Oregon Media Arts Fellowship

The Oregon Media Arts Fellowship is a state-level funding opportunity administered by the Oregon Arts Commission and managed in partnership with the Portland Art Museum’s Center for an Untold Tomorrow. This fellowship program is designed to recognize and support professional media artists residing in Oregon by providing financial resources that enable them to create new work or complete works already in progress. The program reflects a broader commitment by the funding organizations to foster artistic excellence and sustain the creative economy within the state. The primary purpose of the fellowship is to support individual artists working in media arts disciplines by offering direct financial assistance without imposing matching fund requirements. The fellowship emphasizes artistic achievement, innovation, and the potential for future contributions to the field. Selected artists receive funding to advance their practice, with review panels prioritizing demonstrated talent, commitment to artistic creation, and the quality of submitted work samples. The program is competitive, with limited awards available, reinforcing its focus on excellence. Each fellowship award provides a fixed amount of funding to recipients, and the funds may be used to support the creation or completion of artistic projects. The funding is distributed shortly after award notification, and recipients are expected to plan accordingly for project timelines. While the program does not impose strict restrictions on spending categories, it requires that funded work align with the applicant’s stated artistic practice and contribute meaningfully to their professional development. Eligibility for the fellowship is restricted to individual artists who meet specific criteria. Applicants must be at least eighteen years old, must not be currently enrolled in a degree-granting creative program, and must have established residency in Oregon for at least one year prior to applying. Additionally, applicants may not have received a similar fellowship from the Oregon Arts Commission within the previous five years. Joint applications are permitted; however, a single award is shared among collaborators, reinforcing the program’s structure of awarding a fixed number of fellowships per cycle. The application process requires submission through an online format that includes written responses to narrative questions, a professional resume, and a portfolio of work samples. Applicants must provide a cohesive artistic statement, describe their intent and thematic focus, and outline future directions for their work. Supporting materials must be submitted via a single accessible link, and strict guidelines govern file formats, duration limits, and documentation clarity. The quality and presentation of work samples are emphasized as the most critical component of the evaluation process. Applications are reviewed in multiple stages, beginning with an administrative screening for eligibility and completeness, followed by evaluation from a panel of professionals with relevant expertise. Review criteria include artistic quality, sustained achievement, and the applicant’s potential for future contributions to the field. Final funding decisions are made based on panel recommendations, and applicants are notified accordingly. The program operates on a recurring basis, with the next cycle anticipated in Spring 2027, reinforcing its role as a continuing opportunity for Oregon-based media artists.

Submit clear and well documented work samples as they are the most critical evaluation factor; ensure all materials are complete and professionally presented