Artists and scholars often say the same thing about long study trips. The best part was not the lecture hall. It was the exhibitions the late night talks and the people met by chance. The Asian Cultural Council New York Fellowship is built around that idea. It gives you six months in New York City to take in the city’s cultural life and shape your own practice.
Applications are open now. The deadline is 10 November 2026. The fellowship is fully funded and the fellowship itself takes place in 2028.
Quick Facts
Last Information checked: 25 October 2026
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Programme | New York Fellowship by the Asian Cultural Council (ACC) |
| Location | New York City United States |
| Length | 6 months |
| Who can apply | Artists scholars and arts professionals from eligible Asian countries |
| Age | At least 21 years old by the start of the fellowship |
| Experience | At least 5 years in an eligible artistic or cultural field |
| First cohort | 1 January to 30 June 2028 |
| Second cohort | 1 July to 31 December 2028 |
| Funding | Fully funded |
| Deadline | 10 November 2026 |
What the Fellowship Is
The New York Fellowship is a six month cultural exchange programme. ACC says it is not a residency and it is not a performance or publicity tour. Fellows follow their own research and cultural interests. They explore exhibitions, performances, workshops and talks. They meet other artists, scholars and cultural professionals. Then they use the experience to widen their view and grow their work.
ACC is a nonprofit based in New York City. It supports cultural exchange between Asia and the United States.
Fellowship Benefits
- Flights. Economy class international airfare
- Housing. Accommodation
- Daily costs. Food and daily living expenses
- Local travel. Local transportation
- Insurance. Mandatory travel health insurance
- Visa. Visa related expenses
- Culture. Museum entry event tickets and other eligible cultural activities
- Immersion. Six months of cultural life in New York City
- Events. Chances to attend exhibitions, performances, workshops and discussions
- People. Time with artists, scholars, cultural professionals and ACC alumni
- Exchange. Chances to share ideas with fellows from other fields and cultures
- Support. Guidance from ACC staff on fellowship activities, local resources and settling in
- Grant. A grant that helps cover eligible travel, housing, insurance and living costs
Eligible Fields
- Architecture (design history and theory)
- Archaeology
- Art history
- Arts administration
- Arts criticism
- Conservation
- Crafts
- Curation
- Dance
- Ethnomusicology
- Film
- Literature
- Museum studies
- Music
- Theater
- Visual art
Who Can Apply
- You are a citizen or legal permanent resident of an eligible country territory or region
- You are at least 21 years old by the start of the fellowship
- You have at least five years of experience in an eligible artistic or cultural field
- You can communicate in English with confidence and handle daily tasks on your own. This is needed for the J-1 visa
- You can enter the United States on a J-1 visa sponsored by ACC
You can say which cohort you prefer. ACC makes the final choice.
Past New York Fellows cannot apply for a second New York Fellowship.
Eligible Countries
| Afghanistan | Bangladesh | Bhutan | Brunei | Cambodia |
| Mainland China | East Timor | Hong Kong SAR | India | Indonesia |
| Japan | Korea | Laos | Macau SAR | Malaysia |
| Mongolia | Myanmar | Nepal | Pakistan | Philippines |
| Singapore | Sri Lanka | Taiwan | Thailand | Vietnam |
How To Apply Step By Step
- Read the ACC fellowship guidelines.
- Check that your country your age your field and your years of experience fit.
- Register for a GoApply account. Choose an Individual Account. ACC has registration instructions in English Chinese and Japanese.
- Open the Opportunities menu in your account and find the New York Fellowship.
- Fill in the application and upload what it asks for.
- Say which cohort you prefer.
- Submit before 10 November 2026.
Mistakes To Avoid
- Applying from a country that is not on the eligible list
- Counting years of experience that are not in an eligible field
- Forgetting that you need to be 21 or older by the start date
- Skipping the J-1 visa rules and the English language need
- Starting your GoApply account on the last day
- Treating the fellowship as a residency to make new work
- Applying again if you already held a New York Fellowship
Key Dates
- 1 October 2026: Applications open
- 10 November 2026: Application deadline
- 1 January to 30 June 2028: First cohort
- 1 July to 31 December 2028: Second cohort
The Bottom Line
The New York Fellowship offers six months of full support to experienced artists scholars and arts professionals from Asia. It is not a place to produce a new work. It is a place to look listen and think in one of the great cultural cities. Check your country your age and your five years of experience. Set up your GoApply account early. Then submit before 10 November 2026.
