Now Accepting Applications for the Katherine Dunham Fellowship!

The Regional Arts Commission (RAC) is now accepting applications for the Katherine Dunham Fellowship for the 2016 spring semester (January – May) with an application deadline of Monday, November 9^th.  The fellowship is open to all interested African American undergraduate juniors and seniors, recent graduates (1-3 years), or graduate level students.

RAC is proud to offer the Katherine Dunham Fellowship annually for the spring semester. Named in honor of the dancer, choreographer and activist, the Katherine Dunham Fellowship was created and is funded by Sara and Jack Burke to give African Americans an opportunity to explore, gain experience in and be mentored in the field of arts administration to later find employment and achieve success working at cultural institutions. The fellowship provides a $3,000 stipend and other compensated opportunities which includes attendance to a national arts administration conference.

The Katherine Dunham Fellowship experience may include work in grants, marketing, communications, community arts and public art or special projects with the intent of providing broad experience while also tailoring work to the specific interests and skills of the fellow.

Who May Apply:

• Applicants must be African American undergraduate juniors or seniors, recent graduates (1-3 years), or graduate level students.
• Applicants may come from any academic discipline, not just the arts (ex: liberal arts, business, social work, fine arts, nonprofit management, marketing and communications, etc.)
• Those with a genuine interest to lead and work for an arts organization or cultural institution (dance organizations, museums, theaters, symphonies, performing arts centers, etc.)
• Must be able to work at least two full days per week (approximately 16 hours) between January and May during normal RAC business hours, Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
• Be able to spend approximately 2-5 hours/per week on extracurricular activities outside of work (may include, attending complimentary arts and culture events, social networking events, RAC special events, Katherine Dunham related events/classes, etc.)

How to Apply:

To apply for the Katherine Dunham Fellowship, please complete the online application and include the following information:

• Your résumé
• Your cover letter
• A letter of reference from a professor or recent employer
  (this should include the writer’s reflections on the applicant’s qualities, characteristics and provide examples of related work or academic experience)
• A 250-300 word essay answering the question: “Why are you interested in arts administration and how will this fellowship help you achieve your goals?” Please include within your essay response how the legacy of Katherine Dunham has inspired you to apply for this fellowship.

For more information about the Katherine Dunham Fellowship and to apply online, visit http://racstl.org/about-rac/internships/  or contact Jess Gouldthorpe, internmgr@strlrac.org

About the Regional Arts Commission

The Regional Arts Commission (RAC) is at the forefront of efforts to transform St. Louis into a more vibrant, creative and economically thriving community by elevating the vitality, value and visibility of the arts. It is the largest annual funder of the arts in the region, and since its inception in 1985, RAC has awarded more than 6,700 grants totaling over $93 million to support nonprofit arts, individual artists, cultural organizations, consortiums and programs. Directed by a board of 15 commissioners appointed by the chief executives of St. Louis City and St. Louis County, RAC is a pivotal force in the continuing development and marketing of the arts in the region. Visit http://www.racstl.org/ for more information, or follow us on Facebook at Regional Arts Commission or Twitter @RACStLouis.