The Bob Dylan Center and Universal Music Publishing Group have announced the inaugural Bob Dylan Center Songwriter Fellowship, created to develop rising talent selected by a world-class panel of songwriters, including John Mellencamp and Nas.
The Bob Dylan Center (BDC) and Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) have joined forces to launch the Bob Dylan Center Songwriter Fellowship. Announced today by BDC Director Steven Jenkins and UMPG Chief Operating Officer Marc Cimino, the Fellowship was created to mentor and develop aspiring songwriters and is awarded annually to two recipients.
Each Fellowship consists of a $40,000 project stipend, public engagement, and presentation opportunities, dedicated time in the Bob Dylan Center’s Bob Dylan Archive to study Dylan’s creative process, roundtrip airfare to Tulsa, and accommodations in the city, mentorship from UMPG songwriters and executives, and recording time in Tulsa’s historic The Church Studio, the famous studio of Leon Russell.
Annual Fellowship recipients will be selected by a global panel of artists, including French singer-songwriter Juliette Armanet, American singer-songwriter Patty Griffin, American singer-songwriter John Mellencamp, Mexican singer-songwriter Carla Morrison, and American rapper-songwriter Nas.
“The Bob Dylan Center Songwriter Fellowship is core to our mission of educating, motivating, and inspiring visitors to engage their own capacity as creators, and we cannot wait to hear the entries from undiscovered talent around the world,” says BDC Director Steven Jenkins.
“We are grateful to continue our partnership with UMPG — the world’s leading music publisher is already such a great supporter of the BDC — and we know that this panel of extraordinary songwriters will select deserving Fellows for our inaugural year.”
UMPG Chief Operating Officer Marc Cimino adds: “This is an unprecedented opportunity to connect developing talent with the works of one of the greatest songwriters of all time. Beyond access to meaningful mentorship and special resources, the archives at the Bob Dylan Center are indescribable, and I can only imagine how much creative inspiration they will draw. With the support of the fantastic BDC team and panel of world-class artists, we look forward to developing a new group of songwriters in this unique environment.”
Eligible talent worldwide can submit entries for consideration for a Fellowship beginning now through October 18, 2023. Entrants must be 18 years or older and unsigned to a publishing agreement of any kind at the time of the Fellowship start date, May 1, 2024. Further details and complete rules and restrictions can be found on the Bob Dylan Center website.