Responsibilities

Core students work an average of 20-25 hours/week in various service positions. In addition to fulfilling their work responsibility to the school, they are considered fully participating students and are expected to be engaged, productive members of each class they take. Work responsibilities begin each year in late February and end just before Thanksgiving. There is no work obligation from late November until late February.

Selection Criteria for the Core Fellowship Program

Core fellows are selected by a committee that considers the quality and direction of the applicants’ art work, their work experience, their character, and how they will contribute to the overall balance of the group and the program.

Specifically, we are looking at these factors:

1. 1. Artwork
      We are looking for work that shows a strong foundation and enough direction to tell us that the candidate will be able to take advantage of what this unique program offers. We are looking for excellent work, but we are also looking for potential. Candidates must be interested in working with materials that are part of our class program.
   2. Work Experience
      Core fellows are asked to do many different kinds of work, ranging from basic physical labor to supervisory tasks. Whether your work history is one of employment or volunteer work, we are looking for experience that will prepare you to adapt to these different tasks and work situations.
   3. Group Dynamic
      The nine core fellows share a house with limited privacy. They are involved in group tasks and decision making along with the normal challenges of group living. We are looking for participants with balanced personalities and slow fuses.
   4. Program Balance
      Because core fellows are given absolute preference in class selection, it’s important to the school that the interests of each core group span a range of media. It’s also beneficial to the program if the group includes a variety of backgrounds and interests.

• 1st Year
• 2nd Year
• 3rd Year
• 4th Year
• Graduate

• US Citizen
• Permanent Resident

The Penland Core Fellowship Program is a one-year work-study fellowship for early career artists looking to expand technical skills and material fluency while working to support the day-to-day operations of a craft school. Artists of all backgrounds who want to advance their educational goals and explore their capacity to contribute to a thriving creative community are encouraged to apply. 

Our Goals for the Fellowship:

• To shape the future of contemporary craft by creating opportunity, connection, and immersive education for early career artists who bring a range of perspectives and goals to the school.
• To bring together a diverse group of artists with a range of experience, perspectives, strengths, and goals and provide access to craft education.

Get details, application tips, and access the application via the program website.

If you have questions related to the Core Fellowship Program, you can direct them to:

Courtney Dodd, programs manager
828-765-2359 ext. 1313
programs@penland.org

Leslie Noell, creative director
828-765-2359 ext. 1313
creativedirector@penland.org