Call for Artists: Mandel Cultural Leadership Program

The Cultural Leadership Program supports artists who are advancing the boundaries of culture and galvanizing action on a range of social issues through their work.

The two-year program fosters a rigorous learning community of artists who instigate work that is courageous, boundary-breaking, intellectually-curious, and rooted in the richness of Jewish history and culture. The fellowship includes:

• An intensive curriculum comprised of five in-person seminars, bi-monthly virtual meetings, and an individualized course plan to develop skills and knowledge.
• Dedicated work with an advisor to advance creative work or research.
• A $40,000 stipend over 2 years, which will support time in the fellowship’s educational program and independent work on a creative project.

Seminar Dates can be found on our website.

Project Requirements You do not need to have an existing project to develop in the fellowship. We expect that some fellows will have relevant, existing projects they want to advance through the fellowship. Others will have a clear idea for a new project they want to undertake or questions they believe can lead to the development of a new work. The application includes prompts that speak to these different starting points.

We understand that creative work has a long time horizon and that not all fellows will produce finished work by the end of the program. At the outset of the program, fellows will meet with the director to discuss goals for their project or a plan for developing new work, and how the fellowship can best support their progress.

Eligibility
Eligible candidates include, but are not limited to: musicians, visual artists, dancers, actors, writers, filmmakers, and multidisciplinary artists, as well as a range of cultural producers, such as designers, podcasters, and programmers. Candidates must currently live in the United States or Canada.

We are seeking fellows who have a body of artistic or cultural work that demonstrates a sustained level of commitment and accomplishment (e.g., it has been published, recorded, presented, distributed, or developed through public engagement). Depending on your discipline and professional path, this may mean that you are at a late-emerging or mid-career stage. Candidates should have 8+ years of generative practice.

We will seek fellows who value collaboration and boundary crossing, and whose personal experiences and creative voices represent the diversity of the Jewish people. We especially encourage candidates from underrepresented groups to apply, such as BIPOC, Mizrahi, Sephardi, LGBTQ+, individuals with disabilities, and others.