Artist Scholarship Pilot Program | FAI 2026 Conference

This is a pilot program, with the goal of expanding in future years to support more artists.

Individual artists may receive up to $1,000 plus a conference registration. Bands may receive an additional $200 per additional member, with a total maximum of $2,000 plus conference registrations (e.g., a trio could receive up to $1,400 plus three registrations). Scholarship recipients must be members of Folk Alliance International.

Due to limited funding, final recipients will be selected through a random lottery from the pool of eligible applicants. Strategic priorities will be addressed as part of the process.

Our goal is to provide clear, impactful support that enables all selected artists to fully engage in the conference experience.

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Expectations for Scholarship Recipients

To ensure recipients benefit fully from this opportunity and contribute to the broader artist community, all scholarship recipients are expected to:

Attend at least three days of the conference (each person receiving a complimentary badge is making this commitment).
Participate in pre-conference professional development opportunities, including:
- Virtual B2B (business-to-business) sessions
- Scholarship cohort meetings
- Webinars or training sessions designed to support your success at the conference
Engage in professional opportunities during the conference, such as networking events, panels, mentoring, and peer sessions.
Attend a scholarship cohort gathering onsite during the conference.
Share reflections on your experience post-conference (this may include a short survey, written feedback, or a testimonial).
Participate in data gathering efforts, including completing follow-up surveys.
Work collaboratively with FAI’s team to tell the story of the scholarship, the conference, and FAI’s impact for artists.

These expectations are designed to help artists make the most of their showcase opportunity and to guide improvements in future versions of this scholarship program.

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Key Dates and Timeline

August 11: Scholarship application sent to all confirmed Official Showcase Artists
August 28: Application deadline (11:59 PM CT)

August 29-September 19: Selection process
By September 22: All applicants notified of scholarship decisions

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Expected Reach

Through this pilot program, we anticipate supporting approximately 20–30 artists or bands. Rather than simply maximizing the number of recipients, our focus is on creating meaningful, high-impact experiences that generate compelling stories. These stories will help illustrate the value of this scholarship program and inspire future donor investment. By prioritizing depth over breadth, we aim to build a strong case for long-term support and expansion of the fund.

Application form