Introducing the Bob Dylan Center Songwriter Fellowship
Songwriters around the world now have a new prestigious prize to aim for, as the Bob Dylan Center Songwriter Fellowship has been established. Named after the legendary artist himself, the fellowship will be awarded each year to two rising songwriters, with the aim of identifying, mentoring, and developing their talent. This initiative is made possible by the partnership between Universal Music Publishing Group and the Bob Dylan Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
The fellowship offers an incredible package for the winners. Each recipient will receive a $40,000 project stipend, opportunities for public engagement and presentations, dedicated time in the Bob Dylan Archive to study the creative process of the iconic artist, roundtrip airfare to Tulsa, accommodations, mentorship from renowned songwriters and executives from Universal Music Publishing Group, recording time, and much more.
The inaugural judges panel for the fellowship will include esteemed musicians Juliette Armanet, Patty Griffin, John Mellencamp, Carla Morrison, and Nas. The Fellowship aligns with the Bob Dylan Center’s mission of educating, motivating, and inspiring visitors to explore their own creative capacities. The center’s director, Steven Jenkins, expressed excitement for the entries from undiscovered talent around the world.
Creators from all corners of the globe are invited to submit their work for consideration from now until October 18, 2023. To be eligible for the fellowship, entrants must be 18 years or older and not signed to any publishing agreement at the start date of the fellowship, which is May 1, 2024.
Marc Cimino, the Chief Operating Officer of Universal Music Publishing Group, emphasized the unprecedented opportunity that the fellowship provides to connect emerging talent with the works of one of the greatest songwriters of all time. He looks forward to nurturing a new generation of songwriters within this unique environment.
The fellowship will run from May 2024 to April 2025, following the grand opening of the Bob Dylan Center. The center, which is a museum and archive dedicated to celebrating the Nobel laureate’s work, boasts a collection of over 100,000 items. Acquired in 2016 by the George Kaiser Family Foundation for an estimated $20 million, the center allows visitors to delve into the entirety of Dylan’s career through handwritten manuscripts, notebooks, and correspondence, as well as films, videos, photographs, artwork, unreleased recordings, and musical instruments.
For further information and to submit your work for the Bob Dylan Center Songwriter Fellowship, visit bobdylancenter.com/songwriterfellowship. This is an exceptional opportunity for aspiring songwriters to make their mark and carry on the legacy of one of the greatest musicians of all time.