Lower East Side Young Artists of Color Fellowship
The Lower East Side (LES) Young Artists of Color Fellowship is a program of Downtown Art and FABnyc.
We define the Lower East Side as including the area from 14th Street to Canal, Bowery to the East River, as well as Chinatown. This includes Loisaida, the East Village, and all of Community District 3. _________________________________________________________________
Fellowship Overview
To be eligible, you must be an artist of color between the ages of 18 and 26.
We will accept 10 fellows for Spring 2023. Artists in any discipline may apply.
Each Fellow will:
– participate in weekly meetings with the full fellowship
– meet and hear from established arts professionals of color
– share artistic works-in-progress and career challenges
– identify topics of interest for workshops such as fundraising, marketing, and portfolio development
– receive a $500 stipend
Fellows will have the opportunity to share their work publicly through a culminating group event.
The Fellowship will meet weekly on Tuesday evenings from 6-8pm for 16 sessions from March 7 – June 20, 2023. Attendance to all sessions is required.
Culminating exhibit/showcase will be on a Saturday afternoon in June. There may be up to two field trips which will take place either on a weekend day or a weekday evening during the fellowship period, time to be agreed upon.
Meetings will be in person at Downtown Art, 70 East 4th Street between Second Ave and Bowery.
Application for fellowship is open to NYC residents. Priority consideration shall be given to Lower East Side residents, NYCHA tenants, and those with strong ties to the LES although they are not residents.
All applications must be received by Tuesday, January 3, 2023 midnight.
If you have questions about the application, please contact Alejandra Acevedo – alejandra@fabnyc.org
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As the Lower East Side continues to fight displacement, marginalization, and racial inequities, FABnyc and Downtown Art recognize that sustaining a sense of community requires many efforts and arts-based placemaking efforts, like the LES Young Artists of Color fellowship, can strengthen a sense of belonging across generations.
Besides their importance as creative voices in the LES, young artists of color are underrepresented in the arts sector as a whole. Peer circles of support combined with opportunities to share work and learn from others can be a critical factor in moving their professional development forward.
This project is supported in part through funds from the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs and City Councilmember Carlina Rivera.
2021 LES Young Artists of Color Fellows
2022 LES Young Artists of Color Fellows