Disclaimer: Listings reflect client inquiries verbatim for accuracy and clarity.
The Asian American Arts Alliance (A4) is pleased to administer, with support from the New York Community Trust, the 2024 Van Lier Fellowship. This year, the fellowship will be awarded to two NYC-based Asian American theater artists – in the categories of Acting and Directing – who seek to make an impact on the Asian American community to help develop new or existing work.
A4’s mission is to ensure greater representation, equity, and opportunities for Asian American artists and cultural organizations through resource sharing, promotion, and community building. In line with these efforts, it is the aim of the A4 Van Lier Fellowship to support early-career individual Asian American artists living in New York City to develop work that will help fuel Asian American and creative discourse.
Created by the will of Sally Van Lier, the Trust carries out Edward and Sally Van Lier’s legacy of arts appreciation by supporting arts groups and training programs to provide education, training, or other support to young artists.
The Van Lier Fellowship is awarded to two early-career Asian American theater artists, one in Acting, and one in Directing, age 30 or younger. The fellows will receive an unrestricted cash stipend of $7,500 each and an eight-month fellowship tailored to respond to the unique needs of their practice. The fellowship includes artistic mentorship with an established or mid-career theater arts professional, leadership coaching, and a range of technical support.
A4 will administer an open application process.
Fellowship Description:
In addition to the cash stipend of $7,500, the fellow will participate in an eight-month program beginning in May 2024 and ending in December 2024. The fellowship is structured in three phases, each facilitating a different area of professional development.
Phase 1: Career Coaching
May – July 2024
The selected fellows will receive three coaching sessions from an esteemed career coach. The coaching will cover core value strengthening and goal setting/vision planning. These sessions are meant to offer personal and professional development tools for the fellows to empower themself as a leader of their vision, craft, and field.
Phase 2: Artistic Mentorship
July – September 2024
The selected fellows will receive artistic mentorship from an established or mid-career theater arts professional. The mentorship will include one-on-one meetings with the appointed mentor. The mentor will be chosen by A4 staff based on field recommendations and with input from the fellows, giving consideration to their interests and preferences.
Phase 3: A4 Public Program
October – December 2024
The selected fellows will work with A4 staff to develop and present one community workshop or public presentation in December 2024 based on their experience with the fellowship or work generated through the process.
Deadline: APPLICATION FORMS MUST BE SUBMITTED ELECTRONICALLY BY 11:59 PM ET ON MONDAY, MARCH 25, 2024.
REQUIREMENTS
The applicant MUST:
Be of Asian heritage
Be 30 years of age or younger at the time of the fellowship (born May 1, 1994 or later)
Not be currently enrolled as a full-time or part-time student in a degree-granting program during the fellowship period (May – December 2024)
Be a resident of New York City (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, or Staten Island)
Be currently living in the US and primarily based in New York City during the fellowship period (May – December 2024)
NOTE: Current A4 staff, board members, and review panelists are not eligible. Immediate family of A4 staff, board members, and review panelists are not eligible.
Selection Criteria:
Artistic merit: Technical skill, clarity, imaginativeness, and uniqueness based upon body of work/chosen medium and work samples submitted.
Creation of new work: Description of the project to be developed or completed during the fellowship.
Community impact: Articulation of interest or hopes to make a significant impact on the Asian American arts community based on narrative responses in the application.
Potential for growth: Extent to which the fellowship will advance the applicant’s goals and career.
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
All applications are submitted online via Jotform.
Online application:
Please select the category of artist for which you identify:
Acting
Directing
Artistic Statement:
Identify your unique artistic approach to your chosen medium. (300 words max)
Optional: Describe the influences, legacies, and/or heritages in your work. (100 words max)
Professional Growth:
Describe where you are in your professional and artistic career as a theater artist in New York City. Share key moments, accomplishments, and/or learnings in your career thus far. (300 words max)
Describe upcoming goals and how this fellowship may help you achieve those goals (300 words max)
Describe an existing or new body of work you wish to develop during the 8-month fellowship (300 words max)
Community Impact:
How do you hope to impact the Asian American artistic community through your work? (300 words max)
Fellowship Benefits:
If awarded the fellowship, how do you plan to use the unrestricted cash grant? (100 words max)
Letter of recommendation (from an educator or theater arts professional experienced with the artist’s work)
Resume and headshot
Work samples (minimum of three and up to 7 work samples) that best demonstrate your style and approach to your work and where you are now in your career
Work samples will be evaluated for artistic quality, technical skill, and ability to execute and innovate with your proposed body of work.
All image samples must be formatted in .jpg, .jpeg, or .png
All video samples must be provided by a link
Include a description of the work samples (including title, date, dimensions, presenting/exhibition location) and why it was chosen.
Key Dates:
February 21, 2024 – Public announcement of open call
February 29, 2024 – Virtual Information Session, 12–1:00pm ET
March 25, 2024 – Submissions close by 11:59pm ET
March – April 2024 – Panel review period
April 30, 2024 – Notification of award
May 9, 2024 – Public announcement of fellows
Review panels are composed of a diverse group of respected professionals in the field. All are distinguished artists and arts professionals.