Overview

The Elizabeth L. Mahaffey Arts Administration Fellowship provides funding to arts administrators to pursue professional development opportunities that will advance their careers in arts administration.  Arts administration is the field that concerns the business operations of an arts organization, including but not limited to staff management, public relations, marketing, budget/fiscal management, board development, fund-raising, program development and evaluation.

The Elizabeth L. Mahaffey Arts Administration Fellowship is named in honor of Elizabeth L. Mahaffey, a former staff member who was an extraordinary mentor to young professionals pursuing a career in arts administration.  The Fellowship was established upon her retirement after more than 20 years of dedicated service at the Connecticut Commission on the Arts.

 

    Eligibility

    To be eligible, an individual must:

    • be a Connecticut resident;
    • be employed by a Connecticut non-profit arts organization at time of application;
    • be employed by a Connecticut non-profit arts organization at time of professional development activity; and
    • have a minimum of two (2) years and no more than ten (10) years of experience in the arts field.

    Awards

    An applicant may request up to $2,500.  There is no predetermined number of Fellowships to be awarded.  The Connecticut Office of the Arts determines the number of Fellowships awarded.

    Eligible Costs

    Funds may be used toward costs directly related to a professional development activity, including but not limited to:

    • Tuition or registration fees for workshops, conferences, and trainings
    • Fees to work directly with a consultant or career coach
    • Travel and hotel costs associated with attending a workshop, conference or training

      Ineligible expenses:
    • Funding to offset applicant’s regular salary or wages
    • Funding to offset general operating costs of the applicant’s affiliated arts organization
    • Costs incurred outside the funding period

    Funding Period

    May 1, 2020 - April 30, 2021

    Application Deadline

    Applications are due by Monday, March 30, 2020 before 5:30 pm.