The Foundation will consider proposals from artists in any field who work beyond or between recognized arts genres and practices, particularly those which engage digital, multimedia, or other innovative technologies. With respect to projects employing new Artificial Intelligence tools, competitive applications will clearly demonstrate the human creative intelligence and artistic vision driving such explorations. 

In accordance with the fellowship program's overall goal of supporting early mid-career artists, applicants should have a record of exhibitions and demonstrate a promising program of creative expression and experimentation. Note that fellowship funds are intended mainly to support time for creative work; they do not underwrite costs of equipment, exhibitions, or publication.

Howard Foundation Fellowships are awarded through a multi-stage review process that begins with successive rounds of screening by expert panels assembled for each year's fields. Proposals advance through the process based on the collective determination of panelists. To ensure candid assessment, the identities of reviewers are not public. The proposals that panelists collectively judge to be the strongest under the Foundation's award criteria are forwarded to the Foundation's multi-disciplinary Board of Administration, which makes the final selection. 

 The Howard Foundation is committed to supporting artist and scholars of diverse cultural, sexual, and ethnic backgrounds. HF does not discriminate based on the gender, ethnicity, sexuality, or ability/disability of artists, and welcomes work whose content reflects the lived experiences of the applicants.