The Robert B. McMillen Foundation believes in the power of the arts to change lives, to make the world a better place, to build vibrant communities, and to build bridges of understanding. We believe in a just, equitable, and inclusive society and we feel the arts and artists can play a key role in advancing these ideals. The purpose of the McMillen Artist Community (MAC) Reverse Scholarship program is to award competitive grants to support artistic excellence in the visual arts for artists living and working in Washington State. The program recognizes creative talent and community impact and provides an opportunity for debt relief so that artists can achieve specific and creative career and life goals.
We are looking to support those artists whose values align with the Foundation’s vision for the MAC and building community in and through the arts. Applicants will be asked to share how they are involved in community engagement – things like workshops or artist talks, arts advocacy, issues of social justice, deepening cultural understanding, creative placemaking or community development.
These are the types of artists this program is designed to support:
- Visual artists who live and work in Washington State ONLY.
- Visual artists who are actively engaged in community building and/or helping their community.
- Visual artists who have clear career goals and can present a cohesive body of work.
- Visual artists who view the arts as a primary vocation, not a a hobby or sideline gig.
- Visual artists looking to challenge the ideas of 'western institutionalized art' and conventional ways of thinking.
- Visual artists who use their practice to address inequities and social justice issues.
Eligibility to Apply - Awards Subject to Verification:
- You must be at least 25 years of age or older at the time of application. Verified by Valid WA State DL or ID Card.
- You must be a current legal resident of Washington State for a minimum of one (1) year at the time of application. Verified by WA State DL or ID Card and Utility Bill/Other Documentation as proof of residency.
- You must have an art degree. Verified by Official Transcript(s).
- You must have $10,000 or more in student loan debt accumulated in pursuit of your art degree. Verified by Statement from the Lender.
- You must have a gross annual income of $75,000 or less if filing as an individual/$125,000 if filing jointly. Verified by Most Recent Tax Return.
Selection Criteria:
- Artistic Excellence
- Evidence of mastery of skills and techniques, professional approaches to process and presentation, and/or communication of unique vision or perspective.
- Artistic Merit
- Evidence of some/all of the following: Potential impact on the artistic and/or cultural development of a community or individuals; and/or potential to broaden access to, expand and diversify the audiences for, and/or strengthen communities through the arts.
- Community Involvement/Engagement
- Will participate in the MAC – mentor up and coming artists; give a presentation.
- Demonstrated interest and experience in community engagement.
- Funding Impact
- Gives clear evidence of how the funding will further the artist’s career and impact community.
This program exists to help ensure artists thrive. We seek to foster personal connections with individual artists for the purposes of impacting and building community. We welcome artists who push boundaries, provoke and compel, are changemakers, mentors, teachers, champions of issues of social justice, messengers, community builders, etc.
Application & all additional required items must be RECEIVED by application deadline: Midnight on May 15, 2025
Application Requires: Completed application, Official Transcripts, and 10 pieces of artwork created within the past two years.
Application Review Process Overview: 1) Portfolio Only, 2) Portfolio + Written Statements. Finalists will be invited to an in-person Interview - this will be in a GROUP interview setting. Top candidates will spend the day all together along with our selection committee. Details TBD.
Timeline for the 2025 MAC Reverse Scholarship Application Cycle:
Deadline: Midnight on Thursday, May 15, 2025
Panel Review: Late May/Early June 2025
Finalist Notification Target: Early June 2025
Finalists must attend in-person interview - Date TBD: Week of June 23 - 27, 2025
Award Notification: June 30, 2025
Funding Period: July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026
Final Report Due: June 30, 2026
Want inspiration? Check out the MAC Alumni - Fellows and Scholars!
MAC Reverse Scholarship Program
The Robert B. McMillen Foundation believes in the power of the arts to change lives, to make the world a better place, to build vibrant communities, and to build bridges of understanding. We believe in a just, equitable, and inclusive society and we feel the arts and artists can play a key role in advancing these ideals. The purpose of the McMillen Artist Community (MAC) Reverse Scholarship program is to award competitive grants to support artistic excellence in the visual arts for artists living and working in Washington State. The program recognizes creative talent and community impact and provides an opportunity for debt relief so that artists can achieve specific and creative career and life goals.
We are looking to support those artists whose values align with the Foundation’s vision for the MAC and building community in and through the arts. Applicants will be asked to share how they are involved in community engagement – things like workshops or artist talks, arts advocacy, issues of social justice, deepening cultural understanding, creative placemaking or community development.
These are the types of artists this program is designed to support:
- Visual artists who live and work in Washington State ONLY.
- Visual artists who are actively engaged in community building and/or helping their community.
- Visual artists who have clear career goals and can present a cohesive body of work.
- Visual artists who view the arts as a primary vocation, not a a hobby or sideline gig.
- Visual artists looking to challenge the ideas of 'western institutionalized art' and conventional ways of thinking.
- Visual artists who use their practice to address inequities and social justice issues.
Eligibility to Apply - Awards Subject to Verification:
- You must be at least 25 years of age or older at the time of application. Verified by Valid WA State DL or ID Card.
- You must be a current legal resident of Washington State for a minimum of one (1) year at the time of application. Verified by WA State DL or ID Card and Utility Bill/Other Documentation as proof of residency.
- You must have an art degree. Verified by Official Transcript(s).
- You must have $10,000 or more in student loan debt accumulated in pursuit of your art degree. Verified by Statement from the Lender.
- You must have a gross annual income of $75,000 or less if filing as an individual/$125,000 if filing jointly. Verified by Most Recent Tax Return.
Selection Criteria:
- Artistic Excellence
- Evidence of mastery of skills and techniques, professional approaches to process and presentation, and/or communication of unique vision or perspective.
- Artistic Merit
- Evidence of some/all of the following: Potential impact on the artistic and/or cultural development of a community or individuals; and/or potential to broaden access to, expand and diversify the audiences for, and/or strengthen communities through the arts.
- Community Involvement/Engagement
- Will participate in the MAC – mentor up and coming artists; give a presentation.
- Demonstrated interest and experience in community engagement.
- Funding Impact
- Gives clear evidence of how the funding will further the artist’s career and impact community.
This program exists to help ensure artists thrive. We seek to foster personal connections with individual artists for the purposes of impacting and building community. We welcome artists who push boundaries, provoke and compel, are changemakers, mentors, teachers, champions of issues of social justice, messengers, community builders, etc.
Application & all additional required items must be RECEIVED by application deadline: Midnight on May 15, 2025
Application Requires: Completed application, Official Transcripts, and 10 pieces of artwork created within the past two years.
Application Review Process Overview: 1) Portfolio Only, 2) Portfolio + Written Statements. Finalists will be invited to an in-person Interview - this will be in a GROUP interview setting. Top candidates will spend the day all together along with our selection committee. Details TBD.
Timeline for the 2025 MAC Reverse Scholarship Application Cycle:
Deadline: Midnight on Thursday, May 15, 2025
Panel Review: Late May/Early June 2025
Finalist Notification Target: Early June 2025
Finalists must attend in-person interview - Date TBD: Week of June 23 - 27, 2025
Award Notification: June 30, 2025
Funding Period: July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026
Final Report Due: June 30, 2026
Want inspiration? Check out the MAC Alumni - Fellows and Scholars!