the bandung residency 2025

The Bandung Residency, presented by the Asian American Arts Alliance (A4) and The Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Arts (MoCADA), is an opportunity designed to uplift the work of organizers, artists, educators, and waymakers whose practice is intended to foster solidarity between Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander (AANHPI) and Black communities.

Inspired by past events that have deeply impacted these communities, as well as the Stop Asian Hate and Black Lives Matter movements, this program takes its cue from the first large-scale Asian–African or Afro–Asian Conference, known as the Bandung Conference, which took place in April 1955, in Bandung, West Java, Indonesia. The groundbreaking summit, which hosted leaders from 259 newly independent Asian and African states emerging from colonial rule (representing a total population of 1.5 billion people, 54% of the world’s population at the time), signaled a pivotal juncture between these communities to discuss peace, equality, and mutual respect for sovereignty, political self-determination, cultural cooperation, human rights, the role of the Global South (then known as the Third World), economic development, and decolonization. Building upon the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence as identified the previous year by leaders from China and India, the primary objectives of the Bandung Conference ‘55 cohort were “ a call for an end to racial discrimination wherever it occurred, and a reiteration of the importance of peaceful coexistence…and collaboration.”

Similarly, the Bandung Residency aims to cultivate a dynamic safe space for a diverse cohort of changemakers interested in engaging in social justice discourse, restorative healing, cultural placemaking, expanding the narrative between communities, and cross-community allyship, whether participating in the program for their personal transformation, in service to the communities identified, or both.

PROGRAM GOALS

For the fourth cohort of this residency, 6-7 NYC-based visionaries will be selected as residents by a panel of independent reviewers to participate in a six-month-long hybrid program consisting of structured, self-directed, and group learning exchanges that introduce community leaders embedded in this social justice work, propel forward the spirit of solidarity crystalized during the 1960s and ‘70s, center the historical and contemporary issues faced by AANHPI and Black communities, while enabling the deepening of each participant’s relationship with themselves, their practice, other participants within the cohort, and most especially with the communities identified.

Residents are also expected to connect with local leaders and community members to inspire unity through an artistic presentation, shared exploratory experience, or special project that they will incubate and create during the residency. Examples of projects include a public art piece, performance, walking tour, ephemeral installation, or community building activity. Residents are encouraged to realize the project they propose, however we understand if a project evolves and iterates beyond the residency period.

Our north star rests in the human potential to strengthen cross-cultural community ties through intersectional advocacy (within and across participating communities), and to use “art” as a vehicle for social change through neighborhood interventions.

WHO SHOULD APPLY

Are you a NYC-based changemaker, organizer, artist, educator, waymaker or community leader interested in building a project rooted in fostering solidarity between AANHPI and Black communities? Are you dedicated to inspiring and/or transforming yourself, other artists, the intended communities, or all of the above?

The Bandung Residency is seeking 6-7 participants with a range of artistic expression, social justice expertise, organizing frameworks, and lived experiences for its fourth cohort. We strongly encourage individuals from underserved communities—including but not limited to Indigenous, low-income, immigrant, disabled, non-native English speaking, LGBTQIA+ communities—to apply.

PROGRAM STRUCTURE

During the course of the residency, A4/MoCADA will provide 1:1 resource-sharing meetings, access to community through programming, and presentation support.

The program will span six months and include two phases:

Phase 1: Learning/Development + Research (June–September 2025)

Structured time to gain foundational knowledge, get to know cohort members, shape and test project inquiries and research questions, as well as meet with potential collaborators or instigators. This phase will include cohort meetings, learning exchanges led by an expert facilitator, community conversations and Q&A with leaders, skillshares led by cohort members, 1:1 check-ins with A4/MoCADA teams, and the Bandung Symposium.

Phase 2: Community Engagement/Presentation (October 2025–January 2026)

Time to engage with community collaborators and NYC residents and present learnings with support from A4/MoCADA. This phase will include community engagements and project activations organized by cohort members and A4/MoCADA, an internal share out, and a public share out scheduled for January 2026.

As part of the six-month-long residency, cohort members will (as required to be in good standing and toward the completion of the residency program):

• Attend three cohort meetings (welcome, midpoint, and internal share out), as well as participate in two public meetings (Bandung Symposium and public share out)
• Participate in three learning exchanges led by an expert facilitator
• Attend three Bandung Community Conversations/Q&A sessions with community leaders on topics related to building solidarity (details will be shared once the program begins);
• Check-in with the A4/MoCADA teams at least two times for feedback as they are developing their project
• Create a new or build upon an existing project, art presentation/installation, performance, workshop or experience designed as a community activity that will inspire solidarity or create discourse between AANHPI and Black communities;
• Document their research, process, and learnings as part of a book to be published and distributed as a learning tool
• Receive an honorarium of $3,000 per resident (to be paid in multiple installments)

Note: Residents who are not in good standing or do not fulfill the requirements of the residency before each installment, will not receive payment and may be asked to reconsider their participation.