ADVOCACY & ORGANIZING fellowSHIP
The Advocacy & Organizing Fellowship is a year-long stipended leadership development cohort for artivists, creative workers, and emerging cultural leaders to sharpen their community organizing capacity and grow their advocacy skills for a more equitable and inclusive creative sector.
Each fellow focuses their year on a cultural policy or creative community issue they are passionate about changing through community organizing and political advocacy. They will develop an advocacy campaign plan to address their issue through research, training, and peer feedback. Upon conclusion of the program, the fellows will present their issues and creative solutions developed during their fellowship to bring sustainable change to their issue.
Fellows attend bi-monthly sessions as a cohort to learn from experienced organizers, artist leaders, and organizational advocates. Fellows receive technical and financial support to plan community events that promote their projects and opportunities to engage with community leaders and partners regarding their issues.
The Fellowship is possible thanks to support from the Barr Foundation.
APPLICATIONS OPEN FOR THE 2024-2025 ADVOCACY & ORGANIZING FELLOWSHIP FROM AUG. 21, 2024 TO SEPT. 23, 2024 AT 11:59 PM
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APPLICATIONS OPEN FOR THE 2024-2025 ADVOCACY & ORGANIZING FELLOWSHIP FROM AUG. 21, 2024 TO SEPT. 23, 2024 AT 11:59 PM -
MASSCreative is accepting applications for the 2024-2024 Advocacy & Organizing Fellowship cohort beginning Wednesday, August 21, 2024. The deadline to apply is Monday, September 23, 2024, at 11:59 PM.
CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE APPLICATION
PROGRAM OVERVIEW & COMMITMENTS
Individuals must apply with a cultural policy issue or challenge facing the creative sector that they plan to address through the Fellowship. Throughout the year, they will develop a sustainable advocacy strategy to confront their issue. This will include researching programmatic and policy solutions, identifying key decision makers, and organizing their communities to advocate.
Fellows meet for two-hour sessions every two weeks for virtual trainings on organizing, advocacy, and policy development. Sessions are facilitated by experts from across Massachusetts who have experience advocating for the advancement of the creative sector.
Bi-monthly sessions are a core component of the Advocacy & Organizing Fellowship and critical for fellows’ success through the program. Active attendance and participation are required of Advocacy & Organizing Fellows. The Fellowship requires time outside of cohort sessions for research, strategy development, and organizing community meetings. We estimate fellows will need to dedicate 6-9 hours on average per month. By the end of the year, fellows will give a presentation on their issue and how they are choosing to address it.
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In-Person Dates:
Opening Retreat in Worcester, MA | November 22, 2024 | 9:30 AM - 5 PMMassachusetts State House in Boston | June 11th, 2025 | 9 AM - 5 PM
End-of-Year Celebration location TBD | November 5th, 2025 | 12pm -7pm
Virtual Sessions:
December 11, 2024 | 4 PM - 6 PMJanuary 8th, 2025 | 4 PM - 6 PM
January 22nd, 2025 | 4 PM - 6 PM
February 5th, 2025 | 4 PM - 6 PM
February 19th, 2025 | 4 PM - 6 PM
March 13th, 2025 | 4 PM - 6 PM
March 26th, 2025 | 4 PM - 6 PM
April 16th, 2025 | 4 PM - 6 PM
April 30th, 2025 | 4 PM - 6 PM
May 14th, 2025 | 4 PM - 6 PM
May 28th, 2025 | 4 PM - 6 PM
June 25th, 2025 | 4 PM - 6 PM
July 9th, 2025 | 4 PM - 6 PM
July 23rd, 2025 | 4 PM - 6 PM
August 6th, 2025 | 4 PM - 6 PM
August 20th, 2025 | 4 PM - 6 PM
September 3rd, 2025 | 4 PM - 6 PM
September 17th, 2025 | 4 PM - 6 PM
October 1st, 2025 | 4 PM - 6 PM
October 15th, 2025 | 4 PM - 6 PM
November 19th, 2025 | 4 PM - 6 PM
Attendance at the Opening Retreat, visit to the State House, and Final Presentation is mandatory. Fellows are allowed two excused absences from other scheduled sessions due to professional or personal needs. -
Stipend: Each fellow will receive an annual stipend of $5,000, paid quarterly.
Project support: $300 to be used to support organizing efforts related to the cultural policy issue.
Travel: Reimbursement for in-person meetings is also available based on travel distance.
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The application process for the 2024-25 Fellowship is designed to ensure a cohort who will support one another as they develop their skills and strategies to address and solve the most pressing issues facing our creative community.
We are committed to a transparent process that respects each applicant’s time, talents, and leadership development journey. We created an Application Process Guide that includes all application questions, selection criteria, and the process timeline.
There are three stages of the application process:Written application, submitted via MASSCreative’s website.
Semi-finalist interviews - approximately 20 applicants will be invited to interview with a senior staff member of MASSCreative. Interviews will last 45 minutes and conducted via Zoom. We may reach out to references as well.
Fellowship offers - We will offer 10 semi-finalists a Fellowship. We will also offer 5-7 semi-finalists a spot on the waitlist. Finalists have one week to consider the offer and confirm their participation.
Click Here to Apply
Application Process Timeline
August 19 | 6pm - 7pm | Informational Session via Zoom REGISTER HERE
August 21 | Application Opens
September 12 | 12:30pm - 1:30 pm | Informational Session via Zoom REGISTER HERE
September 23 | 11:59 pm | Applications Close
Week of October 7 | All applicants are notified of their status
October 14 - 25 | Semi-finalist interviews
November 1 | Fellowship offers are extended; all semi-finalists will be notified of their status.
November 8 | Deadline to accept Fellowship offer.Go to the 2024 - 2026 Application.
For any questions about the Advocacy & Organizing Fellowship or application process, please contact the Director of Organizing Richeline Cadet at rcadet@mass-creative.org.
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We rely on our network to help us identify and recommend great leaders in the Commonwealth to participate in our Fellowship Program.
Our nomination process operates throughout the year, actively soliciting contacts we should get to know and introduce to our program. We invite nominations from past Fellowship graduates, current participants, advocates, partners, and colleagues. -
On August 19th, MASSSCreative hosted a webinar to explain the program and application process and answer participants' questions.
Click here to watch a recording of the session.
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