Asian Cultural Council New York Fellowship 2025 (up to $35,000)

The New York Fellowship is a 6-month program that provides support to artists and arts and culture professionals working across disciplines, empowering them to take risks, develop their artistic practices, and take time to immerse themselves in the rich and varied cultural life of New York City and the United States.

The New York Fellowship aims to foster Fellows’ understanding of the many diverse cultures and communities in New York City and the U.S. They posit that cultural understanding is uniquely imparted through first-hand experience, regardless of form or method, and that the impact of cultural exchange manifests in diverse ways. They ask applicants to clearly articulate the impact they wish to gain for themselves and others, and what interests them in spending time abroad and exposing themselves to new cultures.

This 6-month grant is not a residency or an individual’s personal public relations tour. Rather, a New York Fellowship is a valuable and rare pause in an artist or art professional’s everyday activities to take a deep dive into a new, rich cultural landscape. ACC hopes that New York Fellows will take the learnings and insights from this cultural exchange experience to influence their own practice, and later contribute to the artistic and cultural communities back home.

Cost of New York Fellowship

• ACC will award New York Fellowship grants of $35,000 USD for six (6) months.
  • New York Fellows are expected to manage their own awarded and personal finances according to their research project and the high cost of living of New York City.
  • Note that the expenses below are deducted from the total grant amount. This means that the amount issued to New York Fellows after their arrival in New York may be $15,580 – $16,630 USD (roughly $2,596 – $2,772 USD/month over =six (6) months), if they choose to reside at the International House.
    • $220 USD for the DS-2019 J-1 visa fees
    • $150-$200 USD for mandatory travel health insurance
    • Roughly $18,000-19,000 USD for a 6-month stay at International House (NOTE: Residence at International House is optional and the above amount is an approximate estimate of a 6-month stay in 2025.)
  • While ACC will manage payments for the above expenses, New York Fellows must pay $185 separately for their visa processing application (DS-160) as well as their airfare and other related costs.
  • New York Fellows may choose to receive a $3,000 USD advance payment before their arrival in the U.S., to pay for travel-related expenses in advance.

Check : Fully Funded Royal Thai Government Scholarships at AIT 2025

Eligibility

• Must be over the age of 21 by the New York Fellowship start date.
• Must be able to demonstrate at least five (5) years of experience in one of ACC’s eligible fields.
• Applicants cannot be enrolled in university studies during the time of the fellowship.
• Applicants cannot be U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
• Previous New York Fellows are not eligible to apply to the New York Fellowship again.
  • If you were a project participant in an organization that received ACC funding, contact [email protected] to confirm if you are eligible for a New York Fellowship.

Strong applications will include:

• An explanation of the applicant’s interest in ACC’s mission and how spending time abroad and exposure to new cultures will enable them to contribute to this mission.
• A thoughtful overview of the activities and ideas related to your research and cultural immersion. While ACC does not expect a day-to-day schedule, they are interested in how you intend to spend your time during a New York Fellowship, what you hope to gain from this experience, and the impact that you hope these activities will have on you and on others.
• Possible contacts and connections that will help you with your research and cultural immersion.

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