FAQ

I read through the About and Apply pages, but I’m still not really sure what I’d be doing as a fellow in the program. Could you summarize it in a few sentences?

You will be creating artistic work, whether it is music, visual art, or writing, based specifically on the artistic works of your cohort members, over the course of four weeks.

At the beginning of the program, you and your cohort brainstorm an overarching theme, such as identity, ghost, or sacrifice. Over the next week, your cohort will make art around that theme; the following week, work will be swapped, and you will draw inspiration from the specific narratives, concepts, characters, colors, and sounds that your fellow cohort mates have created in their first artworks to create a new work. This process (brainstorm, making new work, swapping, and then making inspired work) occurs over the span of two weeks and takes place twice, thus making the full fellowship program four weeks long.

During each week, you also request feedback from a discipline-specific mentor of your choice so you may grow in skill and technique.

I’m interested in applying as a fellow for music, but I don’t compose my own works. Can I still participate? If so, what would I be doing?

You would be selecting a musical work each week and performing it.

With that said, we do offer mentorship in composition with one or two mentors, so if you would like to compose your own music, would love for you to join us.

I’m interested in screenwriting/playwriting/digital art/a sub-discipline of the creative arts not specifically offered by the CAC. Can I still apply, and how would the mentorship process work?

While none of our mentors are specifically focused or oriented towards the sub-discipline of your choice, they are experienced in their craft as a whole and may be able to provide you with general feedback on the strength of the piece as a creative work. However, if you wish to gain mentorship in your sub-discipline especially, then we may not be able to give you the support that you need.

How do the mini-scholarships work?

The mini-scholarships are $100 each and offered to the three fellows who exhibit the most drive and passion in their discipline and beyond with the goal of helping them jumpstart artistic projects and pursuits. Fellows have the option of applying for these small grants in the last week of the program; they will be required to submit a short written application describing their vision and what the money will be used towards. Winners will be chosen based on the quality of the grant application and the nominations of mentors and cohort leaders.

I live overseas; am I still eligible?

The program takes place completely online, so we encourage you to apply. If you are concerned about being able to make the brainstorm calls and round-table meetings because of a substantial time difference from the United States, don’t worry – in 2019, 18% of our fellows hailed from overseas, and we are always able to find a time that works for all the fellows in a cohort.

Can I apply for more than one discipline?

Not at all. In fact, we encourage you to do so if you are a multi-genre artist, since there are limited spots available for fellows in each discipline. However, please do keep in mind that we evaluate quality over quantity.

Do you have any tips for applying?

In short: don’t be afraid to show us how beautiful, surreal, strange, and illuminating your art is to you. We’re attracted to boldness and self-confidence and authenticity. What we look for in fellows is the unrelenting curiosity to learn, listen, and create. You can read more tips here.

I’m not exactly sure if I qualify as ‘emerging’ with the requirements you’ve listed.

No worries. Please check in with us at counterclockarts@gmail.com.

I have a question, comment, or concern that isn’t listed here!

Feel free to reach out to us at counterclockarts@gmail.com!