ABOUT THIS GRANT: Alumni who hold a BFA degree and have graduated within the last ten years are eligible to apply. Grants of up to $1,500 will be awarded through a competitive review process. ELIGIBILITY: Applicants must be working in the crafts field, including, but not limited to metalsmithing, jewelry, woodworking, furniture design, ceramics, or fiber arts. Must have received a BFA degree from Maine College of Art & Design within the last ten years. Eligible graduating classes are 2016–2025. Must not have received a grant from this fund within the past 12 months. Non graduated alums, SALT graduates, Post Baccalaureate graduates, MFA graduates, MAT graduates, Continuing Studies faculty and students are ineligible to apply. ACCEPTABLE USE OF FUNDS include, but are not limited to: travel and fees associated with professional conferences; tuition or travel funds related to residencies or other educational opportunities to enhance professional practice; equipment or materials critical to grow/enhance professional and studio practice; costs related to starting a business in a relevant craft field. In general, grant funds will not cover operating expenses such as rent/lease, utilities, or other routine expenses, or tuition to a degree-granting program.
Grant must be spent within 12 months of receipt of funds. Must provide documentation of expenses and a written summary of use of funds within one year of receipt (no additional funds will be granted if reports are not completed). APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS:
- A written request for funds detailing how the grant will be used to advance one’s professional career in the crafts, not to exceed two pages in length.
- Resume
- Budget, detailing how funds will be used. Maximum request amount is $1,500.
- 10 digital images: Only digital images will be reviewed for submission. Format all images as jpgs with minimum dimensions of 600 x 800 pixels and a maximum of 1024 pixels per side, saved at a resolution of 72 dpi. Name digital images with the following format: LastNameFirstNameNumber.jpg (i.e NyguenJon01.jpg) etc. Do not include any spaces, dashes, or other symbols in the file name. Images size must not exceed 1M each. All works submitted must be completed within the last two years.
- Image descriptions: title, date, media, and physical dimensions.
All submissions must have been completed within the last two years. All documents listed above should be saved as a Word document or a PDF. Late and incomplete proposals will not be accepted. Only online applications via Submittable will be accepted. TIMELINE: Deadline for applications is 11:59PM EST on January 31, 2026. Notification of awards will be made in March of 2026. CONTACT: If you have any questions contact: artistsatwork@meca.edu.
Current BFA sophomores and juniors in all majors are eligible to apply for a summer textile workshop at Haystack. The Allison Cooke Brown '01 MECA&D fellowship will provide tuition, room, and board (in a triple and/or comparable housing other than a dorm) with up to $500 in travel assistance, and up to $255 in workshop-related shop or materials fees. Within two months of completion, the fellow is expected to submit a reflection about the impact and outcome of the experience that will be shared with the college, Haystack and the alumni donor.
Application requirements:
Deadline: Midnight, December 1, 2025
- Identify which workshop you would enroll in.
- Paragraph: How would your chosen workshop impact your practice?
- Paragraph: Describe the importance of fiber/textile processes or traditions in your work
- Provide a faculty contact
- Submit 2-5 images of current work
A jury will review applications and select one awardee.
You will be notified by December 10, 2025. For those applicants who are not selected, there is an additional opportunity to apply for a scholarship directly from Haystack in January.
ABOUT THIS GRANT: Epic grants from Canopy Portland Waterfront support Maine College of Art & Design alumni who make a positive impact in Portland through their work.
Canopy recognizes that artists play a critical role in the quality of life for residents and visitors of Portland. The Epic Grant supports creative activities that contribute to the culture of the city. MECA&D and Canopy Portland Waterfront will grant an artist or artist team $2,500 to support their work. In exchange, the artist(s) will host an activation at Canopy Portland Waterfront that will engage the community. This does not have to be a new project, it can be operational support for existing efforts as an individual artist, collective, business or organization. Grant recipients are expected to create an activation on site at Canopy Portland Waterfront within six months of receiving funds. Possible examples include a pop-up shop, a workshop, a retail display, or an event. The activation does not need to be tied to the use of funds, but is a part of the partnership between the artist and Canopy.
From Canopy:
At the core of Canopy, we have our EPIC team members or enthusiasts- they're Enthusiastic, Positive, Intuitive and Caring. The expectation is for this EPIC heartbeat of ours, to trickle into our local community and enrich the neighborhood we hold so dearly. For us at Canopy Portland Waterfront, we focus on the waterfront, the love for our furry companions and the incredible art scene. The purpose of the EPIC Grant is to connect with talented MECA&D grads and help to launch their work here in the city of Portland and beyond. We look forward to collaborating with these artists to showcase work on property and promote the talent from this school to our visitors and neighbors.
ELIGIBILITY: Open to Maine College of Art & Design BFA, MFA, and MAT graduates in the Greater Portland area.
ACCEPTABLE USE OF FUNDS Funds are unrestricted and can be used to support the artist's work in many ways including operational support, rent, supplies, technology, etc. The use of funds does not need to be directly tied to the artist's activation event. In exchange for this funding, the artist agrees to host an activation that will engage the community on site at Canopy Portland Waterfront.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS:
- A narrative about how you add to the culture of Portland and how these funds would assist you (500 words max)
- A proposal for your suggested activation project at Canopy Portland Waterfront (250 words max).
- 10 digital images: Only digital images will be reviewed for submission.
- Image descriptions: title, date, media, and physical dimensions.
All text documents listed above should be saved as a Word document or a PDF.
Late and incomplete proposals will not be accepted. Only online applications via Submittable will be accepted.
TIMELINE: Deadline for applications is 11:59PM EST on January 31, 2025. Notification of awards will be made in February-March 2025.
This form is only for use by students who applied for and received money supporting professional development from the Maine College of Art.
Congratulations on receiving a grant from the Maine College of Art to support your professional development and future creative and career growth!
This report form helps us keep track of what you did with your grant money, what you learned, and whether your experience is something we should encourage other students to pursue.