mcmillen artist community reverse scholarship program

The Robert B. McMillen Foundation believes in the power of the arts to change lives, to make the world a better place, to build vibrant communities, and to build bridges of understanding. We believe in a just, equitable, and inclusive society and we feel the arts and artists can play a key role in advancing these ideals. The purpose of the McMillen Artist Community (MAC) Reverse Scholarship program is to award competitive grants to support artistic excellence in the visual arts for artists living and working in Washington State. The program recognizes creative talent and community impact and provides an opportunity for debt relief so that artists can achieve specific and creative career and life goals.

We are looking to support those artists whose values align with the Foundation’s vision for the MAC and building community in and through the arts. Applicants will be asked to share how they are involved in community engagement – things like workshops or artist talks, arts advocacy, issues of social justice, deepening cultural understanding, creative placemaking or community development.

These are the types of artists this program is designed to support:

• Visual artists who live and work in Washington State ONLY.

• Visual artists who are actively engaged in community building and/or helping their community.

• Visual artists who have clear career goals and can present a cohesive body of work.

• Visual artists who view the arts as a primary vocation, not a a hobby or sideline gig.

• Visual artists looking to challenge the ideas of 'western institutionalized art' and conventional ways of thinking.

• Visual artists who use their practice to address inequities and social justice issues.