Conference Scholarships for First-Time Attendees
The Board and Conference Committee have made a commitment to encourage new fiber enthusiasts to be part of what we believe is a wonderful opportunity to learn, share, network, and grow—the MAFA Conference. To that end, we are delighted to offer our new scholarship program to help defray the cost of attending the MAFA Conference to first time attendees.
Not a first-time attendee? Returning conference students, please check out our Fellowship program which helps offset the workshop cost in return for completion of an outreach project.
For 2025, MAFA will offer up to 20 Conference Scholarships of $500 each. Scholarships will be applied directly to the successful applicant’s registration fee for this conference only. No monetary benefit will be distributed to any applicant, and scholarships may not be carried over to future conferences. For those who apply by the recommended deadline, decisions will be made in advance of the opening of workshop registration.
If you’ve been dreaming of attending the MAFA Conference, or if you’re hearing about this for the first time and want to participate in learning from some highly skilled fiber professionals, this is your opportunity. You’re one step closer to realizing your dream and to engaging in a 3-day fiber explosion. We hope you’ll apply.
Eligibility
Conference Scholarships are designated for first-time MAFA Conference attendees and are awarded based on the applicant’s serious desire to develop in their particular fiber art interest area.
The applicant must be involved in the fiber arts, but may be at any level of expertise (novice, intermediate, experienced). Financial need is not a criterion. The applicant must be able to attend the upcoming MAFA Conference.
- Conference Scholarships are open to any first-time conference attendee who is a member of a MAFA guild or a MAFA Associate member; and first-time attendees residing in the MAFA region (CT, DE, DC, MD, NC, NJ, NY, PA, VA, WV) who are not connected to a MAFA guild. We encourage non-members to join a MAFA guild or as an Associate – find membership information HERE.
- Applicants are required to submit a brief statement about their fiber art experience and interests, why they want to take their chosen workshop, and what they hope to do with the information after the conference.
- Applicants are also required to submit two (2) digital images of their current fiber arts work.
Application Process and Timeline
- Submit an online Conference Scholarship application form. The form will open October 7, 2024, and will close January 3, 2025.
- If we reach 20 applications before the deadline, the form will remain open and we will start a waitlist.
- If after the initial deadline there are scholarships still available, we will continue to accept applications until March 31, 2025, or until all scholarships are awarded. After workshop registration opens in February, the selection of workshops will be limited to those with open seats.
- Applicants who apply by January 3, 2024 will be notified of MAFA’s decision no later than January 24, 2025. Later applicants will be notified as soon as possible.
Conference Scholarship Requirements
In order to receive their scholarship, each fellowship recipient is expected to:
- Attend the MAFA 2025 Conference and participate in their selected conference workshop.
- Sign up to volunteer at least two hours during the conference. Volunteer signups will open in March 2025.
For questions or more information, please contact Grants Chair Angela Fishman at grants@mafafiber.org.