fellowship Program for Artists and Arts Leaders

The ArtsLink International Fellowship program prioritizes applicants whose social practices seek to actively engage communities on issues related to the current climate emergency and human rights. We will actively encourage artists and arts leaders whose work is making a vital contribution to furthering people’s awareness, understanding, and active participation in environmental and/or social justice issues.

• Table of Content
• About CEC ArtsLink
• ArtsLink International Fellowship Program
• Aim and Benefits of ArtsLink International Fellowship Program
• Requirements for ArtsLink International Fellowship Program Qualification
• Interview date, Process and Venue for ArtsLink International Fellowship Program
• Application Deadline
• How to Apply

About CEC ArtsLink

CEC ArtsLink advocates and supports transnational cultural mobility and collaboration, empowering artists and arts leaders to engage communities in dialogue and creative projects for a more equitable, compassionate, and sustainable world. We resolutely embrace inclusivity, independent expression, human rights, and the development of civil societies.

ArtsLink International Fellowship Program

Aim and Benefits of ArtsLink International Fellowship Program

ArtsLink International Fellowships awards offer an initial honorarium to Fellows and US hosts to cover the research residency and support for the subsequent project in the US to cover visa and travel, food and lodging, health insurance, and up to 50% of production costs.

Applicants must be citizens of one of the following countries and regions: Afghanistan, Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Egypt, Estonia, Georgia, Hungary, Israel, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Palestine, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Syria, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan.

Requirements for ArtsLink International Fellowship Program Qualification

CEC ArtsLink will accept applications from contemporary artists, curators, and arts leaders whose work is informed by community engagement processes or social practice. Applicants must be citizens of one of our network countries. If you are living outside the region temporarily, please contact CEC ArtsLink staff to discuss your eligibility. There are no age limitations. Applicants must have sufficient knowledge of English to function independently in the US.

Undergraduate students, non-professionals and research scholars are not eligible. Arts leaders/curators must be affiliated with an arts organization in the non-commercial sector or work as individual independent arts professionals. Artists seeking placement in commercial firms are ineligible. ArtsLink International Fellows from prior years cannot re-apply. 

Interview date, Process and Venue for ArtsLink International Fellowship Program

All ArtsLink Fellowship applications will be evaluated by an independent review panel comprised of arts professionals based on the following criteria: 

• Artistic or professional excellence of the applicant’s work 
• Demonstration of experience and an active commitment to community engagement and dialogue
• Potential for the applicant to interact with the host communities in the practice or development of their work
• Benefit to the applicant, at this time in their career, from interaction with US artists, arts institutions, and the US host community
• Applicant’s plans for sharing the benefits of the exchange with artists and institutions in their home country
• Applicant’s ability to meet cross-cultural challenges successfully

Preference will be given to those applicants for whom this will be a first-time opportunity for in-depth research/creative work in the US. The program prioritizes applicants whose social practices seek to actively engage communities on issues related to the current climate emergency and human rights. 

The selection process is extremely competitive and applicants should anticipate a highly rigorous review of their work. Applicants are advised to submit recent quality work samples. Please follow carefully the instructions for submitting work samples below. Applicants should make sure their work is properly labeled and that all work samples are fully and succinctly described. Applications that are missing any of the required materials will not be considered.

We recognize that each artist’s experience may prove to be profoundly different from what they anticipated as an applicant. Successful Fellows reflect a balance between expectations of specific goals and being open to new processes and opportunities for creative development and collaboration.

Application Deadline

How to Apply

1. A completed ArtsLink International Fellowship online application form.
2. Answers to the following questions:

   Describe the current issues in your work and explain how a residency in the United States will advance your professional development as an artist, curator or arts leader. (300 words maximum)

   Please describe previous projects that have involved community engagement or participation, and explain how you plan to engage with US artists and communities during your Fellowship. (300 words maximum)

   Please list the most important types of activities and arts events you are hoping to take part in, keeping in mind that your residency may take place in any of the 50 states of the US. (300 words maximum)

   What prior experience or contact have you had with the United States? (300 words maximum)

   Have you traveled outside your country of residence to pursue research or study? If so, please indicate when and where you have traveled and in what capacity. (300 words maximum)

   How will you share your ArtsLink Fellowship experience with your home community? (300 words maximum)

3. The most recent CV or résumé (only one-page PDF file) that lists your professional accomplishments in reverse chronological order starting from the most recent one. Only one-page documents will be submitted for panel review.
4. A letter of recommendation (only one-page PDF file) from a colleague or supervisor that explains how a residency in the United States will benefit you professionally and why it is an important endeavor at this time in your career. If written in a language other than English, please include an English translation. This letter can be submitted to info(at)cecartslink(dot)org separately from your application, but it must arrive within two weeks of the application deadline. Please do not send the letter to the email above, if you have submitted it with the application. Letters without signatures will not be accepted.
5. If you are applying as an arts leader / curator submit a one-page PDF file with description of your organization, or the organizations you work for independently in English. Include information about staff size and resources. 

Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Applicants are advised to submit recent good quality work samples. Please follow carefully the instructions for submitted work samples in the application. Applicants should make sure their work is properly labeled and that all work samples are fully and succinctly described. Applications that do not include all required materials will not be considered. 

For more details, visit CEC ArtsLink website.