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Mission The Jerome Foundation, created by artist and philanthropist Jerome Hill (1905-1972), seeks to contribute to a dynamic and evolving culture by supporting the creation, development, and production of new works by emerging artists. The Foundation makes grants to not-for-profit arts organizations and artists in Minnesota and New York City. Focus Jerome Foundation supports emerging professional artists who are the principal creators of new work, and:
who take risks and embrace challenges; whose developing voices reveal significant potential; who are rigorous in their approach to creation and production; who have some evidence of professional achievement but not a substantial record of accomplishment; and who are not recognized as established artists by other artists, curators, producers, critics, and arts administrators.
The Jerome Foundation
Jerome Foundation Fellowships for Emerging Artists
The goal of this fellowship program is to significantly advance, artistically and critically, emerging visual artists in Minnesota. Artists considered for this fellowship may work in a variety of visual art media, including both traditional and new media. There is no exact and singular definition of an emerging artist. The Foundation seeks to support those artists who show significant potential yet are under-recognized. Career stage is a factor but not a limiting one as many emerging artists fall in the early career category but not all do. Age is not a factor in determining an emerging artist. The Jerome Foundation welcomes applications from artists representing diverse cultural perspectives.
An independent jury of three arts professionals competitively awards $12,000 grants to five artists. One of the jurors will currently work in Minnesota. Fellowships may be used to purchase materials, cover production costs of artwork, and to supplement living or travel costs. Awards are subject to state and federal income tax guidelines. During twelve-month fellowship year, the artists will receive studio visits from professional critics, an exhibition at the MCAD Gallery, a catalog with a critical essay on each artist’s work, and the opportunity to partake in a public panel discussion.
Fellowship Highlights
Eligibility • Visual artists (not intended for commercial artists, musicians,
dancers, filmmakers or others whose work is generally not presented in a visual art context)
• Must live and work in Minnesota, one year immediately prior to application deadline and during fellowship period
• Emerging artist status (résumé will demonstrate limited, but promising, exhibition exposure and no more than a few grants or fellowships in direct support of your work)
• Living outside of Twin Cities requires travel • Non-degree-seeking status required • Collaborative groups permitted
Application Process Deadline: Friday, September 23, noon (12 p.m.) CT
Online Application only. Visit http://www.mcad.edu/jerome to apply.
Application materials: • Ten images (72 dpi, with longest dimension at 1920 pixels
(horizontal or vertical; does not have to be square) • Video (two optional videos uploaded to YouTube, 3 min. max
each) • Résumé (for professional example go to
www.collegeart.org/guidelines/resume) • Artist statement (no longer than one page)
Selection Process: Important Dates
• Application Deadline: Friday, Sept. 23, noon (12:00 p.m.) CT – Round 1 = Three jurors review all applications, provide score between 1 and 5 – Round 2 = Top 30-40 applicants (receiving highest score) reviewed second time, conference
call held to determine 10 finalists who will get studio visits
• Email Notification: Friday, Oct. 28 – All applicants to receive email letting them know whether or not they made it to round 2. If
you were among the top 30-40 you can receive written and oral comments from juror. – 10-12 finalists will receive phone call to set up time for studio visits
• Jury Studio Visits: Sat., Nov. 12 and Sun., Nov. 13 • Fellowship Announcement: Monday, Nov. 28
Jurors’ onscreen interface:
Selection Criteria • High quality work, as evidenced in submitted materials, most importantly
work samples.
• Evidence of serious commitment to artistic practice, i.e., accomplishments to date as well as promise for continued development.
• Impact the fellowship will have on the artist.
• Panel will be asked to consider breadth of artistic practice among Minnesota artists, which include a wide range of media, aesthetics and traditions that might be influenced by ethnicity, gender, and geography.
Jurors’ Selection Criteria: A Sampling • Looking to be surprised. Likes work that is conceptually interesting, formally beautiful. What
conceptual issues is the artist exploring?
• Looking for imagery that was compelling. Was it unique or was it something I have seen before? If
so, what is the artist doing to make it different?
• Looking for originality, a strong body of work. Are the conceptual ideas held together? Do the
artists know history—where they've come from, where they're at, where they are headed?
• Images had to jump out in a compelling fashion. The next stage was to see if the work was sitting
in any current debates in art: Who are they in conversation with? Looked at statement to back up
imagery. Is the work functioning as a whole? What's the ambition?
• Looking for attention to detail and attention to the whole. Is the concept pushing ideas and
materials? Is there potential for growth?
• Considers diversity and a different approach to art practices.
• Are themes new and fresh? Is it visually compelling? Is the piece going to draw me in to a museum
or gallery or other site? How will it play when it is displayed?
Importance of High Image Quality
2011/12 Jerome Fellow Richard Barlow, Welcome to the Open, 2011, chalk on blackboard paint on wall, dimensions variable
11/12 Jerome Fellow Gregory Euclide, Torn from the making of Knowing’s Vista, 2011, mixed media
11/12 Jerome Fellow Lauren Herzak-Bauman, worn/torn, 2008-9, porcelain
12/13 Jerome Fellow Michael Hoyt, PohoPosit, 2012, installation; photo by Dane McFarlane
12/13 Jerome Fellow Amanda Hankerson, Heidi Hankerson, Waukegan, IL (left) and Malcolm Hankerson, Brooklyn, NY (right), 2012, archival pigment prints
12/13 Jerome Fellow Melissa Loop, Don't Mind the Smoke, 2012, acrylic and spray paint
12/13 Jerome Fellow Lauren Roche, Seated Woman With Dog, 2012, acrylic, pen, and wood oil (left); Untitled (portrait), 2013, ink, acrylic, and wood oil on paper; photo by Rik Sferra (right)
13/14 Jerome Fellow Pao Houa Her Pao in Purple Robe, 2012 (left) Fake Orange Tree with Erik’s Hand, 2012 (right)
2013/14 Jerome Fellow Nate Young Sign, Signifier, Signified, 2012, graphite on paper in oak frame (left) Elation no. 3 (Joy), 2013, digital video installation (right)
Poor Image Quality
Online Application Process – Technical Aspects
