Elizabeth L. Mahaffey Arts Administration Fellowship
Now Accepting Applications!

The Elizabeth L. Mahaffey Arts Administration Fellowship provides funding to arts administrators to pursue professional development activities 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 management, fund-raising, program development and evaluation and board relations.

To be eligible, an individual must:

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

AWARDS:
Fellowships are non-matching awards of $2,500. There is no predetermined number of Fellowships to be awarded. The Connecticut Office of the Arts determines the number of Fellowships awarded.

FUNDING PERIOD: 
May 1, 2019 – April 30, 2020

ELIGIBLE COSTS:
Funds may be used towards costs directly related to professional development activities that take place within the funding period, including but not limited to:
  • Tuition or registration fees for workshops, conferences, and trainings;
  • Fees to work directly with a consultant or career coach; and
  • Travel and hotel costs associated with attending a workshop, conference or training.

INELIGIBLE COSTS:
  • 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.

HOW TO APPLY:
Prepare a Word document and include the following information:
  1. Applicant Information: Include full name, title, affiliated arts organization and contact information. 
  2. Activity Description: Provide a brief description of each professional development activity you wish to undertake. If requesting multiple activities, please list in priority order. Description should include specific information on service provider, date, location, and cost for each activity. (75-word maximum for each activity)
  3. Proposed Impact: Describe how each activity will help you advance your career as an arts administrator. (200-word maximum)
  4. Required Attachments: Applicant’s resume and one (1) letter of recommendation from applicant’s affiliated arts organization.

Send email with attachments to rhonda.olisky@ct.gov . 
The subject of the email should read 2019 MAHAFFEY FELLOWSHIP: Your Name. You will receive a confirmation email.

DEADLINE:
Applications are due March 29, 2019 by 5:30 pm.

QUESTIONS
Contact Rhonda F. Olisky via email at rhonda.olisky@ct.gov
About the Fellowship
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.