Al Smith Individual Artist Fellowship Program

The Al Smith Individual Artist Fellowships are $7500 awards given to Kentucky artists who have achieved a high level of excellence and creativity in their work. Applications are accepted annually, on a rotating basis by discipline. Applications from visual artists and media artists are accepted in odd numbered years. In even numbered years, applications are accepted from writers (fiction, non-fiction, play/screenwriting and poetry), choreographers, music composers and interdisciplinary artists. The Fellowship program utilizes a "blind jurying" process by which the selection panel is not provided with applicants' names; the panel reviews the work samples and applications according to application numbers only. Applicants may be selected for $1,000 Professional Assistance Awards in lieu of a Fellowship Award. Fellowship and Professional Assistance awards are based primarily upon the quality of the work samples submitted by the artist. Awards are unrestricted and may be used in any way to enhance the artist's career.