THe Advocacy and Organizing FELLOWSHIP

Quick Links

• Each fellow will identify a cultural policy or creative community issue that they are passionate about changing through community organizing and political advocacy. Through research, training, and peer feedback, they will develop a plan to address their issue.

• The fellows will 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.

• 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.

The Fellowship is made possible thanks to a grant from the Barr Foundation.

Who Should Apply?

Team MASSCreative is eager to welcome ten fellows from diverse lived experiences across the Commonwealth. This program is best suited for those with some previous experience in advocacy who want to accelerate their learning. Applicants should be connected to the Massachusetts creative and cultural community. We encourage both individual artists and creative workers, as well as staff and representatives from arts and cultural organizations, to apply.

Time Commitment

This is a 12-month hybrid fellowship, with most gatherings held online. Fellows will meet twice a month; each meeting will last two hours. In addition, fellows are expected to spend time on their own developing their projects, meeting with partners, and leading organizing events related to their projects.

A full schedule of program dates is posted below.

We estimate 60 hours of cohort meetings and 30 hours of personal work over 12 months.

Financial Support

Each fellow will receive a stipend of $5,000 for their time. In addition, funds will be made available to support events led by fellows as part of their work.

APPLY TODAY

Applications will be used to select members of the 2023-2024 Fellowship Cohort. We are committed to assembling a learning community that is representative of Massachusetts’ diverse creative and cultural community.

Important Dates

• Applications open | September 8, 2023

• Applications close | September 24, 2023

• Finalist interviews | October 10 - 13, 2023

• Fellowship offers extended | October 20, 2023

• Deadline to accept offer | October 25, 2023

The application includes three parts:

• Demographic questions

• Short response questions to share more about your experience as an advocate and the issue you’d like to address through your fellowship

• Submission of a PDF version of your resume and a photograph (minimum size 250px by 250px) that you are comfortable with us using to announce your acceptance.

APPLICATION FORM

November 17, 2023 | All Day - In-person Opening retreat

December 13, 2023 | 4 pm - 6 pm - Virtual session

January 10, 2024 | 4 pm - 6 pm - Virtual session

January 29, 2024 | 4 pm - 6 pm - Virtual session

February 14, 2024 | 4 pm - 6 pm - Virtual session

February 29, 2024 | 4 pm - 6 pm - Virtual session

March 13, 2024 | 4 pm - 6 pm - Virtual session

March 27, 2024 | 4 pm - 6 pm - Virtual session

April 10, 2024 | 4 pm - 6 pm - Virtual session

April 23, 2024 | 4 pm - 6 pm - Virtual session

May 8, 2024 | 4 pm - 6 pm - Virtual session

May 22, 2024 | 4 pm - 6 pm - Virtual session

NOMINATE AN ADVOCACY AND ORGANIZING FELLOW CANDIDATE

The fellowship is designed for artists, creatives, cultural leaders, and changemakers who are on the path to advocacy and organizing leadership roles in their communities and cultural organizations. The ideal Fellowship candidate is an individual who is engaged, involved, and ready to make a positive impact both in Massachusetts’ creative sector and in their community.

We appreciate your help in identifying strong candidates for the Fellowship. We’ll follow up with the individual and mention your nomination.