Brent Holland (MFA 2004) is an Associate Professor of Art and Visual Culture at Iowa State University. He is also a practicing artist. In late August 2016, he was one of five people to be selected for an Artist Fellowship from the Iowa Arts Council. The fellowships were announced and presented by the Iowa governor and lieutenant governor.
Each fellow receives a $10,000 grant "to support the creation of new work, a year’s worth of access to targeted professional development opportunities presented by local, state and national experts, as well as promotional support to enhance their careers as Iowa artists." They also participate in Creative Capital's Core Weekend Professional Development Program.
This Artist Fellowship Program was created in Iowa during 2014. Its aim is "to support professional, active Iowa artists who are at a pivotal point in their careers and who demonstrate exceptional creativity and the capacity to contribute to the excellence and innovation of the arts in Iowa."