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north carolina choreographic fellowship

A North Carolina Choreographic Fellowship (NCCF) in Dance provides immersive creative time and space to select North Carolina based dance artists.

Newly announced in 2023, and available to North Carolina choreographers and dancemakers, awardees receive the rare opportunity of uninterrupted time and space in an inspiring setting to create their next great work, along with a variety of supportive financial benefits.

The length of the Fellowship is seven to nine days in the months of August or September, and the choreographer can be joined by 2-5 dancers/collaborators. During the NCCF Fellowship, artists are invited to engage with the regional community in a variety of ways. During the residency, there may be a Meet the Artists event, or other opportunities to interact with Trillium’s growing cohort of local and regional artists. Trillium Arts acts as a facilitator for this “Exchange” portion of NCCF, providing suggestions for pairings and introductions as necessary. Beyond any selected engagements, this is a self-directed program, and the artists determine the specific ways to use their residency time. However, priority for NCCF awardees is given to artists who are at a catalytic point in their artistic career and are actively incubating a new project for future public presentation.

 With funding support from our sponsors, Trillium Arts can provide NCCF artists with the following:

• $1,000 honorarium

• Private lodging for up to six artists in a beautiful setting on 22 acres in the Blue Ridge Mountains in Mars Hill, NC (30 minutes north of Asheville); housing is a combination of the Trillium Arts Artist Suite and other cabins that are within walking distance.

• Rehearsal space in the Red Barn Studio at Odonata Farm

• Welcome dinner with your hosts

• Mileage reimbursement

• Per diems for up to six artists

• Shared use of the grounds, including firepit, hot tub and waterfall area

• Use of onsite creative spaces that include a contemplation gazebo and 220 square foot open air, covered workspace

• Basic kitchen supplies and all household goods (towels, linens, paper products, etc.)

• Access to high speed fiber optic internet

• Laundry facilities

• Opportunity to share a work-in-progress showing with select invited guests at the conclusion of the Fellowship and/or interaction with local and regional artists.

• Mentorship related to administrative and organizational development provided by Trillium Arts co-founders Phil Reynolds and Heather Hartley, who have decades of experience in performing arts management.

Who is eligible? Choreographers who have been residents in the state of North Carolina for at least one year are eligible. Choreographers at any stage of their careers are invited to apply. There is no application fee.

Timeline: For the 2024 cycle, an open call application process for North Carolina based choreographers began on January 25, 2024. The application was available for six weeks and the deadline to apply was Monday, March 11, 2024 at 11:59pm. This is a firm deadline. Late or incomplete applications will be disqualified and will not be considered.

A panel will review all the applications with a priority based on artistic merit, and the awarded artists will be notified by mid-April 2024.  NCCF residencies will take place in August or September 2024.

The application cycle for 2024 has ended. Please join our email list for announcements about future opportunities.

Meet Stewart/Owen Dance, recipients of the inaugural North Carolina Choreographic Fellowship.