The Competition for the 2023 CINTAS Foundation Fellowship in Visual Arts is now closed.
Visual Arts may include painting, sculpture, installation art, and the media arts. Media arts encompasses narrative, non-narrative, documentary, animation, or experimental time-based works using audio, digital, film and/or video media; also included is computer art in which the computer is an essential element of the work's creation, presentation or understanding.
Artists may submit a maximum of ten (10) digital images. The panel WILL NOT consider work samples that exceed the maximum. Images submitted without a detailed image list will not be considered. Installation work may be accompanied by a video.
Sculpture and Installation Art
At least two views of each work must be included. Ten images of at least five different pieces should be included. A video of not more than three minutes of a sculpture in motion may be included only for work in which mechanical or kinetic motion is an integral aspect of the work.
Film
The film category is open to films and visual experiences of a radical and/or experimental nature, either narrative, non-narrative or documentary. Candidates may submit one or two work samples, either completed feature length films or short films and/or works in progress. Recent work is preferable. Commercial work (i.e., work-for-hire) and work over which the applicant did not have creative control are not eligible for consideration. On the Work Sample Form, please specify clearly the candidate’s specific contributions to the work (e.g. director, producer, writer, etc.). Applicants must submit either a link to each film or save to a flash drive.
Media Arts
A maximum of two work samples, no longer than six minutes each, may be submitted, in addition to the complete works. Only links to the work or flash drive are acceptable. Please indicate the full running time of each piece submitted on the Work Sample Form.
Since 1963, the CINTAS Foundation has awarded over 185 fellowships in the visual arts. In addition to supporting Cuban artists, many early in their careers, the CINTAS Foundation also maintains a growing collection of works by past awardees and other esteemed Cuban artists. For the purpose of historical value and documentation, award recipients are encouraged to submit art work (i.e., representative samples of their work) to be added to the CINTAS Fellows Collection after the grant period.
Eligibility: Creative artists of Cuban citizenship or direct lineage (having a Cuban parent or grandparent). Performing artists are not eligible to apply for CINTAS Fellowships. CINTAS Fellowships can only be awarded a maximum of 2 times to an individual.
Application
The full application must be submitted. The application may be completed in English or Spanish. Please complete all sections of the application.
Artist and Project Statements
Prepare two narrative statements: The Artist Statement describes your personal history, your development as an artist, and your plans for the future. The Project Statement describes the project or activity that you would undertake if awarded a CINTAS Fellowship. Please include a timeline for the project, and identify other sources, where appropriate, of funding for the project.
Letters of Recommendation
Candidates must submit two letters of recommendation with the application. Letters may be submitted separately, if necessary, but must be received by the application deadline. Each letter of recommendation must be submitted attached to an email as a PDF, with the recommender's signature and written in English or Spanish. Hard copies of the signed letter are also acceptable.
Submission of Work Samples
All materials should be submitted to the CINTAS Fellowship Selection Program. All work samples must be in digital format. Candidates are encouraged to send their materials electronically to the email address below or ship portfolios by express mail only if necessary. Acceptable methods include PDFs or JPGs, Dropbox, Hightail, or flash drive. Materials must be accompanied by the Work Sample Form. Pieces should be carefully itemized on this form. Limit the submission to ten (10) samples.
NOTICE TO APPLICANTS: The award ($20,000 US) is considered taxable income under US tax law and the Foundation will withhold appropriate US taxes. Fellows who are not U.S. citizens and who are living abroad must provide a U.S. taxpayer identification number when they accept the fellowship to receive payment. The address for the IRS website: www.irs.gov, at which the form is readily available. The Foundation's grant of an award is subject to current and future U.S. laws and regulations that may limit its ability to issue funds to Cuban Nationals.
