Application Process

Applicants to ArtistYear must be:

• A graduate of an accredited college or university by July 1, 2024.
  • A bachelor’s degree or advanced degree is preferred. For a highly skilled applicant, we may accept an associate’s degree.
• Highly skilled in their artistic craft, holding a degree in an artistic field or having a comparable combination of education and experience in their artistic field.
  • For example: Art therapy, creative writing, dance, digital media, fashion design, fine arts, piano, photography, screenwriting, filmmaking, music composition, music education, theatre, viola, art history, etc.
• A U.S. citizen, national, or legal resident.
  • Due to the hiring restrictions of our partners, ArtistYear may only accept applicants who are U.S. citizens, nationals, or legal residents.
• Able to dedicate 11 months to a full-time national service year.
• Able to successfully pass all necessary background checks and clearances for working with youth.

We look for applicants who possess the following characteristics:

• Strong work ethic and sense of self
  • Capacity to motivate and lead others
  • Talent for adapting to new environments and maintaining grit in the face of challenges
  • Aptitude for organization, self-motivation, and problem-solving
  • Ability to remain flexible and manage changing priorities and demands on time
  • Facility with and a love for out-of-the-box thinking
  • A sense of humor and easy-going approach
  • Functional excellence in artistic, academic, professional, and/or volunteer settings
• Exceptional judgment
  • Interpersonal maturity, compassion, and wisdom
  • Confidential behavior and discretion
  • Respect for individual’s and diverse experiences
  • Ability to work effectively with people of all backgrounds and experiences
• Effective communication
  • Easily engages others and demonstrates a genuine interest in the thoughts, ideas, and opinions of others
  • Speaks to the level, needs, and interests of a particular audience
  • Comfortable with public speaking, writing, preparing presentations or speeches
  • Possesses the ability to actively listen

How do I submit my recommendations?

Rather than having applicants upload letters of recommendations, ArtistYear asks that you list two recommenders. Once you hit “submit,” a short form will automatically be generated by our application platform (acceptd) and sent to your recommenders to fill out. It is critical that your recommenders return this form quickly; without it, we cannot review your application.

What are you looking for in my artistic representation/portfolio?

ArtistYear requires an artistic representation from our applicants to ensure that you are highly trained in your art form and capable of inspiring and supporting young people in arts learning. Submit a portfolio/representation that demonstrates who you are as an artist, and trust that it will be reviewed by fellow artist with generosity and appreciation. Do not let perfectionism get in the way of submitting your application. Recordings or portfolios you have created for other opportunities can be adapted for your ArtistYear application.

What do I need to know about the Early, Regular and Late Application pools?

At the end of each application pool cycle, ArtistYear reviews applications and fills positions with qualified candidates. So, the earlier you apply, the greater the number of open positions for which you can be considered. If you can make the early or regular pool deadlines, we recommend it. However, a significant number of applicants have been accepted from the late pool every year since ArtistYear began, so if you learn of the opportunity after a deadline, do not be dissuaded from applying.

What does “Admission Status Notification” mean?

At the end of the early and regular pool rounds, applicants will be notified whether they are:

• Accepted: You have been offered a Service Year position with ArtistYear for 2022-2023 year.
• Declined: You have not been accepted to ArtistYear this year.
• Deferred: Your application has been deferred to the next pool round (regular or late) for additional consideration; this is not a rejection or an acceptance. ArtistYear defers applications for a variety of reasons, but most frequently to ensure a proper school placement can be matched for your artistic medium/skill set.
• Wait List: You have been placed on a wait-list. Should any positions open before August 2022, you may come off the wait list to join ArtistYear.

What should I expect in the interview?

You will speak virtually with representatives of ArtistYear for approximately 45 minutes. We use the interview as an opportunity to better understand your path as an engaged artist, and to make sure ArtistYear is the right fit for you, your career ambitions, and your goals. We are very open about the challenges and opportunities of a year of service.