Frequently Asked Questions

What’s up with the age limits? Artists of all ages need support! 

We HEAR you and we agree! Creative Futures was developed in response to multiple community assessments that identified the 18-40 age group as the demographic most severely lacking in resources for workforce development and continuing education, as well as the demographic most likely to be impacted by the justice system. CFCC is a response to this specific need, so it centers this particular age demographic. 

We look forward to continuing to develop offerings and support for everyone in our community who faces barriers to engagement with creative life on Cape Cod. 

Why are the Artist Fellows paid more than the Teaching Artist Fellows? Are educators not as valuable?

The Cordial Eye is led by arts educators and there is very little we find more valuable than the love, expertise, and creativity that is poured into communities by those who teach. The difference in stipends is due only to the scope of commitment required by the two tracks: The Artist Fellow track requires 12 hours/week and the Teaching Artist Track requires 5 hours/week. The difference in stipends reflects these time commitments. 

What kind of person makes a strong applicant for CFCC?

You should be a visual artist, writer, or musician of any genre, with enough experience in your media to realistically work as a professional, given the right support! It is okay if you’re still figuring out your path, experimenting with your media, or finding your specific focus as an artist, but CFCC does not provide instruction for developing artistic skills. If you are applying as a piano player, you need to already know how to play piano. As a muralist? You need to know how to paint. 

How are mentors selected? 

We interview each participant in CFCC to find out what kind of support they need and what kinds of personalities they respond well to. We then work within our artistic network to match participants with artists who are aligned in artistic discipline and approach. We prioritize local artists as mentors but sometimes look outside our region if the right fit cannot be found locally. 

How and when are we paid? 

Payments are made in 4 monthly installments. For participants who have special considerations around disability payments or other benefits, we are happy to work out whatever schedule works most beneficially.