ABOUT THE DUTCHESS COUNTY ARTS COUNCIL
The Dutchess County Arts Council is a nonprofit organization which provides leadership, funding, encouragement and services necessary for the highest quality of art to thrive in our county and region, and for citizens to value the arts as an important part of daily life, economy, and the social fabric of our diverse communities.

ABOUT THE ARTS FUND
The Arts Fund is a united fundraising effort. Administered annually by the Dutchess County Arts Council, the Arts Fund contributes essential operating monies to Arts Council Funded Members; allocates special project grants to area arts and cultural groups; and provides awards, fellowships and incentives to both organizations and individual artists. 

ABOUT THE INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS’ FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
The Arts Fund Individual Artists’ Fellowship Program has been established to provide support to individuals living in Dutchess County who are in the developmental phase of a career as a creative artist.  Modeled after the Individual Artists’ Fellowship Program of the New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA), these awards are geared toward supporting artists’ career development, rather than project support.

While both professional and emerging artists are invited to apply, those artists who demonstrate a developed technique and vision, as well as perseverance in building a career as a professional artist will be given greater consideration. Panelists will consider the artist's past endeavors, current work and any plans for the future. In addition, the panelists will look at the applicant’s record of community-based work (lecture demonstrations, arts-in-education programs, community service etc.) 

ABOUT THE FELLOWSHIPS
The number of fellowships and the artistic disciplines to be considered are announced on an annual basis. For 2006-2007, $     was awarded in the area of digital and sound arts. Work in which the digital realm is an essential, not an incidental, component in the creative process was eligible for submission. Work had to demonstrate a skilled and innovative use of established or emerging technologies.

ABOUT THE REVIEW PROCESS
Each artist's application package was available for panelists to read as they review support materials. The artist’s images were played and/or projected for panelists, as specified by the artist. This review was not anonymous. Applicants' names are known by the panelists.

Artists' Fellowships were chosen based on the single criterion of work that demonstrates a compelling vision as defined by the assembled panel's collective opinion. Materials was reviewed and voted on by the panelists in elimination rounds which produced a smaller pool for each round. An artist's advancement is a product of the collective vote of the panel. A single panelist cannot ensure an applicant's success or failure. Panel proceedings were reviewed by the Dutchess County Arts Council’s Allocations Committee and then by the full Board of Directors.

Artists' Fellowships are not project grants, but are instead intended to fund an artist's vision or voice, regardless of the level of his or her artistic development.

The Dutchess County Arts Council is committed to supporting artists of diverse cultural, sexual, and ethnic backgrounds. NYFA does not discriminate based on the ethnicity, sexuality, or ability/disability of artists, and welcomes work whose content reflects the lived experiences of the applicants.

ABOUT THE REVIEW PANELISTS
Recommendations for potential panelists come from many sources: individual artists, arts and cultural organizations around Dutchess County, Dutchess County Arts Council staff and Board members. All potential panelists must be knowledgeable of the discipline they review. Artists who attend the Application Seminar may participate in this process by suggesting potential panelists. Panelists change each year.