AACC Founders Fellowship

The Montclair Art Museum (MAM) and the African American Cultural Committee (AACC), founded in the 1980s with the mission to sustain and maintain the legacy of artists of the African Diaspora, have created the AACC Founders Fellowship in honor of the founding members of the AACC.

The 10-month Fellowship opportunity is designed to provide career and growth opportunities for recent African American graduates of master’s or doctoral programs in visual arts and/or art history with a graduation date after December 31, 2020. Candidates who anticipate graduating prior to June 30, 2024 may apply.

The Fellow will commit to the activities described below over the period from September to June of each year. The Fellowship is designed to offer an individual candidate in the beginning of their career in the visual arts the opportunity to expand their practice, learn about working broadly with a leading museum of American Art, engage with a museum’s audience and artist community, and support the work of the AACC in its role as a bridge between the Museum and the African American community and a supporter of emerging artists.

The AACC Founders Fellow will participate and/or engage in the following activities:

  • Attendance at a minimum of four of the AACC’s monthly meetings to cover the introduction of the Fellow; the proposed plans for the year; collaboration with and advising the AACC on relevant matters; and a final summary and feedback about the experience and value to the Fellow.
  • Delivery of an artist’s lecture on topics related to the Fellow’s artistic practice, expertise, and/or areas of interest.
  • Planned artistic presentation of an exhibition in the Museum’s Education Arcades for one month in the Spring of 2025.
  • Teaching a minimum of one class or workshop at the Museum’s Yard School of Art focused on the Fellow’s area of expertise.
  • Discussion of his/her/their artistic work and areas of interest with the Museum’s Chief Curator.
  • Opportunity to attend meetings of the Museum’s Art Committee in which purchases and donations of artwork for the permanent collection are considered.
  • Tour of the vault to see the Museum's permanent collection.

 

The Fellow will commit to the time required to carry out the responsibilities described above. The stipend for the Fellow will be $5,000, in addition to the Museum’s standard fees for teaching a workshop or class.

Application Requirements and Timing:

  1. A letter describing the candidate’s interest in the Fellowship, including the applicant’s areas of interest and how the Fellowship will support the candidate’s career growth
  2. The candidate’s CV
  3. Undergraduate and graduate transcripts
  4. Two letters of recommendation
  5. A portfolio submitted electronically consisting of images of 20 works and/or 2 examples of written work
  6. Links to the candidate’s website and social media accounts

 

Complete applications are due by March 30, 2024. The review committee may interview finalists for the Fellowship. Notification will be delivered by April 30, 2024.

Applications may be submitted at https://forms.gle/nv5Cp1pPwEgniFot5.

Questions regarding the Fellowship or application process may be submitted to [email protected].