Attention artists! Applications for the MCBA / Jerome Foundation Book Arts Mentorship Program Series III are now available! Download the PDF application form, or email or call us to request a brochure be mailed to you. Full submission guidelines and elgibility info are listed below. Application deadline is 5pm on September 3, 2010.

 

About the Book Arts Mentorship

The Book Arts Mentorship is an artist development program aimed at introducing book arts to emerging artists whose primary medium is in another discipline. There are many reasons to explore book arts as a new artistic medium. As a highly malleable and versatile form of expression, book arts extend the possibilities of other art forms. You can create a conceptual space. Experiment with sequence and visual or verbal narrative. Use book art forms to extend, explore, document or reexamine work produced in other artistic disciplines.

Mentorships will be awarded to six emerging artists selected from the following disciplines:

• Literary arts (poetry, spoken word, fiction, creative nonfiction)
• Visual arts (drawing, painting, photography, sculpture, mixed media, new media)
• Music (composing)
• Film and video (video/filmmakers, animation)
• Theater (playwriting)
• Dance (choreography)

Only originating artists in these disciplines are eligible for Jerome support; musicians, actors, directors, dancers, screenwriters and other such categories are not eligible.

Artists selected for the Book Arts Mentorship will receive:

• $1,500 for the purchase of materials and to supplement living or travel costs
  (subject to state and federal income tax guidelines)
• Three months of basic book arts training at MCBA
• Free tuition to participate in up to three workshops offered by MCBA through its regular adult education schedule (artist pays only supply fees)
• The ability to meet regularly with a mentor and attend master classes that provide contextual and historical foundations for book arts
• One year free membership to MCBA
• Recognition through a culminating exhibition in MCBA’s main gallery
  

Schedule

Artists considering applying for a Book Arts Mentorship are invited to one of several public informational meetings to be held at MCBA's studios. Ask questions, see examples of book arts projects, and learn about the resources and equipment available at MCBA.

July 27, 2010; 5:30pm
Public informational meeting #1

August 4, 2010; 12:00pm
Public informational meeting #2

August 10, 2010; 7:00pm
Public informational meeting #3

September 3, 2010; 5:00pm
APPLICATIONS DUE
Note: this is not a postmark deadline; all application materials must be dropped off at, or received by, MCBA by 5:00pm on this date. Late or incomplete materials will not be reviewed.

October 8, 2010
Announcement of mentorship recipients

October 12, 2010; 7:00pm
Mentorship program commences with initial meeting and orientation at MCBA studios (mandatory for all recipients)

November 2011
Group exhibition opens

Eligibility

Applications must be submitted by emerging artists. An "emerging artist" is generally defined as an artist who shows significant potential, yet has not received a commensurate amount of professional recognition regardless of age or recognition in other fields. MCBA and the Jerome Foundation reserve the right to review and determine any applicant status as "emerging" or "established".

Applicants must reside in Minnesota and must have held legal residency in Minnesota for the preceding year.

You are not eligible to apply for the Book Arts Mentorship if you are:

• a student, full-time or part-time
• an MCBA artist-in-residence or staff member
• an artist who already uses book arts as a primary form for your creative expression
• an artist who is already well-established in your field of work
• a prior recipient of any MCBA / Jerome Book Arts Mentorship or Fellowship

Three jurors will review the application materials and select six mentorship recipients. MCBA will announce recipients no later than October 8, 2010.

 

Submission Guidelines

Applicants should submit one set of the following application materials, collated and paper-clipped (not in binder or folio).

Jurors will be reviewing applications anonymously; do not include your name or other identifying information on résumé, letter of intent or work samples. Applicants' names should appear only on the application form.

Letter of Intent: In your letter of intent, you are not required to include details about a particular book arts project. You should describe how you plan to explore -- in the forms of book arts -- the themes, subject matter, structure or other aspects of your primary art form. Also describe your educational and artistic goals to be accomplished during the mentorship program. The letter of intent should not exceed one page in length.

Résumé: Include relevant professional, educational and artistic achievements. Résumé should not exceed one page in length.

Work samples: Samples should accurately reflect your current work. Submit up to six (6) samples in the medium best suited for your art form. Include a one-page list of work sample descriptions, numbered to correspond with samples. Submit samples according to the following guidelines:

• Manuscript: maximum of 10 total pages
• DVD or video: maximum of 10 total minutes
• Digital images: maximum of six (6) images, 72 dpi, no larger than 1000 pixels in either dimension. Images must be provided on CD. Images must be clear, professionally presented and accurately represent the work. Name each file with image numbers to correspond to the one-page list of work sample descriptions. Do not submit slides.

Application form: Complete the application form, available in PDF format or on the back of the program brochure.

Application materials will not be returned.

Submit application materials to:
MCBA/Jerome Book Arts Mentorships
Minnesota Center for Book Arts
1011 Washington Ave. S., Suite 100
Minneapolis, MN 55415

If you have any questions about the Book Arts Mentorships or the application process, please contact MCBA Artistic Director Jeff Rathermel by phone at 612-215-2526 or by email at jrathermel@mnbookarts.org. To learn more about Minnesota Center for Book Arts, visit us in person, call 612-215-2520 or explore mnbookarts.org.