Call for applications: Artist Protection Fund

The APF is an initiative of the Institute of International Education, sponsored by the Andrew W Mellon Foundation in the US. For more than for 100 years, the APF has awarded fellowship grants to threatened artists from various field of practice. These artists have been placed at host institutions in safe countries where they continued to work and plan for the future,

Eligibility

The fund is available to:

• Artists facing or having recently fled from immediate, severe and targeted threats to their lives and/or artistic practice in their home countries or countries of residence.
• Artists who demonstrate accomplishment and promise in their artistic practice.
• Artists whose project will benefit their home and/or host communities.

The AFP encourages applications from women and members of ethnic, racial, cultural or religious minority groups, or those otherwise underrepresented in their fields.

Requirements

Interested artists will be required to submit the following:

• Current CV or resume. Please include the following information: Current position (location, dates of tenure, professional title and responsibilities); Previous positions (in chronological order: location, dates of tenure, professional title and duties); List of recent exhibitions, performances, productions, publications, etc; Other relevant work (including, artist presentations, grants/honours/awards, artistic/professional affiliations).
• An artist statement (max one page). It should highlight your artistic background and process and explain what projects you would undertake during a fellowship.
• A personal statement (max two pages). Please explain why you are applying to the APF for support. Include a clear account of the threats or risks that you have been facing.
• Two professional letters of reference from creative professionals who can speak to your artistic practice, exhibitions, publications, teaching or other advanced artistic experience.
• Two personal letters of recommendation from colleagues or persons who are aware of the difficulties that you have been facing. These letters can include artistic merit

Deadline

Applications and submissions are typically considered throughout the year, on a rolling basis. Candidates meeting APF qualifications will be regarded as by the APF selection committee at least two times per year. Decisions will be announced approximately two weeks after each selection committee meeting.

Applicants are advised to regularly check the official website in the coming months for the next selection committee 2019 deadline.

Successful applicants will be contacted for more information and asked to submit portfolio materials.

Applicants are advised to read the application guidelines before completing the online application form.

Please note that the APF does not consider applications from individuals who have been displaced or in exile for more than two years, or who hold citizenship or another permanent status in a second country.

For more information, contact the APF at apf@iie.org.