Bush Foundation ends Artists Fellowship program

The Bush Foundation has ended its Artists Fellowship and will replace it with a more general fellowship program aimed at helping communities.

The Foundation's Director of Engagement and Communication Scott Cooper says the decision came after a review period where the organization examined how to best use its money.

"Our goal is to help expand the capacity of communities to address the challenges they are facing and we are trying to figure out the best way to do that. And we had had several different fellowship programs grow up for specific audiences and it seemed that was no longer necessarily the right way to go."

The foundation will begin accepting applications for the new fellowships in December. Cooper says the fellowships are open to anyone, and he hopes artists will apply. About 35 fellows will be selected and receive $50,000 to $75,000, depending on their proposal. Since 1967 the Bush foundation has awarded some 2,200 fellowships for artists, physicians, and leaders.

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