The American Craft Council announces a call for applications for student/emerging professional scholarships to attend the 2016 American Craft Council conference, “Present Tense,” on October 13 – 15 in Omaha, Nebraska.

The Council has a strong history of giving emerging makers and scholars opportunities to bring their work to the marketplace and platforms for engaging in ongoing dialogue about the future of craft.

To continue this tradition, the Council will offer $50,000 in full and partial scholarships for the “Present Tense” conference. Students enrolled in a formal university or craft school program (at both the graduate and undergraduate level), students participating in an apprenticeship/mentor program, as well as new professionals (>5 years out of school) are encouraged to apply. Full scholarships include funding for the conference registration fee ($215-$425) plus a travel and accommodation stipend. Partial scholarships provide for the registration fee and may or may not include a travel or accommodation stipend.

The deadline for all scholarship applications has been extended to Thursday, June 23rd. Applicants will be notified via email by Friday, July 8th. Recipients will be selected by a committee. Local, national, and international scholarships will be awarded.

ELIGIBILITY
All candidates must be:

1. A full-time student currently enrolled in an art school or university, OR participating in an apprenticeship program/working with a mentor, OR a new professional within five years of graduation. Graduate, undergraduate and post-doc students are invited to apply.
2. Must be a current member of the American Craft Council or become a member before the conference

CRITERIA
The scholarships committee will take into consideration the following criteria when considering applicants:

1. Evidence of commitment to and interest in the craft field
2. Interest in contributing to the dialogue and scholarship of the field at large
3. Potential to benefit professionally from attendance at the conference
4. Financial need

REQUIREMENTS
Scholarship recipients are required to attend the entire conference. To help us ensure the ongoing improvement of the scholarship program, all scholarship winners will be required to submit a post-conference evaluation by November 11, 2016.

NOTIFICATION
All applicants will be notified on or before July 8, 2016.

Details on the conference schedule and registration can be found on the registration page:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/present-tense-registration-21689739595

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