Fellowship program will provide artists with cash awards, housing and work space

TULSA, Okla., Jan. 21, 2015 — George Kaiser Family Foundation today announced it will extend the deadline of its newly established national artist fellowship program—the Tulsa Artist Fellowship (TAF). TAF is extending the application deadline to April 3, 2015, in order to collect as many diverse applications as possible. Fellowships will now begin on January 4, 2016.

The TAF will enhance Tulsa’s growing art scene by providing awards and resources to recruit and retain early- and mid-career artists in the discipline of public and/or gallery-oriented visual arts. Fellows will be awarded an unrestricted stipend ranging from $15,000 to $40,000 and, in most cases, free housing and studio work space. The TAF was created to both recruit artists to Tulsa and to retain artists in the community. While the focus will be on artists residing outside of the Tulsa Metropolitan area, some local artists will be considered for the program based on exceptional merit and promise.

Non-resident artists will be required to live in provided housing in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Fellowships offered will be merit-based grants and will have a one-year term with an option to renew for a second year.

Fellowships will be separated into two categories:

• Early Career Artists: Award of a $15,000 unrestricted stipend with free private housing and workspace in Year One. Year Two is optional and will include a stipend of $7,500 plus free housing and workspace. If the fellow wants to stay in Tulsa, housing and workspace can be retained for a third year for $500/month total.

• Mid-Career Artists: Award of a $25,000 unrestricted stipend with free private housing and workspace in Year One. Local Tulsa artists in the mid-career category are not guaranteed free housing. Year Two is optional and will include a stipend of $15,000 plus free housing and workspace. If the fellow wants to stay in Tulsa, housing and workspace can be retained for a third year for $500/month total.

“While we are having an incredible response to our initial call for artists, we decided to extend the application deadline in order to maximize the candidate pool and to achieve the level of diversity we are targeting,” said Stanton Doyle, senior program officer at the George Kaiser Family Foundation. “The foundation anticipates the fellows will greatly benefit our community through their work and presence. We are excited to welcome our first cohort next January.”

Given the unique cultural and historical landscape of Tulsa, Native American, Alaskan Native, and Native Hawaiian artists are encouraged to apply. A screening committee and selection panel will follow the Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990 as a guideline in awarding Native American, Alaskan Native, and Native Hawaiian artists a fellowship.

Eligible applicants will be selected by a national panel comprised of artists, critics, curators and administrators. The TAF Coordinating Committee reserves the right to award up to 15 fellowships but there is a possibility that no fellowships will be awarded in any of the categories in the program.

To learn more about the Tulsa Artist Fellowship and apply, visit www.gkff.org/taf/.

About George Kaiser Family Foundation
George Kaiser Family Foundation (GKFF) is a charitable organization based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Type I 509(a)3 supporting organization of the Tulsa Community Foundation, dedicated to providing equal opportunity for young children in our community through investments in early childhood education, community health, social services, and civic enhancement.

About Tulsa Artist Fellowship
The Tulsa Artist Fellowship (TAF) is a program established by the George Kaiser Family Foundation to enhance the local art scene by retaining artists and recruiting artists to Tulsa.

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