Mary E. Nyburg Fund for Artist Development Grant Deadline - Baltimore Clayworks

Baltimore Clayworks Opens Applications

Baltimore Clayworks reported that the Mary E. Nyburg Fund for Artist Development will open its next application cycle on December 1, 2026, with submissions due by January 15, 2027, at 11:59 pm EST.

The annual endowment fund provides a $2,500 stipend designed to support a dedicated period of study that deepens an artist’s work in clay while strengthening the broader organization, according to Baltimore Clayworks.

Endowment Background

Friends and family established the fund in 2007 following the April 2006 death of Mary Nyburg, Baltimore Clayworks noted. Nyburg was a nationally respected potter, a crafts advocate, a board member of the Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, and a lifelong supporter of Baltimore Clayworks, where she once served as a Resident Artist.

The stipend supports travel, study, or work in a community outside of Baltimore for one selected artist annually. Recipients are required to complete a presentation or workshop sharing their experience with the Baltimore Clayworks community once the study period concludes.

Baltimore Clayworks Artists Apply for the Mary Nyburg Award

Applicants must be Baltimore Clayworks artists who have not received the award within the last five years. Eligible participants include current and former fellowship or resident artists, associate artists, teaching artists, mezzanine and springboard artists, and members.

Priority is given to artists currently active in the community who are transitioning in their artistic development. A committee comprised of four to six friends and family members of Mary Nyburg reviews the completed applications and selects the recipient based on image strength and written proposals.

According to the application portal hosted via JotForm, applicants must upload 10 images of their work alongside an image list detailing file names, artist names, titles, dates, dimensions, and mediums. Applicants must also outline their history with Baltimore Clayworks, propose how they would use the $2,500 award, and specify the dates, location, and method for sharing their experience with the community.

Recipients must sign a grant agreement stipulating the terms of the award. Unused funds must be returned to the Mary E. Nyburg Fund for Artist Development.