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Your Summer Reading List

We’re sharing a selection of new books by NYFA affiliated artists that explore complex themes of identity and belonging.

Summer is an ideal time to kick back and relax with a good book, whether you’re on the go and at the beach or taking time from the comfort of your own home. In this post, we’re sharing some recently-published books by NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellows and Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program artists, several of which highlight the LGBTQ experience.

American Genius, A Comedy by Lynne Tillman (Fellow in Fiction ’91, Film ’87) In this newly-reissued book (Soft Skull Press), which was named a “Best Book of the Century” by Vulture, a former historian spending time in a residential home, mental institute, artist’s colony, or sanitarium, is spinning tales of her life and ruminating on her many and varied preoccupations: chair design, textiles, pet deaths, family trauma, a lost brother, the Manson family, the Zulu alphabet, loneliness, memory, and sensitive skin―and what “sensitivity” means in our culture and society. The new edition includes an introduction by novelist Lucy Ives.

Bangkok Wakes to Rain by Pitchaya Sudbanthad (Fellow in Fiction ’15) Sudbanthad’s highly-anticipated debut novel (Riverhead Books) follows multiple, linked storylines across time, voraciously making and remaking the amphibious, ever-morphing Thai capital. In its starred review, Kirkus Review wrote that Sudbanthad “creates a portrait of Bangkok that sweeps across a century and a teeming cast of characters yet shines with exquisite detail...This breathtakingly lovely novel is an accomplished debut, crafted and rich with history rendered in the most human terms.”

Home Remedies by Xuan Juliana Wang (Fellow in Fiction ’15) Wang’s first collection of short stories (Hogarth) reveals the new face of a generation of Chinese youth. Her characters navigate between their heritage and the chaos of contemporary life with stories that upend well-worn immigrant narratives to reveal a new experience of belonging. Home Remedies was named one of the most anticipated books of 2019 by Nylon, Electric Literature, The Millions, and Lit Hub and was highlighted as one of “The Best Summer Beach Reads of 2019″ by The Daily Beast.

Invasive species by Marwa Helal (IAP Mentee ’14, IAP Mentor ’16 & ’18) “Marwa Helal has lived, not always by her own choice, both in Egypt and in America, belonging to both countries and to neither,” begins The New York Times’ review of Helal’s first book (Nightboat Books). Her poems touch on our collective humanity and build new pathways for empathy while centering on urgent themes in our cultural landscape, creating space for unseen victims of discriminatory foreign policy towards migrants, refugees, and the displaced. Helal transfers lived experiences of dislocation and relocation onto the reader by obscuring borders through language.

Long Live the Tribe of Fatherless Girls by T Kira Madden (Fellow in Nonfiction Literature ’17) Acclaimed literary essayist Madden’s debut memoir (Bloomsbury Publishing) is about coming of age and reckoning with desire as a queer, biracial teenager amidst the fierce contradictions of Boca Raton, FL. It was one of the most anticipated books of 2019 according to multiple publications, including Electric Literature, Entertainment Weekly, Huffington Post, Hyphen, and The Advocate and was received an “Editor’s Choice” distinction from The New York Times Book Review. 

Patsy: A Novel by Nicole Dennis-Benn (Fellow in Fiction ’18) The list of accolades for Dennis-Benn’s new novel (Liveright) is growing: from rave reviews from NPR, Kirkus, National Book Review, and The Atlantic to being included in The New York Times’ “12 New Books to Watch for in June,” Entertainment Weekly’s “This Season’s Hottest Reads,” and O Magazine’s “Best Books of Summer 2019.” Read for a stirring portrait of motherhood, immigration, and sacrifice that expertly evokes the rhythms of Jamaica and the bustling streets of New York.

Survival Math by Mitchell S. Jackson (Fellow in Nonfiction Literature ’17) This candid new work (Scribner), which was included on TIME Magazine’s list of the “Ten Best Nonfiction Books of 2019 So Far” and received a starred review from Publishers Weekly among other high-profile reviews, explores Mitchell’s tumultuous youth in what Jackson calls “the other America.” The book takes its name from the calculations Jackson and his family made to keep safe and stay alive in their small black neighborhood in Portland, Oregon, which was blighted by drugs, violence, poverty, and governmental neglect.

The Falconer by Dana Czapnik (Fellow in Fiction ’18) Czapnik’s debut novel (Atria Books) is set in 1990s New York City and follows 17-year-old Lucy Adler on and off the basketball court as she navigates complex relationships and prepares for life in the broader world. The Falconer was named a New York Times Editor’s Choice Pick and an O Magazine Reading Room Pick, and received praise from additional outlets including NPR, Los Angeles Review of Books, and Kirkus Review. Said Kirkus: “Coming-of-age in Manhattan may not have been done this brilliantly since Catcher in the Rye. That comparison has been made before, but this time, it’s true.” 

When Brooklyn Was Queer by Hugh Ryan (Fellow in Nonfiction Literature ’17) Of Ryan’s book (St. Martin’s Press), Publishers Weekly wrote: “When Brooklyn Was Queer achieves everything one could want in history...Thorough research, engaging storytelling, fascinating stories and a history of obscurity makes this investigation of queer Brooklyn a compelling, essential read.” Also praised by The Guardian, Lambda Literary, The New Republic, and others, When Brooklyn Was Queer is a groundbreaking exploration of the LGBTQ history of Brooklyn. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for more news and events from NYFA affiliated artists. Also, don’t forget to like us on Facebook to see what current fiscally sponsored projects are up to! To receive more artist news updates, sign up for our bi-weekly newsletter, NYFA News.

Image: Patsy book cover (detail), courtesy of Nicole Dennis-Benn

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Last day to check out NYABF and get the DIGITAL DELI posterzine. ・・・#Repost @nyfacurrent ・・・ Plans to check out @printedmatterinc's NY Art Book Fair today at @momaps1? @marcoscozzaro, who participated in NYFA's Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program in 2016, is exhibiting a new pamphlet/poster called "Digital Deli" with @silentfaceprojects. Hope you're all enjoying an art-filled weekend! . 📷 : detail, Marco Scozzaro (IAP '16) . #NYFAIAP #marcoscozzaro #artnyc #nyabf #nyartbookfair (at MoMA PS1)

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Apply Now | Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program: Performing & Literary Arts

The deadline to apply to this competitive, NYC-based program is Monday, July 29.

Through the support of The Vilcek Foundation, New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) is pleased to announce our upcoming Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program: Performing & Literary Arts. The program will run from August to December 2019, and is open to performing artists working in music and composition, dance and choreography, performance art, and theater arts (acting, producing, directing), and writers including playwrights, storytellers, and poets, as well as those working in fiction and nonfiction. In bringing these two disciplines together, the program aims to nurture a productive environment for collaboration.

NYFA’s Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program pairs immigrant artists working in all disciplines with artist mentors who provide one-on-one peer support, guiding them to achieve specific goals for their artistic practice and providing them with broader access to the New York cultural world and beyond through an exchange of ideas, resources, and experiences.

Most importantly, the mentoring program fosters a community, providing opportunities to connect with other immigrant artists through group meetings, peer learning, and informal gatherings that include alumni from 2007 to the present. Through access to other artists, arts professionals, and organizations, the program offers immigrant artists the opportunity to focus on their career goals while navigating the shared experience and challenges of being an immigrant artist.

NYFA’s Cultural Partners for this program are: Center for Traditional Music and Dance, Dance/NYC, Exploring the Metropolis, Flushing Town Hall, Gibney, Jamaica Center for Arts & Learning, Joe’s Pub, Nuyorican Poets Cafe, Poetry Society of America, and Word Up Community Bookshop/Librería Comunitaria.

Testimonials:

“The experience widened my network and strengthened my community. I met some of the best people through this program—even when they were from different artistic backgrounds—and it encouraged me to be more open about my art form. The organizers were wonderful and extremely supportive throughout my process of reestablishing my place in this city, and I'm so glad I got to be a part of the program.”  - Samira Sadeque (IAP: Performing & Literary Arts ’18), journalist and poet

“NYFA’s Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program was a great opportunity to connect with an emerging community of immigrant artists. It also provided me with the tools to understand the areas I had to work on to obtain more and better opportunities as an artist. The structure of the program was clear and effective. Among its most significant benefits was the individual feedback I received from my mentor and other participants. I started the program looking for resources to help produce my work as a choreographer, but I left with vastly more..." - Christopher Núñez (IAP: Performing & Literary Arts ’18), choreographer

Eligibility:

● Performing artists, including music and composition, dance and choreography, performance art, theater arts (acting, producing, directing), and writers (fiction, non-fiction, playwrights, poets, and storytellers). This includes all folk and traditional arts in these disciplines ● Live within the New York City Metropolitan area (within commuting distance of New York City) ● Were born outside of the United States (Those born in United States territories, i.e. Puerto Rico or The U.S. Virgin Islands, may apply) ● Have been pursuing a career as an artist within the range of 1-10 years in the United States ● Are NOT currently enrolled in a graduate or undergraduate degree program

Mandatory Sessions:*

Introduction: Monday, August 26, 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM

Meet the Mentors: Monday, September 23, 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM

Alumni Mixer Meeting: Monday, October 7, 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM

Check In: Monday, November 18, 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM

Final Celebration: Monday, December 9, 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM

*Attendance is mandatory to all sessions, please check your calendar before applying

Location: All meetings will be held at New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA), 20 Jay Street, Suite 740, Brooklyn, NY 11201 unless otherwise notified. 

Application Deadline: Monday, July 29, 2019, 11:59 PM EST

To Apply: Applicants can apply via Submittable. First-time users will need to register with Submittable to access the application portal.

Notification: by Monday, August 12, 2019

Questions? Contact the IAP Team at i.outreach@nyfa.org.

This program is made possible with the generous support of The Vilcek Foundation.

Learn more about the Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program, and don’t forget to sign up for the monthly Con Edison IAP Newsletter to receive opportunities and events as well as artist features directly in your inbox.

Image: Samira Sadeque (IAP: Performing & Literary Arts ‘18), Photo Credit: Harsh Mall 

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Conversations | Keren Anavy, Israeli Artist and IAP Alumna

“I see collaboration as another way of making art and developing as an artist in a broader community."

Keren Anavy is an Israeli painter, installation artist, and alumna of NYFA’s 2017 Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program. Her work explores the dynamic relationships between nature, culture, and site. Anavy is interested in how cultivated landscape, as well as wild nature, can function as cultural agents in Eastern and Western societies. For her recent exhibition at the Sunroom Project Space in Wave Hill, she created an immersive installation.

On March 10, 2019, Utopia, a new interdisciplinary work and Anavy’s collaboration with choreographer Valerie Green, will be performed by Valery Green/Dance Entropy at Pioneer Works.

NYFA: Can you tell us about your collaboration projects in Mexico and New York, including the upcoming Utopia at Pioneer Works?

Keren Anavy: Alongside my work as an individual artist, I have developed two significant collaborations in recent years. Utopia is a collaboration with Valerie Green/Dance Entropy based in Queens. Choreographed by Valerie Green with original music by Mark Katsaounis, the evening-length work explores the idea of a perfect place through dance and visual art. The piece questions whether Utopia is an internal place, investigated through personal and intimate moments and alongside the community. 

I turned my large-scale paintings into 10-foot cylindrical pillars to be used throughout the performance. The original paintings were exhibited at my solo show, Garden of Living Images, at the Sunroom Project Space in Wave Hill (2018), which references Chinese scrolls and the fabled Hanging Gardens of Babylon. The pillars act as an extension of the internal world, constantly forming barriers, spaces, and other environments for the dancers to both react to and orchestrate. The notion of what it means to be safe persists inside a dynamic art installation which is in perpetual motion, being constantly built and dismantled. Utopia challenges the viewer’s conception of how art, dance, and design interact with and influence one another. Utopia has been shown at Danspace Project, St. Mark's Church, New York and at the Queens Museum, among others, and is going to be performed at Pioneer Works’ Second Sundays on March 10.

My second collaboration is an established ongoing collaboration for the past eight years with Tal Frank, Israeli born sculptor, currently based in Mexico City. Our research-based projects explore the dynamic relationship between nature and culture through the lens of specific sites and locations. Our recent exhibition, Compositions for Stones of Gold (2018), supported by Asylum Arts’ New York grant, was a site-specific installation in a historic building in Mexico City. We investigated archaeological sites of water-related structures such as aqueducts and ruins both in Mexico and Israel in order to scrutinize the relationship between place, nature, and identity. We’ve had exhibitions in Mexico and Israel as well as a formative experience at the Everglades National Park residency in Florida (AIRIE Program), where we further perfected our work process dynamics for a month at the reserve.

NYFA: You are an alumna of NYFA’s Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program (IAP): Visual Arts. How did participating in this program help your career?

KA: First and foremost it allowed me to be part of a valuable community of international artists who care about each other and are willing to share ideas and contribute from their knowledge and experience. The possibility of being in dialogue with additional practitioners about career development strategies as an artist helped me to grow professionally.

I greatly appreciated the feedback I received during some of the meetings with the mentors and mentees. I deeply benefitted from these conversations. Learning from the experience of the whole community of artists (mentees and mentors), originally from many different places, showed me various career paths to learn from and provided me with confidence and lots of inspiration.

NYFA:  How do you find opportunities and resources? 

KA: There are social media accounts, of course, and newsletters from wonderful organizations such as NYFA (the best!), Residency Unlimited, Res Artis, and many more, but this is basic in order to get to know the field. I think an artist should focus on places that are relevant to their concepts and practice, research them in depth, and learn what they have to offer specifically. Another great resource is the resumes of artists you admire and who are interested in issues similar to yours. It is a great way to discover programs and places that can be relevant for you.

NYFA:  Any advice to immigrant artists living in NYC who are interested in collaborations? 

KA: Residency programs are a good place to start developing connections with different art professionals and to establish future collaborations and projects. I really believe in the residency framework and I think it's a format that gives a significant anchor to an immigrant artist in an artistic metropolitan area like New York. The programs are very different from one another, I suggest that artists explore the existing programs and try to find one that fits their character, practice, and artistic goals. Research is one of the most important things and if you can visit the program in open studio days, I highly recommend it. It helps to feel the vibe of the place, and it’s also fun as an artist to be from time to time on the other side. I learned a lot from these events. In general, in New York, there are many open studios events in studio buildings (not limited to residency programs). Visiting them can be very rewarding since in a relatively short time you can see a lot of artists with different approaches and connect after the event with potential collaborators and with those who have similar interest.

See as much art as you can and be open-minded about other mediums. Visit venues that show multidisciplinary art, for example, BRIC, Flux Factory, Pioneer Works, The Kitchen, and many more. Also, visit non-profit art organizations that focus on a particular medium or specific technique (print, textile, etc) and that you might have the interest to collaborate with. Last (but which actually needs to be first in order of priority) are my favorites, the most friendly and important for your development as an artist in a community, the artist-run galleries.

Utopia will be performed at Pioneer Works’ Second Sundays on March 10, 8:00 PM - 9:00 PM.

This interview is part of the ConEdison Immigrant Artist Program Newsletter #114. Subscribe to this free monthly e-mail for artist’s features, opportunities, and events.

Images from Top: Keren Anavy in collaboration with Valerie Green/Dance Entropy, Utopia, 2018, documentation of performance at Danspace Project, St. Mark's Church, New York, Photo Credit: Stephan Delas Heras; Keren Anavy in collaboration with Tal Frank, Compositions for Stones of Gold, 2018, installation view, site-specific installation, The Gallery of the Cultural Institute Mexico-Israel, Mexico City, oil on linen, wood, Pyrite stones, video animation screening, Photo credit: Zony Maya, Keren Anavy, Garden of Living Images, 2018, (detail), site-specific installation, Wave Hill, Sunroom Project Space, ink and colored pencils on transparent Mylar, polyethylene ponds full of water with ink, vinyl cover the windows, Photo credit: Stefan Hagen, courtesy of the artist and Wave Hill

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Announcing | Participants in the 2018-19 Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program: Detroit

Meet this year’s participants!

Through the support of Ford Foundation, The New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) is pleased to announce the participants in the 2018-19 NYFA Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program: Detroit, which is presented in collaboration with local partners Creative Many, Arab American National Museum, and Global Detroit.

The program combines two of NYFA’s professional development programs: the Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program, which provides access to artist mentors and art professionals via panels and workshops, and the Artist As Entrepreneur Boot Camp, which provides artists with the fundamental principles of sustainability in the arts. Featured topics include strategic planning, finance, law, marketing, and fundraising, with additional material drawn from NYFA’s newly-revised popular textbook The Profitable Artist (Allworth Press, 2018).

2018-19 Participants and Disciplines:

Mentee Shiraz Ahmed, Film/New Media (Pakistan), paired with Mentor Osvaldo Rivera, Performing (United States)

Mentee Ievgeniia Andrusiak, Visual (Ukraine), paired with Mentor Oksana Mirzoyan, Visual (Armenia/Azerbaijan)

Mentee Adrian Buncuga, Literary (New Zealand), paired with Mentor Katie McGowan, Performing/Literary (United States)

Mentee Edgar Cardenas, Visual (Mexico), paired with Mentor Andrea Eckert, Visual/Multidisciplinary (United States)

Mentee Cinthya Elizabeth Casillas, Literary (Mexico), paired with Mentor Nandi Comer, Literary (United States)

Mentee Ann Esshaki, Literary (Iraq), paired with Mentor Ajara Alghali, Performing (Sierra Leone)

Mentee Aiko Fukuchi, Literary (Japan), paired with Mentor Shaun Nethercott, Literary (United States)

Mentee Margarita Grishina, Film/New Media (Kazakhstan), paired with Mentor Levon Kafafian, Multidisciplinary (United States)

Mentee Julianna Gonzalez, Performing (Colombia/Puerto Rico), paired with Mentor Christina deRoos, Visual (United States)

Mentee Baraa Ktiri, Multidisciplinary (Morocco), paired with Mentor Sherrine Azab, Performing (United States)

Mentee Tammy Lakkis, Multidisciplinary (Lebanon), paired with Mentor Ava Ansari, Multidisciplinary (Iran)

Mentee Simona Lucut, Visual (Romania), paired with Mentor Katrina Daniels, Curator (United States)

Mentee Abhishek Narula, Interdisciplinary (India), paired with Mentor Paulina Petkoski, Visual/Fashion (United States)

Mentee Demetrio Nasol, Film/New Media (United States), paired with Mentor Oksana Mirzoyan, Visual (Armenia/Azerbaijan)

Mentee Thaad Sabolboro, Film/New Media (Philippines), paired with Mentor Christina deRoos, Visual (United States)

Mentee Lauren Santucci, Visual (United States), paired with Mentor Ava Ansari, Multidisciplinary (Iran)

Mentee Alberte Tranberg, Visual (Denmark), paired with Mentor Laura Gajewski, Visual (United States)

Mentee Valeria Zozaya, Visual (Mexico), paired with Mentor Mary Gagnon, Visual/Literary (United States)

This program is made possible with the generous support of the Ford Foundation.

Click here for more information on the Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program. And don’t forget to sign up for the monthly Con Edison IAP Newsletter to receive opportunities and events as well as artist features directly to your inbox.

Image: 2018-19 Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program: Detroit participants pictured in front of OTHER: Arab Artists Collective, Detroit’s Journeys & Distances, 2005, acrylic on canvas

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Apply Now | Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program: San Antonio

Deadline to apply is Monday, November 19 at 11:59 PM CST.

Through the support of the Ford Foundation, The New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) is pleased to announce the second year of Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program: San Antonio, presented in collaboration with San Antonio local partners.

The program’s goal, within an inclusive safe space, is to foster a local community of artists sharing the immigrant experience and provide resources through entrepreneurial training, access to other artists, arts professionals, and organizations. The program offers immigrant artists the opportunity to focus on their creative practice and gain support and exposure for their work while upholding their distinct cultural identities.

The program combines two of NYFA’s professional development programs: the Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program, through which NYFA provides access to artist mentors and arts professionals via panels and workshops, and the Artist as Entrepreneur Boot Camp, which provides artists with the fundamental principles of sustainability in the arts. Featured topics will include strategic planning, finance, law, marketing, and fundraising. Additional material will be drawn from NYFA’s newly-revised popular textbook The Profitable Artist (Allworth Press, 2018).

In collaboration with San Antonio-based partners, the program will have two weekend entrepreneurial boot camps, one-on-one mentoring, an informal gathering between weekend sessions, and an individual consultation with an arts professional.

This is a competitive program open to artists from all disciplines (Performing, Literary, Visual, Multidisciplinary, Video/Film, Folk and Traditional Arts) based in San Antonio, TX and provided free of charge to accepted participants. The program will run from January 2019 to April 2019, and will bring together San Antonio artists to nurture a productive environment for collaboration.

Eligibility:

Live within the San Antonio area (within commuting distance of San Antonio)*

Either you or your parents were born outside of the United States or in United States territories including Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands

Refugees are also welcome to apply

*Priority will be given to artists living and working in San Antonio; however the program is open to artists in Texas within commuting distance of San Antonio.

Mandatory Sessions:

First Weekend Boot Camp Workshop: Saturday, January 12, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM Sunday, January 13, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Mid-program Check-In: Thursday, February 28, 6:00 - 8:30 PM

Second Weekend Boot Camp Workshop: Saturday, April 13, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM Sunday, April 14, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Attendance is mandatory to all sessions, so please check your calendar before applying. San Antonio based partners will host meetings.

Application Link: Click here to apply

Deadline: Monday, November 19, 2018 11:59 PM CST*

*Deadline extended from Monday, November 12, 2018

Application Guidelines:

For the application we ask you to provide:

Your long terms goals and why you are interested in applying to this program

A narrative bio of your professional career

A link to your website or online presence

Work samples

To Apply:

Applicants can apply via Submittable; first time users will need to register with Submittable to access the application portal. If you need access to a computer to fill out the application, please email learning@nyfa.org. Electronic submissions should be completed by Monday, November 19, 11:59 PM CST

Aplique aqui en español.

Notification: Wednesday, December 5, 2018

Questions? Contact the NYFA Learning team at learning@nyfa.org and include “San Antonio” in the subject line.

Preguntas? escribanos a learning@nyfa.org con el email titulado: "San Antonio."

Thank you to our cultural partners in San Antonio:

SAY Sí

National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures

Blue Star Contemporary

San Antonio Museum of Art

This program is made possible with the support of the Ford Foundation.

Learn more about the Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program, and don’t forget to sign up for the monthly Con Edison IAP Newsletter to receive opportunities and events as well as artist features directly to your inbox.

Image: Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program: San Antonio, 2017, Blue Star Contemporary, Photo Credit: Elias Flores

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Event | Artist Dialogues in Spanish

June 12 workshop encourages Spanish-speaking artists to introduce themselves and their work to their peers.

Para leer este articulo en Español presione aquí.

This workshop, presented by The New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA), is designed to help Spanish-speaking artists share upcoming projects, ask for help or collaborators, and introduce themselves and their work to the community. Artists who are interested in participating will be required to submit up to ten pictures of their work or share links to video in advance. At the event, each artist will have 3-5 minutes to speak about themselves and their work. Attendees are not required to present—we welcome anyone who is interested in coming, listening, and supporting their fellow artists!

Guest attendees include: Sebastien Sanz de Santamaría, co-founder of the new information platform Rivet, and Gabriela Galvan, an artist and art educator from Mexico City.

Title: Artist Dialogues in Spanish Program Date and Time: Tuesday, June 12, 2018, 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM Location: The New York Foundation for Arts, 20 Jay Street, Suite 740, Brooklyn, NY 11201 Cost: Free; RSVP required via Eventbrite Questions: Contact i.outreach@nyfa.org

Event Accessibility

The New York Foundation for the Arts is committed to making events held at the NYFA office at 20 Jay Street in Brooklyn accessible. If you are mobility-impaired and need help getting to NYFA’s office for events held on premises, we are pleased to offer complimentary car service from the wheelchair-accessible Jay Street-MetroTech subway station, courtesy of transportation sponsor Legends Limousine. Please email Alicia Ehni at learning@nyfa.org or call 212-366-6900 ext. 219 between 9:30 AM - 5:30 PM at least three business days in advance of the event to coordinate. The elevator access point for pickup is at 370 Jay Street, on the NE corner of Jay and Willoughby Streets.

This workshop is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA) in partnership with the City Council. NYFA is grateful to Council Member Stephen Levin for his support.

This program is presented by NYFA Learning, which includes professional development for artists and arts administrators. Sign up for NYFA’s free bi-weekly newsletter to receive updates on future programs and opportunities for artists. Subscribe to the free monthly Con Edison Immigrant Artist Program Newsletter for upcoming opportunities and events of particular interest to immigrant artists.

Image: Artist As Entrepreneur Boot Camp 2017, Photo Credit: NYFA

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Apply Now | Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program for Visual and Multidisciplinary Artists 2020

The deadline to apply to this competitive NYC-based program is Monday, December 16, 2019 at 11:59 PM (EST).

Are you an immigrant artist working in the visual or multidisciplinary arts? Are you within commuting distance to the Tri-State Metropolitan area? If yes, consider joining The New York Foundation for the Arts’ (NYFA) growing immigrant artist community by applying to be part of our Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program.

This competitive program is made possible with the support of Deutsche Bank, and is open to visual artists from all disciplines (drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, video, film, photography, new media, multidisciplinary, socially-engaged practices, and folk and traditional art) and provided free of charge to accepted participants. The program runs from January 2020 to May 2020, and the application deadline is Monday, December 16, 2019, 11:59 PM (EST).

NYFA’s Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program pairs immigrant artists with artist mentors who provide one-on-one support for their mentees, guiding them to achieve specific goals and providing them with broader access to the New York cultural world through an exchange of ideas, resources, and experiences.

Most importantly, the mentoring program fosters a community, providing opportunities to connect with other immigrant artists through group meetings, peer learning, and informal gatherings that include alumni from 2007 to the present. Through access to other artists, arts professionals, and organizations, the program offers immigrant artists the opportunity to focus on their career goals while navigating the shared experiences and challenges of being an immigrant artist.

NYFA’s Cultural Partners supporting this program are: Assembly Room, BRIC, Eyebeam, New York Live Arts, Northern Manhattan Arts Alliance (NoMAA), Wave Hill, and UrbanGlass.

Testimonials:

“This is an essential program to connect and support immigrant artists. It is challenging enough to be an artist in New York, let alone an immigrant. The community and extended support that this program has brought to me is amazing, and has given me tools I didn’t know existed. It feels like the beginning of longer creative and mutually-supportive relationships in the wild world of art in New York. Thank you NYFA for creating this invaluable space for us.” - Floor Grootenhuis (IAP: Visual and Multidisciplinary Artists ’18)

“The program had a lot to offer in addition to mentorship. Meeting peers and organizing events together brought up some honest issues about the New York art scene, which were openly shared among artists and became collective knowledge. I am glad to get to know more about artists who have been in New York for a long time. It definitely opened a new door for me, and I feel New York is artistically my base city now thanks to this home community. I am also glad that we are closely in touch after the program - many thanks to all of you!” - Hanae Utamura (IAP: Visual and Multidisciplinary Artists ’18)

Eligibility:

Visual and multidisciplinary artists working in drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, video, film, photography, new media, multidisciplinary, socially-engaged practices, and folk and traditional art

Live within the New York City Metropolitan area and within commuting distance of New York City

Were born outside of the United States or in United States territories including Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands

Have been pursuing a career as an artist within the range of 1-10 years in the United States*

Are NOT currently enrolled in an arts graduate or undergraduate degree program**

*This program often benefits those who are at more emerging stages in their careers. 

**Students who will graduate before the program starts are welcome to apply.

Program Dates:

Introduction: Tuesday, January 28, 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM

Meet the Mentors: Tuesday, February 25, 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM

Alumni Mixer: Tuesday, March 31, 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM

Check-In: Tuesday, April 28, 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM

Final Celebration: Tuesday, May 12, 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM

All meetings will be held at The New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA), 20 Jay Street, Suite 740, Brooklyn, NY 11201, unless otherwise notified.

Attendance is mandatory for all sessions, so please check your calendar before applying.

To Apply: Click here to review the application guidelines and to apply via Submittable. First-time users will need to register with Submittable to access the application portal.

Deadline: Monday, December 16, 2019, 11:59 PM (EST)

Notifications: By Tuesday, January 7, 2020

Questions? Contact the IAP Team at i.outreach@nyfa.org.

This program is made possible with the support of Deutsche Bank.

Learn more about the Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program, and don’t forget to sign up for the monthly Con Edison IAP Newsletter to receive opportunities and events as well as artist features directly to your inbox.

Image: Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program: Visual and Multidisciplinary Artists, January 2019, Image Credit: NYFA

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Announcing | Meet Our 2019 Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program: Performing & Literary Participants

The newest cohort of our Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program brings together artists from Nigeria, Mexico, Iran, Germany, and more.

Through the support of The Vilcek Foundation, New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) is pleased to announce the participants in its 2019 Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program: Performing & Literary Arts. The program is presented in collaboration with New York Cultural Partners Center for Traditional Music and Dance, Dance/NYC, Exploring the Metropolis, Flushing Town Hall, Gibney, Jamaica Center for Arts & Learning, Joe’s Pub, Nuyorican Poets Cafe, Poetry Society of America, and Word Up.

2019 Participants and Disciplines:

Mentee Odera Adimorah, Performing (Nigeria), paired with Mentor Darian Dauchan, Multidisciplinary (United States).

Mentee Quetzal Arias, Performing (Mexico), paired with Mentor Mary Baird, Performing (United States).

Mentee Raha Behnam, Performing (Iran), paired with Mentor Dave Hall, Performing (United States).

Mentee Michal Birnbaum, Interdisciplinary (Israel), paired with Mentor Ivan Talijancic, Interdisciplinary (Croatia).

Mentee Eva Ding, Performing/Multidisciplinary (China/New Zealand), paired with Mentor Volker Goetze, Performing (Germany).

Mentee Lisa Hoppe, Performing (Germany), paired with Mentor Eunbi Kim, Performing (United States/South Korea).

Mentee Ruth Kessler, Literary (Poland/Israel), paired with Mentor Bonnie Harris, Literary (United States).

Mentee Kate Lee, Performing (Australia), paired with Mentor Shauna Kanter, Performing (United States).

Mentee Alisha Mascarenhas, Literary (Canada), paired with Mentor Pelenakeke Brown, Performing/Interdisciplinary (United States/New Zealand).

Mentee Holly Mitchell, Performing (Canada), paired with Mentor Justina Grayman, Performing (United States).

Mentee Syma Mohammed, Literary (Scotland/Pakistan/India), paired with Mentor Marija Sajkas, Literary (Serbia).

Mentee Nicolas Norena, Performing (Colombia), paired with Mentor Jonathan Cerullo, Performing (United States).

Mentee Stav Palti Negev, Literary (Israel), paired with Mentor Yilong Liu, Literary (China).

Mentee Althea Rao, Interdisciplinary (China), paired with Mentor Palika Makam, Interdisciplinary (United States).

Mentee Luana Sandoval, Performing (Germany), paired with Mentor Abha Roy, Performing (India).

Mentee Chaitanya Tamayo, Performing (Philippines), paired with Mentor Candida Borges, Performing (Brazil).

Mentee Natasha Tiniacos, Literary (Venezuela), paired with Mentor Zelene Suchilt, Interdisciplinary (Mexico).

Mentee Michelle Palmieri, Performing (Guatemala), paired with Mentor Ray Leslee, Performing (United States).

Mentee Tanika Williams, Interdisciplinary (Jamaica), paired with Mentor Darine Hotait, Interdisciplinary (Lebanon). 

This program is made possible with the generous support of the The Vilcek Foundation.

Learn more about the Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program, and don’t forget to sign up for the monthly Con Edison IAP Newsletter to receive opportunities and events as well as artist features directly in your inbox.

Image: 2019 Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program: Performing & Literary, Image Credit: NYFA Learning

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Events | Immigrant Artist Program Exhibitions in Newark, New York, and San Antonio

Immigrant artists in the IAP cohort collaborate to create exhibition platforms in cities across the United States.

For the past two years and through the support of the Ford Foundation, The New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) has provided immigrant artists of all disciplines in Detroit, MI; Newark, NJ; Oakland, CA; and San Antonio, TX with individualized mentorship, resources, networks, skills, and training to help them sustain their artistic practice. The nationwide program builds on NYFA’s Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program in New York, NY (funded by Deutsche Bank since it began in 2007) as an impactful model of replication and is presented in partnership with established local arts organizations. 

Through each of the programs, mentors and mentees have been collaborating in formal and informal ways, emphasizing IAP’s role as a catalyst for community. Here we highlight selected collaborations and celebrate the accomplishments of our artist participants. They bring their unique voice and vision to Newark, New York, and San Antonio from countries including Azerbaijan, Ecuador, Ghana, Israel, Pakistan, The Philippines, Poland, Mexico, South Korea, Syria, and many others.

Newark, NJ

Title: Unfolding Dates: Now - Sunday, May 5, 2019 Exhibition Tour with the Artist and Curator: Sunday, May 5, 2:00 PM Gallery Hours: Sundays, 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM or by appointment Location: The Jewish Museum of New Jersey, 145 Broadway, Newark, NJ 07104

The Jewish Museum of New Jersey presents a solo exhibit of Nava Gidanian-Kagan’s (IAP Newark ’17, mentee) most recent body of work as well as a retrospective featuring the artist’s earlier works. The exhibit is curated by M.Gosser (IAP Newark ’17 & ’19, mentor). 

Gidanian-Kagan’s core subject is the nature of impermanence and its manifestation in our daily life. Coming from an Iranian family who moved from Israel—where life and death are a daily struggle—Gidanian-Kagan knows that life is precious. In her recent body of work, which is painted in layers of wax and oil, she is emulating a memory of the body and its fragility. Abstracted within the figure, Gidanian-Kagan is stretching the limits between what is seen and what can be represented, confronting mortality and vulnerability. The goal of her work is to bring these tender moments to the front of the stage—from her personal view to a universal one—transforming them into a meaningful experience that embraces all shades of life.

Title: INDEX Dates: Saturday, May 4, 2019 - Thursday, May 9, 2019 Opening Reception: Saturday, May 4, 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM Gallery Hours: Saturdays, 1:00 PM - 6:00 PM; Sunday, Tuesday - Friday: by appointment Location: Index Art Center, 1st Floor Gallery, 237 Washington St, Newark, NJ 07102

INDEX is a group exhibition of works in all mediums by 29 artists currently participating as both mentors and mentees in NYFA's 2019 Immigrant Artist Mentor Program: Newark. The exhibition is organized by Colleen Gutwein (IAP Newark ’17 & ’19, mentor), and hosted by Index Art Center, one of the program’s partners in Newark.

Exhibiting Artists: Katrina Bello, Mic Boekelmann, Diana Candelejo, Shiza Chaudhary, Gisel Endara, Mariejon de Jong-Buijs, Kimmah Dennis, Matthew Gosser, Colleen Gutwein, Sally Helmi, Jin Jung, Ole Lie Vandal, Ananda Lima, Jo-El Lopez, Jen Mazza, Yvette Molina, Paula Neves, Olufunke Ogundimu, Adishetu Oyibo, Francisco Pena, Daniela Puliti, Fayemi Shakur, Ceaphas Stubbs, Anne Trauben, Kanako Tsutsumi, Kati Vilim, Sarah Walko, Malik Whitaker, and Agnieszka Wszolkowska.

New York, NY

Title: Multiversant Dates: Saturday, May 25, 2019 - Saturday, June 15, 2019 Opening Reception: Saturday, May 25, 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM Gallery Hours: Thursday - Sunday, 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM Location: 340 East 64th Street, New York, New York 10065

Multiversant, a group exhibition presented by ChaShaMa, will feature 22 artists from 15 countries and four continents who met through NYFA’s 2018 Immigrant Artist Program: Visual and Multidisciplinary Arts in New York. The works presented include a wide range of media, from painting, installation, performance, video, and others, and navigate the artists’ diverse and complex relationships with place and history. Addressing themes of science, culture, desire, politics, and memory, the exhibition both confronts and celebrates the underlying intersectionalities presented through the work.

Exhibiting Artists: Ololade Adeniyi, Yael Ben-Simon, Julia Brandão, Riaki Enyama, Ana Maria Farina, Floor Grootenhuis, Ziyu He, Sizhu Li, Orr Menirom, Nazanin Noroozi, Robert Edward O’Shea, Masahito Ono, Ernesto Ortiz Leyva, Supermrin, Htet T San, Lyto Triantafyllidou, Beverly Tu, Hanae Utamura, Luisa Valderrama, Chen Wang, Tina Wang, and Sarah Zarina Hakani.

San Antonio, TX

Title: Admitted: USA - NYFA Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program Round One: San Antonio, TX Dates: Thursday, June 27 - Sunday, September 29, 2019 Opening Reception: Thursday, June 27, 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM  Film Night: Thursday, July 11, 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM Panel Discussion and Catalog Release: Wednesday, August 7, 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM Gallery Hours: Tuesday - Saturday, 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM Location: Centro de Artes, 101 S. Santa Rosa Avenue, San Antonio, TX 78207 This exhibition, organized by Kim Bishop, Luis Valderas, Luis Garza, Richard Armendariz, Guillermina Zabala, and Sarah Fisch, features sculpture, painting, installation, jewelry, photography, spoken word performances, films, and musical performances by mentees and mentors from the first cohort of NYFA’s Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program: San Antonio. The focus of the exhibition is to put a human face on immigrant artists and their mentors while showcasing their talents and emphasizing the role and importance of mentorship in San Antonio. Admitted: USA is fully funded by the City of San Antonio Department of Arts and Culture. Local partners Blue Star Contemporary, Art Pace, and SAY Sí will also be spotlighted at Centro de Artes through informational installations.

Exhibiting Artists: Lorena Angulo, Richard Armendariz, Jose Balli, Marisela Barrera, Gregg Barrios, Kim Bishop, Hayfer Brea Rodriguez, Francisco Cortes, Sarah Fisch, Anel Flores, Ernesto Ibanez, Julya Jara, Maria Linan, Barbara Minarro, Ashley Mireles, Merle Mory, Anastassia Rabajille, Andrea V Rivas, Jessica Ruiz, Luiz Valderas, Jorge Villarreal, Anne Wallace, Naomi Wanjiku, Guillermina Zabala, and Claudia Elisa Zapata.

Click here for more information on the Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program. And don’t forget to sign up for the monthly Con Edison Immigrant Artist Program Newsletter to receive opportunities and events as well as artist features directly to your inbox.

Images: Chen Wang (IAP: Visual & Multidisciplinary ’18), Utopia Process, 2018, single-channel HD video (with sound), part of the upcoming Multiversant exhibition, Photo Courtesy: Chen Wang and Marisela Barrera (IAP: San Antonio ’18), spoken performance, Photo Courtesy: Marisela Barrera

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Announcing | Meet the Newest Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program: San Antonio Cohort

2019 Participants Represent Countries Including Mexico, Germany, Argentina, Japan, France, Taiwan, Honduras, and El Salvador.

Through the support of Ford Foundation, The New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) is pleased to announce the participants in the 2019 NYFA Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program: San Antonio, presented in collaboration with San Antonio local partners SAY Sí, National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures, Blue Star Contemporary, and San Antonio Museum of Art.

The program combines two of NYFA’s professional development programs: the Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program, through which NYFA provides access to artist mentors and arts professionals via panels and workshops, and the Artist as Entrepreneur Boot Camp, which provides artists with the fundamental principles of sustainability in the arts.

2019 Participants and Disciplines:

Mentee Caroline Binet Royall, Visual (France), paired with Mentor Kim Bishop, Visual (United States)

Mentee Lulu Castillo, Visual (Mexico), paired with Mentor Brandy Gonzalez, Visual (United States)

Mentee Fernanda Michelle Covarrubias, Multidisciplinary (Mexico), paired with Mentor Michael Menchaca, Visual (United States)

Mentee Anna de Luna, Performing (Mexico), paired with Mentor Victoria García-Zapata, Literary (United States)

Mentee Josué Esau, Visual (Honduras), paired with Mentor Alan Serna, Visual (Mexico)

Mentee Juan Carlos Escobedo, Visual (Mexico), paired with Mentor Luis Valderas, Interdisciplinary (United States)

Mentee Juan Eduardo Flores, Video/Film/New Media (United States), paired with Mentor Luis Valderas, Visual (United States)

Mentee Sergio Fr, Visual (Mexico), paired with Mentor Hiromi Stringer, Visual (Japan)

Mentee Galileo Gonzalez, Visual (El Salvador), paired with Mentor Fernando Andrade, Visual (Mexico)

Mentee Beatriz Guzman Velasquez, Interdisciplinary (Mexico), paired with Mentor Jennifer Ling Datchuk, Visual (United States)

Mentee Evan Ho, Video/Film/New Media (Taiwan), paired with Mentor Guillermina Zabala, Multidisciplinary (Argentina)

Mentee Fernando Lorenzo, Folk/Traditional Arts (Mexico), paired with Mentor Ricky Armendaríz, Visual (United States)

Mentee Mireydi, Video/Film/New Media (Mexico), paired with Mentor Guillermina Zabala, Multidisciplinary (Argentina)

Mentee Josué Ramírez, Visual (Mexico), paired with Mentor Ashley Mireles, Visual (United States)

Mentee Natalia Rocafuerte, Multidisciplinary (Mexico), paired with Suzy González, Visual (United States)

Mentee Gabriela Zebadua, Visual (Mexico), paired with Mentor Sabine Senft, Visual (Germany)

This program is made possible with the generous support of the Ford Foundation.

Click here for more information on the Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program. And don’t forget to sign up for the monthly Con Edison IAP Newsletter to receive opportunities and events as well as artist features directly to your inbox.

Image: 2019 Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program: San Antonio, ​Blue Star Contemporary, Photo Credit: Mari Hernandez

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Announcing | 2019 Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program: Newark Participants

Meet the mentees and mentors!

Through the support of Ford Foundation, The New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) is pleased to announce the participants in the 2018-19 NYFA Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program: Newark presented in collaboration with local partners Newark Arts, New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Project for Empty Space, Paul Robeson Galleries, and Index Art Center.

The program combines two of NYFA’s professional development programs: the Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program, in which NYFA provides access to artist mentors and arts professionals via panels and workshops, and the Artist As Entrepreneur Boot Camp Program, which provides artists with the fundamental principles of sustainability in the arts.

2019 Participants and Disciplines:

Mentee Bushra AL Fusail, Visual (Yemen), paired with Mentor Colleen Gutwein O'Neal, Visual (United States)

Mentee Mic Boekelmann, Visual (Philippines), paired with Mentor Katrina Bello, Visual (Philippines)

Mentee Diana Candelejo, Visual (Ecuador), paired with Mentor Matt Gosser, Multidisciplinary (United States)

Mentee Shiza Chaudhary, Visual (Pakistan), paired with Mentor Yvette Molina, Visual (United States)

Mentee Ron Dai, Interdisciplinary (China), paired with Mentor Fayemi Shakur, Multidisciplinary/Literary (United States)

Mentee Kimmah Dennis, Visual (Ghana), paired with Mentor Ceaphas Stubbs, Visual (United States)

Mentee Gisel Endara, Interdisciplinary (Ecuador), paired with Mentor Paula Neves, Visual (United States)

Mentee Bouchra Hachem, Multidisciplinary (Lebanon), paired with Mentor Shauna Kanter, Performing (United States)

Mentee Coney Ishida, Visual (Japan), paired with Mentor Malik Whitaker, Visual (United States)

Mentee Mariejon de Jong-Buijs, Multidisciplinary (Netherlands), paired with Mentor Jen Mazza, Visual (United States)

Mentee Jin Jung, Interdisciplinary (South Korea), paired with Mentor Anne Trauben, Visual (United States)

Mentee Alverson Layne, Interdisciplinary (Guyana), paired with Mentor Sally Helmi, Visual (Egypt/United States)

Mentee Ole Lie Vandal, Multidisciplinary (Dominican Republic), paired with Mentor Alfonse Pagano, Visual (United States)

Mentee Mani Martinez, Multidisciplinary (Mexico), paired with Mentor Ananda Lima, Literary/Visual (Brazil)

Mentee Olufunke Ogundimu, Literary (Nigeria), paired with Mentor Fayemi Shakur, Multidisciplinary/Literary (United States)

Mentee Adishetu Oyibo, Multidisciplinary (Nigeria), paired with Mentor Sarah Walko, Visual (United States)

Mentee Franc Pena, Interdisciplinary (Honduras/Ecuador/USA), paired with Mentor Jo-El Lopez, Visual (Puerto Rico)

Mentee Eka Pramuditha, Interdisciplinary (Malaysia), paired with Mentor Kati Vilim, Visual (Hungary)

Mentee Agnieszka Wszolkowska, Visual (Poland), paired with Mentor Daniela Puliti, Visual (United States)

This program is made possible with the generous support of the Ford Foundation.

Click here for more information on the Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program. And don’t forget to sign up for the monthly Con Edison IAP Newsletter to receive opportunities and events as well as artist features directly to your inbox.

Image: 2019 Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program: Newark, Photo Credit: NYFA

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Announcing | 2019 Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program: Oakland Participants

Meet the mentees and mentors who are participating in this year’s program!

Through the support of Ford Foundation, The New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) is pleased to announce the participants in the 2019 NYFA Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program: Oakland, presented in collaboration with local partners World Arts West, Oakland Asian Cultural Center, Oakland Public Library, Aggregate Space Gallery, and Bisemi Foundation, Inc.

The program combines two of NYFA’s professional development programs, the Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program, through which NYFA provides access to artist mentors and arts professionals via panels and workshops, and the Artist As Entrepreneur Boot Camp Program, which provides artists with the fundamental principles of sustainability in the arts.

2019 Participants and Disciplines:

Mentee Asya Abdrahman, Multidisciplinary (Ethiopia), paired with Mentor Kristian Kabuay, Multidisciplinary/Folk & Traditional (Philippines)

Mentee Katherine Agard, Interdisciplinary (Trinidad and Tobago/Ghana), paired with Mentor Jason Wyman, Multidisciplinary (United States)

Mentee Etty D Alberto-Zamora, Visual (Honduras/Belize), paired with Mentor Kelly Ording, Visual (United States)

Mentee Byb Chanel Bibene, Multidisciplinary (Republic of Congo), paired with Mentor Melanie Wofford, Arts Administration/Performing (United States)

Mentee Kristiana Li-Yen Chan, Visual (Canada/Malaysia), paired with Mentor Alice Wu, Visual/Multidisciplinary (United States/Taiwan)

Mentee Daniel Chein, Film/New Media (Taiwan), paired with Mentor Kwesi D. Wilkerson, Performing/Literary (United States)

Mentee Paola de la Calle, Visual (Colombia), paired with Mentor PJ Policarpio, Multidisciplinary (United States)

Mentee Alisson Göthz, Visual (Brazil), paired with Mentor Jason Wyman, Visual (United States)

Mentee Patricia Leal, Interdisciplinary (Brazil), paired with Mentor Beth Waldman, Visual (United States)

Mentee Izidora Leber Lethe, Interdisciplinary (Croatia), paired with Mentor Brian Conley, Visual (United States)

Mentee Andreina Esther Maldonado Sosa, Performing (Venezuela), paired with Mentor Aimee Suzara, Performing/Literary (Philippines/United States)

Mentee Anthonia Onyejekwe, Film/Video/New Media (Nigeria), paired with Mentor Tossie Long, Performing/ Multidisciplinary (United States)

Mentee Ginika Oruche, Film/Video/New Media (Nigeria), paired with Mentor Destiny Muhammad, Performing (United States)

Mentee Reaa Puri, Film/New Media (India), paired with Mentor Shalini Agrawal, Visual/Multidisciplinary (India)

Mentee Lydia Queriani, Multidisciplinary (Philippines), paired with Mentor Ely Sonny Orquiza, Multidisciplinary/Film/Video/New Media (Philippines)

Mentee Keyvan Shovir, Multidisciplinary (Iran), paired with Mentor Megan Wilson, Interdisciplinary (United States)

Mentee Anita Sulimanovic, Visual (Croatia), paired with Mentor Taro Hattori, Visual/Film/Video/New Media (Japan)

Mentee Rupy C. Tut, Folk & Traditional Arts (India), paired with Mentor Karen Fiss, Visual/Folk & Traditional (United States)

Mentee Dor Wand, Film/Video/New Media (Israel), paired with Mentor Lyz Luke, Performing (United States)

Mentee Juniper Yun, Multidisciplinary (South Korea) paired with Mentor Mayumi Hamanaka, Visual/Multidisciplinary/Curatorial (Japan)

This program is made possible with the generous support of the Ford Foundation.

Click here for more information on the Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program. And don’t forget to sign up for the monthly Con Edison IAP Newsletter to receive opportunities and events as well as artist features directly to your inbox.

Image: 2019 Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program: Oakland, Photo Credit: Gisela Insuaste for NYFA

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Conversations | Interview with Adriana Rios, Grants Program Manager at NALAC

The National Association of Latino Arts and Culture (NALAC), one of the nation’s leading nonprofit organizations dedicated to the promotion, advancement, development, and cultivation of the Latino arts field, is one of our partners in San Antonio, TX, supporting the Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program.

With over 400 applicants this past year, the NALAC Fund for the Arts (NFA) is the only national grant program investing in Latinx artists and nonprofit arts organizations in the United States.

During the first weekend of IAP San Antonio (meet our newest cohort here!), we had a chance to speak with Adriana Rios, NALAC’s Grants Program Manager, about the application process and other opportunities the organization offers. As an advocate for stronger representation and equity in the arts and a film lover at heart, Rios also gives us insights into the Adán Medrano Legacy Award in Film.

NYFA: Did you see any trends in past applications for The NALAC Fund for the Arts? What are some of the issues/themes that Latinx artists are interested in these days?

Adriana Rios: We were very excited to see the number of applications that came in for this year’s grant cycle! They came from all over the country and Puerto Rico, and it’s always incredible to see what Latinx artists are creating in their communities. In terms of trends, we definitely see an influx of applications coming in from states that have high Latinx demographics such as Texas, California, and New York. However, we’re also starting to notice an increase in applications from other parts of the country—such as the Midwest and the South—which are not always immediately thought of as areas with a high Latinx concentration. For our team, receiving applications from these states allow us to get a glimpse into what Latinx cultural production looks like across different areas and how NALAC can start to build relationships with artists producing important work in those places. We believe Latinx artists are often at the forefront of directly addressing the issues that are taking place in our current social and political climate, so we did see migration, immigration, history and human rights arise as consistent themes in the applications we received this year.

NYFA: Can you tell us what made some projects stand out during the review process?

AR: Of course! NFA applications are evaluated through the following criteria: Artistic Merit, Funding Impact, and Capability. We find that applications that rise to the top are able to successfully demonstrate how their work addresses each category. On a technical level, we saw that applications that stood out were succinct and clear. We make it a point in our review process to acknowledge that artists start at different places in the grant-writing process, some may have more experience writing grant proposals while others may be first-time grant writers. However, regardless of experience, the applications that always rose to the top were the ones that were able to paint a full picture of what the artist intended to do within the funding period. On an artistic level, we found that project proposals that pushed the envelope of Latinx cultural production were incredibly exciting to panelists. In other words, where there was innovation, reimagination, or artistic approaches that engaged the community in a creative way, there were high levels of enthusiasm and eagerness by the reviewers.

NYFA: Knowing about your love for film, we’d like to ask you some questions about the Adán Medrano Legacy Award in Film [Emerging Filmmakers]. Who should apply for it and how can they prepare in advance for this opportunity?

AR: The Adán Medrano Legacy Award in Film is a grant opportunity offered through the NALAC Fund for the Arts each year. It was developed by the Donor Collaborative of the Adán Medrano Legacy Award with the intention to further impel dynamic, Latinx cinema production by emerging filmmakers that contribute towards a cultural understanding of Latinx expression and identity. It’s currently open to emerging Latinx filmmakers in the U.S. or Puerto Rico, where “emerging filmmaker” is defined as: having less than five years of experience in filmmaking as a writer, director or producer; having completed at least one independent film or video work in one of those roles; and having received basic training in the media arts. Training can be formal (college or university) or informal (production courses, workshops, hands-on experience). So, if you meet that criteria, we encourage you to apply! However, NALAC is currently thinking about what emerging means in the broader context of film and cinematic production, especially since our community is so underrepresented in the industry. Currently, this is one of our most competitive grant categories, so if you are considering applying, my advice is to think hard about what work samples really speak to your experience as a filmmaker. Again, clarity is key in the grant-writing process and since film is so reliant on visual story-telling, it’s important to think about what work allows panelists to understand your capability and artistic ability.

NYFA: We are delighted to see that this year NALAC added an Artist Grant for artists living in Puerto Rico. Can you tell us more about this program?

AR: We’re so thrilled to be able to offer this opportunity for artists living and creating work in Puerto Rico. This grant opportunity came out after we closed the general categories for the NFA. We wanted to make sure that we were building an application that was accessible and relevant to the needs of artists on the island. We partnered with Pregones/Puerto Rican Traveling Theater, who has been actively involved with artists on the island since Hurricane Maria hit, and their team was incredibly helpful in both the crafting of the application and the outreach process. In its inaugural year, we received over ninety applications for the Puerto Rico Artist Grant. It is our goal to continue offering this grant opportunity in future years as well as develop relationships and networks with artists on the island. NALAC doesn’t simply want to be a funder, we want to support the artists and communities on the ground who have been doing the work to sustain the creative and cultural practices of the island and stand in solidarity with their efforts. Artists are leading the charge in both depicting the political and socioeconomic realities post-Hurricane Maria, as well as demonstrating the vibrant, resilient, and creative expressions that have existed on the island for decades.

NYFA: The application is now open for the NALAC Leadership Institute. Do you have any advice for people that are thinking about applying?

AR: The NALAC Leadership Institute is a week-long leadership and arts management program that aims to equip Latinx artists and arts administrators with innovative and practical strategies that lead to successful business practices in the arts. My advice would be to think about your professional goals and what you’re hoping to accomplish. Once you’ve defined that for yourself, consider the following: How can the NALAC Leadership Institute be a resource for you in your professional and artistic journey? Knowing your goals and professional aspirations are essential to the application process. You’ll want to be clear and concise in defining what they are in your narrative. Ultimately, it’s our hope that every fellow that passes through any of our leadership programs feel valued and that the commitment to growth is not only your objective, but ours as well.

- Interview Conducted by Alicia Ehni, Program Officer at NYFA Learning

About Adriana Rios Prior to joining NALAC, Rios worked in the programming departments of a variety of different places, including Geekdom, the Princess Grace Foundation, and the Tribeca Film Institute. Rios is a graduate of New York University where she had the opportunity to study Film and Television Production. During her time at NYU, she got involved with the Fusion Film Festival, a student-run organization that celebrates women in film, television, and new media. Rios is an advocate for stronger representation and equity in the arts. A film lover at heart, she hopes to one day start a production company that provides visibility and resources for underrepresented filmmakers.

About National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures (NALAC) The National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures (NALAC), based in San Antonio, TX, gives grants to Latino artists and arts organizations working in all creative disciplines across the United States and Puerto Rico.

This interview is part of the ConEdison Immigrant Artist Program Newsletter #113. Subscribe to this free monthly e-mail for artist’s features, opportunities, and events.

Interested in developing your leadership skills? You can apply for our Emerging Leaders Open Call, a free leadership development program for arts administrators within commuting distance to New York City. Deadline is January 30!

Images from top to bottom: Adriana Rios, Photo Credit: Luis Garza; Zeke Peña (2017 – 2018 NFA Artist Grant Recipient), El Puente, ink/digital illustration, Courtesy of the artist; Karina Skvirsky (2017 – 2018 NFA Artist Grant Recipient), The Perilous Journey of María Rosa Palacios, video still, courtesy of the artist; Yancy Villa-Calvo (2017 – 2018 NFA Artist Grant Recipient); Barrier Free: A Socially Engaged Art Installation, Photographer Credit: Brandon Dill

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Announcing | Participants in the 2018-19 Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program: Visual & Multidisciplinary Arts

Meet this year’s participants!

Through the support of Deutsche Bank, The New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) is pleased to announce the participants in the 2018-19 NYFA Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program: Visual and Multidisciplinary Arts.

NYFA’s Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program pairs immigrant artists working in a variety of disciplines with artist mentors who provide one-on-one support for their artistic practice, guiding their mentees to achieve specific goals and providing them with broader access to the New York cultural world through an exchange of ideas, resources, and experiences.

2018-19 Participants and Disciplines:

Mentee Bifoli 2, Visual (Taiwan), paired with Mentor Armita Raafat, Visual (Iran)

Mentee Ololade Adeniyi, Visual (Nigeria), paired with Mentor Alicia Grullón, Multidisciplinary (United States)

Mentee Yael Ben-Simon, Visual (Israel), paired with Mentor Marco Scozzaro, Visual/Multidisciplinary (Italy)

Mentee Julia Brandão, Multidisciplinary (Brazil), paired with Mentor Rosemarie Fiore, Visual/Multidisciplinary (United States)

Mentee Riaki Enyama, Visual (Japan), paired with Mentor Jennifer Schmidt Visual/Multidisciplinary (United States)

Mentee Ana Maria Farina, Visual (Brazil), paired with Mentor Sophia Chizuco, Visual (Japan)

Mentee Floor Grootenhuis, Visual (Kenya), paired with Mentor Sue Jeong Ka, Visual/Multidisciplinary (South Korea)

Mentee Sarah Zarina Hakani, Visual (India), paired with Mentor Golnar Adili, Visual (Iran)

Mentee Ziyu He, Multidisciplinary (China), paired with Mentor Sophie Kahn, Visual (United States).

Mentee Sizhu Li, Multidisciplinary (China), paired with Mentor Dain DeltaDawn, Visual (United States)

Mentee Orr Menirom, Visual (Israel), paired with Mentor Elise Rasmussen, Visual (Canada)

Mentee Maryam Mir, Multidisciplinary (Canada/Kashmir), paired with Mentor Kit Yi Wong, Multidisciplinary (Hong Kong/China)

Mentee Nazanin Noroozi, Visual (Iran), paired with Mentor Kakyoung Lee, Visual/Multidisciplinary (South Korea)

Mentee Robert O’Shea, Multidisciplinary (Ireland), paired with Mentor Larry Krone, Visual (United States)

Mentee Masahito Ono, Visual (Japan), paired with Mentor Helen Dennis, Visual (UK)

Mentee Ernesto Ortiz Leyva, Visual (Mexico), paired with Mentor Takuji Hamanaka, Visual (Japan)

Mentee Supermrin, Multidisciplinary (India), paired with Mentor Daniela Kostova, Multidisciplinary (Bulgaria)

Mentee Lyto Triantafyllidou, Visual (Greece), paired with Mentor Kuldeep Singh, Visual/Multidisciplinary (India)

Mentee Htet T San, Visual (Myanmar), paired with Mentor Zohar Kfir, Visual (Israel)

Mentee Hanae Utamura, Visual (Japan), paired with Mentor Nooshin Rostami, Visual (Iran)

Mentee Luisa Valderrama, Visual (Colombia), paired with Mentor Katya Grokhovsky, Multidisciplinary (Ukraine/Australia)

Mentee Chen Wang, Multidisciplinary (China), paired with Mentor Luiza Kurzyna, Visual/Multidisciplinary (Poland)

Mentee Tina Wang, Multidisciplinary (Taiwan), paired with Jodie Lyn-Kee-Chow, Visual (Jamaica)

This program is made possible with the generous support of Deutsche Bank.

Click here for more information on the Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program. And don’t forget to sign up for the monthly Con Edison IAP Newsletter to receive opportunities and events as well as artist features directly to your inbox.

Image: 2018-19 Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program: Visual & Multidisciplinary Arts, Meet the Mentors, January 2019, Photo Credit: Htet San

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Announcing the Participants in the 2020 Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program: Visual and Multidisciplinary Arts

The newest Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program cohort brings together 21 artists from 16 countries and regions.

Through the support of Deutsche Bank, New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) is pleased to announce the participants in the 2020 NYFA Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program: Visual and Multidisciplinary Arts, presented in collaboration with New York cultural partners Assembly Room, BRIC, Eyebeam, New York Live Arts, Northern Manhattan Arts Alliance (NoMAA), Wave Hill, and UrbanGlass.

2020 Participants and Disciplines:

Mentee Zeshan Ahmed, Visual (India), paired with Mentor Marco Scozzaro, Visual (Italy).

Mentee Ekaterina Akuma, Visual (Russia), paired with Mentor Golnar Adili, Visual (Iran).

Mentee Ivana Brenner, Visual (Argentina), paired with Mentor Inna Babaeva, Visual (Ukraine).

Mentee Hedwig Brouckaert, Visual (Belgium), paired with Mentor Zahra Nazari, Visual (Iran).

Mentee Zorica Colic, Multidisciplinary (Serbia), paired with Mentor Luiza Kurzyna, Multidisciplinary (Poland).

Mentee Carin Kulb Dangot, Visual (Brazil), paired with Mentor Armita Raafat, Visual (Iran).

Mentee Bel Falleiros, Visual (Brazil), paired with Mentor Keren Anavy, Visual (Israel).

Mentee Nathier Fernandez, New Media (Colombia), paired with Mentor Claudia Sohrens, Visual (Germany).

Mentee Vinay Hira, Visual (New Zealand), paired with Mentor Christopher Ho, Visual (Hong Kong).

Mentee Hyun Jung Ahn, Visual (South Korea), paired with Mentor Fay Ku, Visual (Taiwan).

Mentee Jaejoon Jang, Visual (South Korea), paired with Mentor Larry Krone, Multidisciplinary (United States).

Mentee Ae Yun Kim, Visual (South Korea), paired with Mentor Cecile Chong, Visual (Ecuador).

Mentee Geuryung Lee, Visual (South Korea), paired with Mentor Kakyoung Lee, Visual (South Korea).

Mentee Jiaoyang Li, Multidisciplinary (China), paired with Mentor Jennifer Schmidt, Visual (United States).

Mentee Spandita Malik, Visual (India), paired with Mentor Sarah Walko, Visual (United States).

Mentee Levan Mindiashvili, Visual (Georgia), paired with Mentor Liliya Lifanova, Multidisciplinary (Kyrgyzstan).

Mentee j.p.mot, Multidisciplinary (Canada), paired with Mentor Antonio Serna, Visual (United States).

Mentee Bat-Ami Rivlin, Visual (Israel), paired with Mentor Daniela Kostova, Visual (Bulgaria).

Mentee Ghislaine Sabiti, Visual (Democratic Republic of Congo), paired with Mentor Yvette Molina, Visual (United States).

Mentee Leila Seyedzadeh, Visual (Iran), paired with Mentor Poppy DeltaDawn, Visual (United States).

Mentee Sofia Luisa Suazo Monsalve, Multidisciplinary (Chile), paired with Mentor Sophie Kahn, Visual (United States).

This program is made possible with the support of Deutsche Bank.

Click here for more information on the Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program. And don’t forget to sign up for the monthly Con Edison IAP Newsletter to receive opportunities and events as well as artist features directly to your inbox.

Image: 2020 Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program: Visual & Multidisciplinary Arts, Introduction Meeting, January 2020; Art in Background: Hannah Berry, A is also for ..., 2020, acrylic paint on wall