The Irene Yamamoto Arts Writers Fellowship will be awarded to two (2) emerging writers of color, each of whom receive a $5,000 award to be spent over a six-month period. The awards are unrestricted. Funds may be used for any purpose that helps the fellows advance their careers, including paying themselves to write.
The Yamamoto Fellowship encourages emerging arts writers of color to write about works from their own cultural and political perspectives, enriching and broadening cultural criticism as a practice and profession. Theater, dance, and performance art were selected for 2024 because these art forms are still struggling in the wake of setbacks from the COVID-19 pandemic.
In addition to the cash award, the fellows have the opportunity to write about an exhibition for the Preserving Democracy blog and deliver a talk about their work at the Democracy Center. A brief, written report in the form of a letter accounting for the use of funds is required at the end of the fellowship period. No receipts or other documentation are required.