About the Book Arts Mentorship

The Book Arts Mentorship is an artist development program aimed at introducing book arts to emerging artists whose primary medium is in another discipline.

Mentorships will be awarded to six artists selected from the following disciplines:

• Literary arts (poetry, spoken word, fiction and creative nonfiction)
• Visual Arts (drawing, painting, photography, sculpture, mixed media, new media)
• Music (composing)
• Film and video (video/filmmakers, animation)
• Theater (playwriting)
• Dance (choreography)

Only originating artists in these disciplines are eligible for Jerome support; musicians, actors, directors, dancers, screenwriters and other such categories are not eligible.

Artists selected for the Book Arts Mentorship will receive:

• $1,500 for the purchase of materials and to supplement living or travel costs
  (subject to state and federal income tax guidelines)
• Three months of basic book arts training at MCBA
• Free tuition to participate in up to three workshops offered by MCBA through its regular adult education schedule (artist pays only supply fees)
• The ability to meet regularly with a mentor and attend master classes that provide contextual and historical foundations for book arts
• One year free membership to MCBA
• Recognition through a culminating exhibition in MCBA’s main gallery
  

Eligibility

Applications must be submitted by emerging artists. An "emerging artist" is generally defined as an artist who shows significant potential, yet has not received a commensurate amount of professional recognition regardless of age or recognition in other fields. MCBA and the Jerome Foundation reserve the right to review and determine any applicant status as "emerging" or "established".

Applicants must reside in Minnesota and must have held legal residency in Minnesota for the preceding year.

You are not eligible to apply for the Book Arts Mentorship if you are:

• a student, full-time or part-time
• an MCBA artist-in-residence or staff member
• an artist who already uses book arts as a primary form for your creative expression
• an artist who is already well-established in your field of work
• a prior recipient of any MCBA / Jerome Book Arts Mentorship or Fellowship

Three jurors will review the application materials and select six mentorship recipients. MCBA will announce recipients no later than October 3, 2008; please do not call for results. Application materials will not be available for return until the selection process is completed.

Schedule

Artists considering applying for a Book Arts Mentorship are invited to attend one of several public informational meetings to be held at MCBA's studios. Ask questions, see examples of book arts projects, and learn about the resources and equipment available at MCBA.

July 22, 2008; 5:30 pm: Public informational meeting 1
July 28, 2008; 12:00 pm: Public informational meeting 2
August 6, 2008; 7:00 pm: Public informational meeting 3

September 5, 2008: APPLICATIONS DUE
Note: this is NOT a postmark deadline. All application materials must be received by MCBA by 5:00pm on this date. Late or incomplete materials will not be reviewed.

October 3, 2008: Announcement of mentorship recipients

October 14, 2008; 6:30 pm: Mentorship program commences with initial meeting and orientation at MCBA studios (mandatory for all recipients)

November 2009: Group exhibition opens


How to Apply

For complete submission guidelines and an application form, CLICK HERE.

If you have questions about the MCBA/Jerome Book Arts Mentorship, please contact Jeff Rathermel, MCBA artistic director.