Abbe Museum and Dawnland, LLC Announce Fellowship Program

The fellowship will allow Wabanaki artists more opportunities at Indian art markets 

The Abbe Museum, the first and only Smithsonian Affiliate in the state of Maine, is pleased to announce a new Wabanaki artist fellowship. Thanks to the support of Dawnland, LLC (the concessioner in Acadia National Park), the Museum will be awarding three fellowships intended to provide support for travel, lodging, and other costs associated with exhibiting at Indian art markets in Maine and New Mexico.

“In our efforts to foster and promote contemporary Wabanaki art in both a regional and national context, these fellowships are designed to help Wabanaki artists promote their work within the greater artistic communities,” said Cinnamon Catlin-Legutko, Abbe Museum President and CEO.

Two fellowships will be awarded to artists attending the 2015 Southwestern Association for Indian Art’s Santa Fe Indian Market, and one shall be awarded to an artist attending one or more of the four annual Maine Indian Basketmakers Alliance shows:

• Native American Festival and Basketmakers Market in Bar Harbor - July 11, 2015
• Maine Native American Summer Market & Demonstration in New Gloucester - August 22, 2015
• Common Ground Country Fair in Unity - September 25-27, 2015
• Maine Indian Basketmakers Holiday Market in Orono - December 12, 2015.

All applicants must provide proof of acceptance or eligibility to participate in said markets for the 2015 year. Each applicant is also expected to attend the Abbe’s Annual Meeting on August 12, 2015 to offer a demonstration and meet the donors (travel accommodations will be provided). In addition, they will provide a closing report by no later than December 20, 2015. Ten percent of the grant award will be held until this report is filed.

Visit www.abbemuseum.org/shop for eligibility details, including an application. Fellowship applications received before the deadline of July 1, 2015 at midnight will be added to the pool of applicants. The application will be entered into a lottery system where eligible applications will be pulled randomly from the pool. Award notification will be made on or before July 8, 2015.