2024 - 2025 ADVOCACY AND ORGANIZING FELLOWSHIP APPLICATION

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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. Below you will find information to help you prepare your application.

• 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.

  • 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.
    

  Due to the number of applications, we are not able to provide feedback to candidates.
  

  
  DATES
  
  August 19 | 6 pm - 7 pm | Informational Session via Zoom REGISTER HERE

  
  August 21 | Application Opens

  
  September 12 | 12:30 pm - 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

• Selection Criteria

  The Advocacy and Organizing Fellowship is designed for indviduals who are part of the creative sector and have some experience with poltical advocacy and community engagement.
  
  When reviewing applications the MASSCreative team will use the following criteria:
  
  Moderate experience advocating to decision-makers and/or community-organizing efforts.

  Examples of moderate experience:

  • Spoke with and educated elected decision-makers (any level of government) on an issue or concern.

  • Engaged personal/professional networks in support of a community need or event.

  • Participated in non-partisan issue organizing, political campaigns, or voter education efforts

  
  Project Focus
  The applicant has identified a specific cultural policy or issue facing the creative community that can be solved using community advocacy efforts, government legislation or programs, and engaging elected officials.

  
  Understanding and direct experience with the cultural policy or issue they wish to address.
  Examples of direct experience include:

  • Personally experienced the issue

  • Worked with others experiencing the issue

  • Engaged in some public education to highlight this issue

  • Begun to investigate solutions to address this issue

  
  Leadership Development
  The applicant has articulated how this Fellowship fits into their leadership development and how they plan to use the skills and training learned throughout the year to realize a stronger culture of advocacy within the Massachusetts creative sector.
  
  Ability to fully participate in Fellowship activities

  • Attendance at mandatory in-person sessions

  • Being present and engaged during bi-monthly virtual cohort sessions

  • Supporting peers in the development and implementation of their Fellowship projects.

  • Spending time outside of sessions developing organizing strategies and an advocacy campaign to address cultural policy or issue.

  • Ready to commit 10-13

    hours/month (4 hours of cohort sessions and 6-9 hours on project) to the Fellowship.

  
  MASSCreative is committed to assembling a cohort of ten individuals who represent and reflect the diversity of the Commonwealth, including:

  • Lived Experiences - diversity of race/ ethnicity, gender, sexual identity, and members of the disability community.

  • Geography - we will select Fellows who live and work in 8-10 of the 13 regions of the Commonwealth.

  • Creative Ecosystem - this program is open to individual artists, independent creative workers, and staff representing cultural non-profits and for-profit creative businesses. Additionally, we are committed to a diversity of creative disciplines.
    

• More Information

  On August 19th, we held an informational webinar to review the program and application process and answer participant questions.
  

  Click here to check out the recording.

APPLICATION FORM

Click here to download the Application Process and Questions Guide to prepare your application. 

Please prepare your answers before entering them into the form below. You cannot advance the form until you’ve answered the required questions.

Accessible Application Requests: If you have a visual, auditory, or processing disability that makes using the online form inaccessible, please email Richeline Cadet, Director of Organizing, to an alternative application process.

Applications for the 2024 - 2025 Fellowship close September 23, at 11:59 PM.