SPRINGBOARD FELLOWSHIP
The Springboard Fellowship is a unique opportunity for emerging arts and cultural professionals in Western New York to develop their skills through individualized guidance from a partner organization. In 2023, we launched our pilot year of the program, and we are thrilled to announce that it was a huge success! Our three fellows showcased their creative talents and learned from experienced mentors in various fields. We are proud of their achievements and grateful for their contributions to the local arts and cultural community.
We are excited to continue the Springboard Fellowship in 2024, and we invite interested individuals and organizations to apply for the program. The application process and deadlines for the 2024 cohort are detailed below. If you have any questions, please contact holly@asiwny.org.
We are now accepting applications for interested organizations.
ABOUT ASI’S SPRINGBOARD FELLOWSHIP
The success of unpaid internships rely on a number of assumptions. Assumptions like the individual has the financial stability to forgo paid work during that time; that they have the time flexibility to adapt to a new workplace’s schedule; that the organization has a staff member who has the capacity to provide individualized guidance; and, that the internship will be a stepping stone to a fulfilling career.
We’re ready to kick those assumptions to the curb. That’s why we created the Springboard Fellowship.
The goal of ASI’s Springboard Fellowship is twofold:
- To support underrepresented WNY individuals who lack access to arts employment experiences and provide them with paid opportunities in the hopes that they will be able to continue a career in the arts and culture industry.
- To support micro and small nonprofit arts organizations that could benefit from the assistance and exposure by offering a small stipend to help offset their general operating costs directly tied to providing mentorship.
Additional details can be found below. Questions can be directed to Holly Grant at holly@asiwny.org.
IMPORTANT DEADLINES
| Organization Applications Due | April 4, 2024 |
| Fellow Applications Open | April 15, 2024 |
| Fellow Applications Due | June 12, 2024 |
| Fellowship work takes place | July-December 2024 |
FELLOWSHIP DETAILS
Many nonprofit arts organizations rely on unpaid interns to assist with their workload. These interns use these valuable training and networking experiences to launch their careers in the arts. However, by not paying the individuals taking these positions, only people with the financial means to accept unpaid work have the opportunity to take advantage of these vital skills and resume building opportunities. This not only limits who can afford to work in the arts but limits the future workforce of the industry.
The goal of ASI’s Springboard Fellowship is twofold:
- To support underrepresented WNY individuals who lack access to arts employment experiences and provide them with paid opportunities in the hopes that they will be able to continue a career in the arts and culture industry.
- To support micro and small nonprofit arts organizations that could benefit from the assistance and exposure by offering a small stipend to help offset their general operating costs directly tied to providing mentorship.
While we hope all organizations strive to pay their interns, we understand that the smallest organizations often lack the financial means to do so. The Springboard Fellowship provides a small stipend to both the individual providing work assistance to a nonprofit arts or culture organization and the organization itself for providing quality training and mentorship. These stipends are designed to add value to the work being done and help offset the costs associated with taking temporary work, including parking and transportation, meals, childcare, and lost revenue from not working other jobs.
Interested organizations in the five (5) counties of Western New York will apply to be considered for the program. In addition to the brief application, organizations should submit a work plan or job description of what a fellow will be working on. They must also demonstrate a capacity to provide appropriate mentorship to the fellow through a work plan. The total number of work hours should be 120. The distribution of hours will be determined between the selected organizations and the Fellows.
ASI will select up to 10 organizations to participate in the 2024 program.
Once the participating organizations have been selected, applications for individuals living in the five (5) counties of Western New York will open. Potential fellows will complete a brief application, attach a resume or CV, and indicate which organization(s) they would be interested in working with.
Participating organizations will review the applications from potential fellows, conduct interviews, and select the fellow they will be working with in coordination with ASI staff.
Once the fellows have been matched with the participating organizations, the organizations and fellows will develop a work schedule that allows the program to be complete no later than December 31, 2024.
Throughout the process, ASI will host networking opportunities for the selected Fellows and participating organizations.
Organizations
This opportunity is open to any nonprofit organization that meets the following criteria:
- Has arts or cultural activity as their core mission or purpose;
- Is located in one of the five (5) WNY counties – Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, or Niagara;
- Has an annual operating budget of less than $500,000;
- Can demonstrate a quality training or mentorship opportunity;
- Can demonstrate a desire to develop paid opportunities in the future.
Applicant organizations cannot use this program or funding to replace or fill a traditionally paid and/or contracted position. This includes: directors, performers, curators, designers, consultants, admissions/customer service, etc. This funding also cannot be used to begin paying a volunteer who has already been doing unpaid work for the organization.
Fellows
Interested fellows must meet the following criteria to be considered:
- Be at least 18 years or older.
- Currently live or reside in one of the five (5) counties of WNY – Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, or Niagara.
- Cannot be enrolled in a collegiate or other higher education program.
- Cannot be receiving any other compensation for their work related to this position.
Priority will be given to individuals who:
- Self-identify as someone from an under-represented community, including lower economic status, BIPOC/ALAANA, LGBTQ+, individual with disability, neurodiverse, rural, etc.
- Would be unable to take advantage of this experience without compensation.
- Are entering the arts/culture workforce for the first time, including recently graduated, veterans, stay-at-home parents entering/re-entering the workforce, immigrants/refugees, and more.
Organizations may only be selected for one (1) opportunity per year for no more than three (3) consecutive years. Individuals can only be selected for one (1) opportunity in a three (3) year period.
The fellows will be provided a $2,400 stipend for 120 hours of work (pay rate is $20/hour). This will be a contracted position and the fellow will receive a 1099 Misc. Revenue IRS form for their taxes. Selected organizations will be provided a $1,000 stipend to help offset the staff time and resources required to provide a quality training and mentorship program for their selected fellow.
Organizations and fellows will develop a mutually agreed upon schedule and work timeline that ensures the fellow works the full 120 hours but is not required to do more. Fellows must complete timesheets that are approved by the organization prior to compensation. All payments will be managed by ASI, including issuing 1099’s at the end of the year for tax purposes.
ORGANIZATIONS
By 5:00 pm on Thursday, April 4, 2024
Interested eligible organizations will apply for consideration. Applicant organizations must be prepared to talk about the project, program, or activity the Fellow would be engaged in, including submitting a work plan or job description. Approximately 10 organizations will be selected for 2024.
Organizations can access a copy of the application here or at the link at the top of the page. Interested applicants should complete the form and submit their answers before the deadline. Applications can be submitted in any format via email to holly@asiwny.org or hard mail to Arts Services Inc. 2495 Main Street, Suite 401, Buffalo, NY 14214.
INDIVIDUALS
By 5:00 pm on Thursday, May 16, 2024
Once organizations have been selected, interested fellows will be invited to apply for the program and indicate which organization(s) they would like to work with. Applications for interested fellows will open in mid-April 2024.
Anyone who is interested in applying to the program is invited to share their name and email here to be added to the mailing list and receive notice once the applications become available.
The deadline for interested organizations to apply will be Thursday, April 4, 2024 by 5:00 pm.
The deadline for interested fellows to apply will be Thursday, May 16, 2024 by 5:00 pm.
Program work will take place throughout 2024 starting once the decisions have been made through December 31, 2024.
2023 FELLOWSHIP RECIPIENTS
We are excited to introduce our very first Springboard Fellow, Audrey Parker, who is working with JJAM Sessions this year.
JJAM Sessions is a nonprofit organization that operates in East Aurora “dedicated to providing an inclusive, joyful environment for individuals of all abilities to blossom creatively.” You can learn more about their work at this link.
Click to learn more about this partnership!
We are excited to introduce our second Springboard Fellow, Kameron King, who is working with the African American Veterans Arts and Culture Corporation and Positive Nation Productions this year.
The African American Veterans Arts and Culture Corporation is a nonprofit based on the East Side of Buffalo that honors African American veterans through exhibitions, tours, and celebrations.
Click to learn more about this partnership!
We are excited to introduce our third Springboard Fellow, Elizabeth Dunning, who worked with the Buffalo International Film Festival (BIFF) this year.
BIFF champions regional, national, and international films that push the limits of independent cinema – presenting quality films from around the world to WNY residents and visitors and is committed to amplifying diverse voices and exhibiting cutting-edge programming in narrative, documentary and experimental film.
More information about this partnership coming soon!