Idaho Commission on the Arts: The Folk and Traditional Arts Fellowship Grant

The Idaho Commission on the Arts offers January 2026 Fellowships to support Idaho artists and writers in their pursuit of artistic excellence. This program promotes public awareness of the arts while recognizing outstanding contributions to the cultural landscape. Eligible applicants must be practicing artists or writers, at least 18 years old, and Idaho residents for a year prior to the deadline. The fellowships enhance community engagement and foster creative expression across various disciplines, including visual and traditional arts.

The Idaho Commission on the Arts is a state agency dedicated to bringing the arts to all Idahoans.
Arts Idaho strengthens our communities through the arts.
We create a diverse network of arts champions throughout Idaho by bringing stakeholders together for conversation, collaboration, and creative visioning. We convene local and regional gatherings for artists and arts administrators, provide grants and technical assistance to arts and cultural organizations, and facilitate capacity building in communities to support arts jobs and businesses.
Fellowships
This annual award recognizes the outstanding work of Idaho artists and writers. Fellowships reward the pursuit of artistic excellence, promote public awareness of the arts, and help advance the recipient’s career. Eligible disciplines rotate on a two-year cycle.
Folk & Traditional Arts Fellowships
The Folk and Traditional Arts Fellowship recognizes the exemplary quality of Idaho’s tradition bearers. The Folk and Traditional Arts Fellowship honors individual practitioners who have dedicated their lives to the perpetuation of their customs and, in doing so, promotes public awareness of our state’s diverse and time-honored communities.

Eligibility

Applicant must be at least 18 years old
Applicant must be a United States citizen, legal resident, or refugee, and be an Idaho resident for at least one year prior to the application deadline
Final reports for past Commission grants and awards must be submitted and approved
Individuals who currently are enrolled in a degree or certificate-granting program are not eligible
Fellowship recipients must wait four years before reapplying
Artists may receive a maximum of three Fellowship awards
Although two categories are available each year, artists may only apply in one. Contact the Commission if you need help selecting an appropriate category.

Ineligibility

What We Cannot Fund:

• Establishment of or contributions to an endowment;
• Fundraising projects that do not raise funds for the arts;
• Prizes, scholarships, or free tickets;
• Projects or programs to generate or attract audiences;
• Offsetting of debt, payment of fines, penalties, or legal fees;

Activities that are primarily promotional or created for mass distribution, such as duplication of CDs, creation of portfolios, private gallery announcements, brochures, or websites;
Self-published books
Student exhibitions, anthologies, publications, or performances, unless those activities document an arts education grant;
Costs associated with any degree or professional certification, such as tuition, fees, and teaching materials;
Projects or activities already completed or beginning before the eligible start date or documentation of previously completed projects;
Documentation of projects except for arts education activities;
Activities restricted to an organization’s membership;
Costs for consecutive attendance at annual activities that are routinely within an arts organization’s budget including, but not limited to, conferences of the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies, Americans for the Arts, American Folklore Society, or the Western Arts Alliance;
Pageants, festivals, or celebrations unrelated to arts, ethnic, or cultural activities;
Journalism;
Historical or academic documentary film and electronic media arts that do NOT demonstrate significant artistic emphasis, consideration, and distinction;
Scholarly or academic works in history, languages, archeology, and political science;
Lobbying expenses or political activities;
Hospitality expenses such as food and drink, alcohol, flowers, etc. Any such expenses included in a project approved for funding must be paid with applicant funds;
Capital expenses for an individual; or
Writing intended for youth.