The mission of CFEVA’s two-year Career Development Program is to advance the professional development and promote the careers of a selected group of highly talented emerging visual artists, while encouraging their participation in the local arts community and beyond.

HOW AND WHEN ARE FELLOWS SELECTED?

Fellows are selected anonymously by our esteemed Board of Artistic Advisors each fall. Selection is based on the merit of the artwork submitted and a brief artist statement. New Fellows begin their fellowship the following January or February. Accepted artists are usually notified in late December or by the end of January. Artists are accepted into the Career Development Program regardless of age, educational level, economic status, race, religion or sexual orientation.

WHAT DOES THE CAREER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM OFFER?

Once an artist begins the Career Development Program, he or she will be offered: four to six exposure opportunities per year, including exhibitions presented regionally, nationally and/or internationally, a two-person show during the second fellowship year, career counseling, mentorship, and intimate professional development workshops geared towards the advancement of his or her career.

WHAT IF I LIVE OUTSIDE OF PHILADELPHIA?

On average, the non-Philadelphia Fellows should plan on coming to Philadelphia once or twice each month. If transportation is a concern, CFEVA staff can help research affordable options. Fellows are encouraged to be employed as long as they are able to participate fully in the program.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE?

In order to be eligible for The Program, artists must:

Have a current body of work ready to exhibit and sell.
Live within 100 miles of CFEVA (all the boroughs of New York and all of Baltimore included) as outlined on the application.
Not be a full-time student.
Not have commercial gallery representation or an ongoing contractual relationship with a commercial gallery.
Be serious and dedicated to a life as a professional artist and to the Career Development Program.

WHAT ARE MY RESPONSIBILITIES ONCE I ENTER THE PROGRAM?

Fellows are expected to participate in exhibitions, attend Direct Connections, and be active participants in CFEVA’s artistic community. We ask that each Fellow commits twenty hours of his or her time each year (40 during the course of the two-year Programs) to the community through our Regional Community Arts Program. Upon the completion of the Program, each artist is expected to donate one exemplary piece of their artwork to CFEVA’s permanent collection. If the above requirements are fulfilled, alumni are welcome to participate in our alumni programming.

Artists who fail to participate in at least four exposure opportunities per year and at least 75% of programming will be released from the Program unless there are extenuating circumstances.

WHAT SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE FOR ALUMNI?

Alumni services include: solo shows, generous travel grants, goal setting groups and more.

If you have additional questions after reviewing the application, send an e-mail to Amie Potsic, Director of the Career Development Program, at amie@cfeva.org.

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