Midwest Award For Artists With Disabilities

Overview

_Note: We acknowledge both identity first and person first framing of disability identity. When we use the phrase “disabled artists,” we intend to align with the Social Model of Disability understanding that people are disabled by environmental and societal barriers._

Midwest Award For Artists With Disabilities

The Midwest Award for Artists with Disabilities is a $3,000 award supporting accessibility in the arts and celebrating the work of disabled Midwestern visual artists.

Visual artists with disabilities are doing incredible work around the Midwest. The Midwest Award for Artists with Disabilities recognizes and celebrates their efforts and encourages their future work.

It also advocates for the arts being viable employment for disabled people, which is often overlooked by funding agencies supporting people with disabilities.

Each awardee will receive a $3,000 check award. Total awards across the region will equal $27,000 per year. There are no requirements for how awarded funds are used, though awardees are encouraged to use it toward growing their art career. Awardees’ submitted work will be featured on the Arts Midwest website.

Eligibility

_You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website._

* We invite mid-career 2D and 3D visual artists with disabilities to apply for this award.
* You may enlist assistance from another person to complete the application. We also allow nominations with consent from the individual being nominated.
* Live in the Midwest.
* We define the Midwest as Arts Midwest’s region of North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, or the Native Nations that share this geography. 
* Have a disability/identify as disabled.
* Disability communities are not a singular group, and we want artists to be able to self-identify into this award.
* We welcome a self or medical diagnosis understanding of disability.
* Disability as you experience it may include, but is not limited to cognitive, learning, and developmental disabilities; emotional or mental health disabilities; and/or physical disabilities.
* Create 2D or 3D visual art.
* Examples of 2D art include but are NOT limited to: drawing, painting, printmaking, photography.
* Examples of 3D art include but are NOT limited to: ceramics, sculpture, glass.
* Are mid-career, which we interpret as creating artwork and building your artistic career for 5-15 years.

Ineligibility

* Artists based outside of this geography are not eligible for this award.