At Springboard we design our programs to be useful to as many people as possible and use competitive processes, like this Fellowship program, only when they are necessary to get resources to priority communities or to create a relevant experience for a specific group of people.
With that in mind, these are the things we take into consideration when selecting Fellows for this program:
- Experience and Commitment to Rural. Applicants should have at least 3-4 years of experience leading community-based art and creativity experiences in rural places. This experience can be informal or formal.
- Commitment to Peer Exchange. This program has a deep focus in the exchange of ideas and support, and creating a supportive peer network. Applicants should demonstrate a commitment to participating in exchange with other Fellows, both by being willing to share their knowledge and experiences, being curious about other cohort member knowledge and experiences, and being willing to host or visit Fellows during the Peer Exchange phase.
- Vision and Impact. Applicants do not need to propose or work on a specific project, but should share a compelling vision for the impact they want to make in their rural community in the long term, and why this Fellowship is essential to help them get closer to that vision at this time in their life and career.
- Priority Communities. People who are BIPOC, Native, LGBTQIA+, and/or People with disabilities will be prioritized in the selection process. We do this to ensure that resources are distributed to people from communities who have experienced extraction, harm and underinvestment.
Our selection process consists of the following steps:
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- Eligibility screening: Springboard staff will review applicants for eligibility. If eligibility is unclear, staff will follow up with the applicant to discuss. If an application is eliminated due to ineligibility, the applicant will be notified at this stage.
- Peer Selection: A review panel made up of 3–4 Fellowship alumni and 2 Springboard staff members will read and evaluate all eligible applications. Panelists will assess applications based on the selection criteria listed above and rank them accordingly. The panel will then meet to discuss their evaluations and put forward a group of recommended finalists to advance to the interview stage, with consideration given to representation of Springboard’s priority groups, geographic diversity, and the potential for a strong, collaborative cohort experience.
- Interviews: Finalists will be invited to participate in an interview with Springboard staff. Applicants who reach the interview stage will receive a $100 honorarium in recognition of their time and participation. Following the interviews, Springboard staff will select 6 Fellows, with consideration given to representation of Springboard’s priority groups, geographic diversity, and the potential for a strong, collaborative cohort experience.
We invite peers, collaborators, and supporters to nominate a rural artist they’d love to see apply to the Rural Regenerator Fellowship. Nomination is NOT required to apply. The nomination form is to help our community encourage applicants they think are a good fit, and reach people who may not know about the program. All applications are reviewed equally, and our selection committee will not know whether an applicant was nominated.
How often does this Fellowship happen?
We will host Fellowship cohorts in 2026–2028 and again in 2027–2029. After these cohorts conclude, we plan to pause the program to evaluate and reassess its design and impact.
What is the history of the Fellowship?
Springboard launched Phase 1 of the Rural Regenerator Fellowship in 2021 and hosted cohorts of 10–12 Fellows each year through 2025. In 2026, we begin Phase 2, which includes several program design adjustments. These updates support a smaller cohort size, increased stipends, and fewer in-person requirements, while remaining grounded in the same core goals and values that have guided the Fellowship since its launch.
Do I need to complete a project if I am a Fellow? How can I use the stipend?
No project is required during the Fellowship period. The stipend is intended to support Fellows existing lives, work and wellbeing, and they are welcome to use it how it best supports them. Some Fellows have used the stipend to create projects or supplement a program they organize, while others have used the stipend to pay off debt, purchase essential equipment or materials, or simply pay themselves for the work they do.
Is my application more competitive if I’m nominated?
No. The nomination form is to help our community encourage applicants they think are a good fit, and reach people who may not know about the program. All applications are reviewed equally, and our selection committee will not know whether an applicant was nominated.
