Dance/USA Fellowships to Artists (DFA)

Geographic Scope: National (United States)

Program Description:
DFA is Dance/USA's national program focused on supporting individual artists addressing social change through dance within one or more communities. The program supports creative and social practice in dance and provides fellowships to artists to advance their work.

Focus Areas:

• Individual artist support
• Social practice dancemaking
• Dance addressing social change
• Community-engaged creative work
• Artists creating beautiful art while affirming community cultural expressions

Eligibility:

• Individual artists working in dance
• Artists addressing social change through dance
• Artists engaged in social practice
• Open to all (not restricted to Dance/USA members)
• Focus on uplifting underrepresented and marginalized voices in dance

Award Details:

• Number of Fellowships: Up to 30 fellowships per cycle
• Award Amount: Up to $35,000 per fellowship
• Total Funding: $1.92 million in renewed funding announced December 2020
• Award Period: Distributed between summer 2022 and summer 2023 (for 2020 renewal cycle)

Eligible Uses of Funds:

• At artist's discretion
• Support costs related to artistic practice
• Creation of work
• Any costs supporting the artist's creative and social practice

Support Services:

• Dance/USA serves as resource and support network for Artist Fellows
• Visibility and recognition for fellows
• Professional development opportunities
• Community building among fellows

Pilot Round:

• Supported extraordinary group of artists
• Generated strong results justifying continued and expanded support

Funding Support:

• The Doris Duke Charitable Foundation
• $1.92 million in renewed funding announced December 2020
• Focus on supporting contemporary dance artists and field infrastructure

Program History:

• Pilot round completed (supported initial cohort)
• Renewed funding announced December 17, 2020
• New cycle planned for 2021-2023
• Program reflects Dance/USA's commitment to supporting individual artists

Contact:

• Dance/USA offices (specific program contact to be announced)
• General contact: danceusa@danceusa.org

Application Process

Timeline (based on 2020 renewal cycle):

• Letter of Inquiry Opens: Late summer 2021
• LOI Deadline: Late summer 2021 (specific date to be announced)
• LOI Review Period: Late summer/early fall 2021
• Full Application Notification: Selected artists invited early 2022
• Full Application Deadline: Early 2022 (specific date to be announced)
• Award Period: Summer 2022 - Summer 2023

Application Materials

Stage 1: Letter of Inquiry (LOI)

• Initial screening mechanism
• Interested artists submit LOI in late summer 2021
• Selected applicants invited to submit full applications

Stage 2: Full Application

• Detailed proposal from selected LOI applicants
• Project description
• Budget narrative
• Artist statement and background
• Community impact and social change goals
• Timeline and project plan

Required Information (anticipated based on program description)

• Artist name and contact information
• Artistic background and experience
• Description of social practice and community engagement
• Project proposal addressing social change through dance
• Proposed budget and budget justification
• Timeline for fellowship period
• Letters of support or community endorsements (may be required)
• Documentation of past work
• Artist statement

Application Submission Process

• Online submission portal (specific URL to be announced)
• Two-stage process: LOI followed by full application
• Submission deadline: Late summer 2021 for LOI (specific date to be announced)
• Full application deadline: Early 2022 (specific date to be announced)

Selection Criteria

• Quality and innovation of artistic practice
• Commitment to social change and community engagement
• Clarity of artistic vision and goals
• Feasibility of proposed work
• Artist's track record and experience
• Potential impact within communities
• Alignment with Dance/USA values of equity and inclusion

Notification and Award Process

• LOI applicants notified of selection for full application
• Full application review and selection
• Award recipients announced
• Fellowship funds distributed 2022-2023