2026 van lier fellowship in visual arts
The Asian American Arts Alliance (A4) is pleased to administer, with support from the New York Community Trust, the 2026 Van Lier Fellowship in Visual Arts. This year, the fellowship will be awarded to two NYC-based Asian American individuals: one fellow working in the field of Visual Arts Practice and one fellow in Visual Arts Curation.
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 one visual artist and one curator, age 30 or younger. The fellows will receive an unrestricted cash stipend of $10,000 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 arts professional, career coaching, and a range of technical support.
Fellowship Description:
In addition to the cash stipend of $10,000, the fellow will participate in an eight-month program beginning in May 2026 and ending in December 2026. The fellowship is structured in three phases, each facilitating a different area of professional development.
Phase 1: Career Coaching
May – July 2026
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 2026
The selected fellows will receive artistic mentorship from an established or mid-career 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 2026
The selected fellows will work with A4 staff to develop and present one community workshop or public presentation by December 2026 based on their experience with the fellowship or work generated through the process. A4 can provide up to $1,000 in production support and help connect you with venue partners. Please keep this budget in mind as you shape your program proposal.
May–Dec 2026 –– Fellowship period