Applications for Amplify’s Alternate Currents Cohort are Open October 7th - November 17th!
Alternate Currents (AC) is a two-year program designed to support artists and organizers working to thoughtfully challenge dominant systems, forge collaborations, and engage with their communities. An alternative to a conventional MFA, AC cohort members work together to understand how justice in the arts is interpreted, documented, and enacted.
One of only a few programs across the US which prioritizes free access to a cohort learning experience and funding outside larger institutional systems, AC cohort members learn together, share resources, publish their work, organize exhibitions and panel discussions, and receive funding to support their work.
In their first year, cohort members:
Organize and lead monthly site/studio visits.
Share articles, videos, and podcasts to contextualize group discussions during site/studio visits.
Publish their work in a collaborative group publication.
Collectively identify projects to pursue for exhibition at Generator Space in their second year.
Receive a $1,500 honorarium to support their work.
In their second year, cohort members:
Organize and carry out projects or exhibitions at Amplify’s Generator space and panel discussions related to their projects or exhibitions.
Invite artists, organizers, arts workers, and educators from outside of the cohort to participate in projects, exhibitions, and panel discussions.
Receive a $1,500 honorarium to support their work.
Receive additional funding to support Generator Series projects, exhibitions, and panel discussions.
Artists and organizers working in any discipline with experience or interest in developing creative work that challenges dominant systems, forges collaboration, and/or engages community are encouraged to apply!
Email info@amplifyarts.org anytime with questions!
Watch a 20min video about the application process above.
Click here to make a Virtual Office Hours appointment for one-on-one application support.
Click here to learn more about past Alternate Currents cohorts.
Click here to download a PDF copy of the full application in English.
Click here to download a PDF copy of the full application in Spanish.
Keep scrolling for more details, or follow the link below to start your application!
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One of Amplify’s cornerstone programs, Alternate Currents (AC) is an alternative to a conventional MFA program in which participants working to understand how justice in the arts is interpreted, documented, and enacted are both students and teachers. Following June Jordan’s Poetry for the People model, AC cohort members work to establish an intellectual and cultural commons by sharing resources, publishing their work, and organizing public-facing exhibitions, projects, and panel discussions.
This two-year program is one in only a handful of programs across the US that prioritizes free access to a cohort learning experience and funded project development outside larger institutional systems. It is designed to support Omaha-area artists and organizers working in any discipline to thoughtfully challenge dominant systems, forge collaborations, and/or engage with their communities. Each Alternate Currents cohort member directly influences and participates in every aspect of the program.
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Any artist, artist collective, or collaborative group maintaining a residence within the Omaha Metro Area including Washington, Douglas, and Sarpy counties in Nebraska, and Pottawattamie, Mills, and Harrison counties in Iowa is eligible to apply.
Applicants must be at least 18 years old.
A formal education is not required to apply.
For collaborative groups
Submissions from artist collectives and collaborative groups are welcome. Collectives and collaborative groups are eligible if:
At least one member of the group meets the eligibility requirements outlined above.
The group is not incorporated into a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.
Members of the group are committed to working on a deeply collaborative level to advance the goals of the group, rather than those of the individuals within the group.
Collaborative groups should submit as a group and discuss the nature and duration of the collaboration in their Artist Statement.
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In the application, you’ll be asked to respond to a few prompts:
First, you'll tell selection panelists more about your background and your work; the questions that motivate your practice and why they’re important; and how you challenge dominant systems, forge collaborations, and/or engage with community in your work.
Second, you’ll share more about your approach to collaboration and what you need to feel comfortable working in a group setting; how you hope your experience as an Alternate Currents cohort member will help your practice evolve; and why you would like to have this experience now.
Last, you’ll share examples of your past or current work that illustrates the ways your practice challenges dominant systems, forges collaborations, and/or engages with community.
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Applications are reviewed by an external panel made up of arts workers, educators, and/or past program participants. Selection panelists review all eligible applications during a two-phase review process:
First, they review and rank each submission independently online in Submittable.
Then, they meet as a group in-person or on Zoom to discuss submissions and make recommendations.
Selection panelists are chosen by Amplify Arts staff. We intentionally seek panelists from diverse backgrounds, working in a range of disciplines, at various stages in their careers who support Amplify’s goal of awarding at least half (51%) of all awards to artists and organizers who self-identify as a member of a community or communities that have historically faced discrimination or been denied access to institutional support.
The panel selects Alternate Currents members based on the following criteria:
Phase 1 (Individual Reviews):
Applicant’s response to Prompt #1 clearly articulates the theoretical and practical dimensions of a practice oriented toward thoughtfully challenging dominant systems, forging collaborations, and/or engaging with community.
Applicant’s response to Prompt #2 clearly expresses a strong interest in working collaboratively as a fully engaged Alternate Currents cohort member.
Applicant’s response to Prompt #3 clearly demonstrates their commitment to challenging dominant systems, forging collaborations, and/or engaging with their communities in their creative practice.
Phase 2 (In-Person or Zoom Group Review):
At least half (51%) of prospective cohort members self-identify as a member of a community or communities that have historically faced discrimination or been denied access to institutional support.
Prospective cohort members are representative of the diverse experiences, perspectives, and disciplines that enrich Omaha’s cultural landscape.
Amplify staff do not evaluate applications. During the 2nd phase of the selection process, Amplify Arts staff offer decision making support and context based on applicants’ responses to demographic questions within the application and internal organizational goals.
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October 7th: Applications Open
October 29th, 11am - 1pm: AC Application Office Hours
November 5th, 6pm - 8pm: AC Application Office Hours
November 17th: Applications Close
November 18th – December 1st: Application Reviews
December 9th: Application Status Updates Delivered
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This application is available
In Spanish (written)
In English (written)
Read aloud in English (audio)
Read aloud in Spanish (audio)
Please email info@amplifyarts.org if you need:
Help navigating Submittable, the application submission software.
A quiet space to work on your application.
Access to a reliable wireless connection.
About Amplify Arts
Amplify Arts provides resources for artists, organizers, and cultural workers to incubate liberatory ideas that move our community forward.