Asian Cultural Council 2027 Fellowships and Grants

About this call

The Asian Cultural Council, which supports cultural exchange between the United States and Asia and within Asia, has opened its 2027 grant cycle. The New York Fellowship brings a cohort of artists, scholars and arts professionals from Asia to live in the United States for six months, free from the pressure to produce or present work. The Individual Fellowship funds one to six months of self-directed research and cultural immersion for artists and arts professionals from Asia and the U.S., in a destination they choose among ACC's eligible countries and regions in Asia and the United States, other than where they live; it can be shared by up to three applicants. A Graduate Fellowship and an Organization Grant are also offered. ACC does not fund production or promotion of a specific planned work, exhibitions, concerts or full-time residency programs. Applicants may apply to only one program per cycle.

Who can apply

• Limited by country or region
• Medium: Ceramics / Curatorial / Drawing / Installation / Mixed Media / New Media / Painting / Photography / Printmaking / Sculpture / Textile / Video
• Entry fee: See official site
• Applicants must be citizens or legal permanent residents of at least one of: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, China (Mainland), East Timor, Hong Kong SAR, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Laos, Macau SAR, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, the U.S. or Vietnam (temporary, renewable work visas and student or scholar visas do not count). At least five years of experience in an eligible discipline at the time of application (visual art, crafts, curation, art history, arts criticism, film, dance, music, theater, literature and others; video art and photography apply under visual art). ACC does not fund producing or promoting a specific planned work, research for a planned work, organizing exhibitions or concerts, equipment purchases or full-time residency programs. One application per cycle. ACC alumni who received a grant in the last two calendar years are not eligible. New York and Individual Fellows must be at least 21 by the start of the fellowship and must not pursue university coursework or teaching during it; fellows coming to the U.S. on the J-1 visa must be confident using English. New York Fellowship: U.S. citizens and permanent residents and previous New York Fellows cannot apply; it runs January to June or July to December 2028 (ACC assigns the cohort) on an ACC-sponsored J-1 visa, with no paid work and no ticketed, paid events; the $38,000 includes a $3,000 travel advance, and the SEVIS fee, travel health insurance and optional I-House housing are deducted from it. Individual Fellowship: one to six months, alone or with up to two co-applicants as equal partners (the $35,000 maximum applies regardless of the number of applicants), never to where you currently live; in the U.S. at least 30 consecutive days, starting no earlier than October 1, 2027; in Asia at least 30 days in total, each trip at least 14 consecutive days. Apply through GoApply (no email applications) with a CV and biography, a personal or artist statement, up to three work samples, one letter of recommendation, two professional contacts and, for the Individual Fellowship, a budget on ACC's template; applicants through ACC Japan or ACC Taiwan must also submit their application in Japanese or traditional Chinese. Applications are due November 10, 2026, 9:59 AM U.S. Eastern Time; letters of recommendation by November 16, 9:59 AM ET, and an application without its letter is not reviewed. Shortlisted applicants are interviewed online; notifications in mid-May 2027.