Gilda Awards

Award Details

• About Gilda Snowden

  Beloved painter, teacher, and activist Gilda Snowden (1954–2014) was one of the 18 inaugural artists to receive a Kresge Artist Fellowship in 2009. She served as interim chair and professor of fine arts (now art practice) at the College for Creative Studies where she taught painting for more than 30 years.

• What are the selection criteria?

  Gilda Awards recognize artist who are:

  • Early in their careers, and
  • Are gaining momentum, and
  • Who demonstrate exceptional potential through creative risk-taking and pushing the boundaries of their chosen art form.
• Who can apply?

  Anyone 18 years or older and a current legal resident of Macomb, Oakland, or Wayne County for the two years prior to the award deadline is eligible to apply for a Kresge Artist Fellowship. Within the fellowship application, artists may opt in to be considered for a Gilda Snowden Emerging Artist Award.

  Gilda Award recipients must remain a resident in the tri-county area throughout the year-long award period.

  Students working toward an academic degree at the time of application—or who are planning to begin a degree-granting program—are ineligible. Ph.D. candidates who are ABD (all but dissertation) may apply.

  Staff members of Kresge Arts in Detroit or The Kresge Foundation and their immediate families are ineligible, as are previous Kresge Eminent Artist Award recipients.

  Eligibility confirmation: If your application advances to the final round of consideration for an award, Kresge Arts in Detroit will require you to submit materials that document your legal residency in the tri-county area for the last two years.

• Who selects the Gilda Award recipients?

  Each year, Kresge Arts in Detroit convenes independent panels of artists and arts professionals to review the Kresge Artist Fellowship applications. The panel selects Gilda Award recipients from the pool of fellowship applicants who opt to be considered for the emerging artist award.

  Past Panelists

• What's included with a Gilda Award?

  In addition to the $5,000 no-strings-attached award, Gilda Award recipients are invited to participate in the majority of professional development programming offered to Kresge Artist Fellows. Produced by Kresge Arts in Detroit in collaboration with local and national artists and arts and culture organizations, this programming provides skill-building, networking, promotion, and coaching opportunities.