United States Artists

Mission

The organization's stated mission is "Believe in Artists". In addition, the organization asserts that "USA Fellowships honor and award an artist's unique vision as a whole rather than funding a particular project. Artists at different career levels, from emerging to established, are eligible."

Awards & Programs

USA Fellowships

USA Fellowships are annual $50,000 unrestricted awards recognizing the most compelling artists working and living in the United States at every stage of their career. Grants are awarded annually to artists working in ten disciplines:

• Architecture & Design
• Craft
• Dance
• Film
• Media
• Music
• Theater & Performance
• Traditional Arts
• Visual Art
• Writing

Berresford Prize

Established in 2019, The Berresford Prize is an unrestricted $50,000 award given annually to a cultural practitioner who has contributed significantly to the advancement, well-being, and care of artists in society. Awardees to date include Beth Boone, Maori Karmael Holmes, Louise Erdrich, Lulani Arquette, Roberto Bedoya, Linda Goode Bryant and Kristy Edmunds.

Selection process

Every year, a geographically diverse group of nominators consist of scholars, critics, arts administrators, producers, curators, artists, field experts, and other cultural professionals are asked to nominate those they think deserve the USA fellowship. Then, the nominees are invited to submit applications with work samples, which are reviewed by a selected groups of discipline-specific panels composed of artists, curators, historians, experts, academics, and producers. After the panels select the finalists, the Board of Trustees go over the finalists together and approve.

Artist Relief

To support artists during the COVID-19 pandemic, USA and a group of national arts grant makers created an emergency fund to offer financial aid and useful informational resources for artist across the country.

References

References

1. [http://www.unitedstatesartists.org/Public/AboutUnitedStatesArtists/Staff/index.cfm United States Artists Official Website. About]
2. [https://www.unitedstatesartists.org/about/ United States Artists - History]
3. [https://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/05/arts/design/05unit.html "UNITED STATES ARTISTS GIVES $2.5 MILLION DIRECTLY TO ARTISTS"], ''Knight Foundation'', December 5. 2011 ]
4. Stephanie Strom, [https://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/05/arts/design/05unit.html "New Charity to Start Plan for $50,000 Artists' Grants"], ''The New York Times'', September 5. 2006 ]
5. Stephanie Strom, [https://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/10/arts/design/10gran.html "An Artist's Grant that Even Pays For Glasses"], ''The New York Times'', October 7, 2007
6. [http://www.unitedstatesartists.org/Public/CommonQuestions/index/cfm United States Artists Official Website. Common Questions]
7. "United States Artists » About".
8. "United States Artists » Award".
9. "United States Artists » Award".
10. "United States Artists » Berresford Prize".
11. "United States Artists » Award".
12. "Artist Relief".