Applications open — Individual Fellowship Program
A Cultural Exchange Fellowship for artists, scholars, and arts professionals from Asia and the United States — supported by the Asian Cultural Council.
Donor: Asian Cultural Council
Category: Fellowship
Application Deadline: Nov 19, 2025 • 9:59 AM EST
Letters of recommendation due: Nov 26, 2025 • 9:59 AM EST
Program Overview
The Individual Fellowship Program supports self-directed research and cultural exchange experiences across Asia and the United States. Fellows pursue immersive activities — research, meetings, institutional visits, performances/exhibitions, workshops, archival work, and peer collaboration — to deepen cross-cultural understanding and artistic growth.
Who should apply?
- Artists, scholars, and arts professionals with at least 5 years of professional experience.
- Citizens or legal permanent residents of ACC-listed regions (see donor site for list).
- Applicants must be 21 or older by the fellowship start date and not enrolled in a degree program during the fellowship.
- Those traveling to the U.S. must have sufficient English proficiency to participate without special language assistance.
Funding & use of grant
- Grant uses: airfare, local transport, accommodation, daily living expenses, visa & insurance, interpretation, and research-related costs.
- Ineligible: production costs, family support, non-economy airfare (upgrades not covered).
- Payment schedule: advance after signing grant agreement; balance upon submission of required documentation prior to travel.
- Note on amounts: Donor page lists general grant ranges of $10,000–$100,000, while the Individual Fellowship specifically has a maximum of USD 35,000 per fellowship.
Program features & support
- ACC provides logistical and substantive advice, alumni introductions, invitations to ACC gatherings where possible, and J‑1 visa sponsorship for U.S. travel.
- Applicants should design feasible proposals that can proceed with or without direct ACC guidance; ACC offices are limited to NYC, Hong Kong SAR, Japan, the Philippines, and Taiwan ROC.
- Joint applications allowed (up to 3 collaborators) sharing common research and exchange objectives; all applicants must meet eligibility criteria.
Travel & timeline
- Travel period: August 1, 2026 — December 31, 2027.
- Fellowship length: 1 to 6 months. ACC encourages at least two months in one location for meaningful immersion.
- For travel to the U.S.: minimum stay of 30 consecutive days; J‑1 visa support provided by ACC.
- Fellows in Asia are responsible for securing visas and travel permits.
- Proposals that rely on many short trips or destinations already well-known to the applicant are less competitive unless strongly justified.
Application process & deadlines
- Application deadline: November 19, 2025 • 9:59 AM EST.
- Letters of recommendation due: November 26, 2025 • 9:59 AM EST.
- Apply and find full guidelines on the donor site: asianculturalcouncil.org/grant-opportunities
- Prepare a feasible, focused proposal outlining research questions, intended cultural exchange activities, institutions to visit, and expected outcomes.
Tips for a competitive proposal
- Emphasize depth of cultural immersion and reciprocal exchange.
- Include clear, realistic timelines and budgets aligned with fellowship rules.
- Identify specific institutions, people, or archives to be engaged and explain their relevance.
- If proposing travel to multiple locations, justify the necessity of each trip for the research goals.