The Immigrant Artist Project at NYFA connects immigrant artists with a wealth of sources for advice, support, professional development and networking. In addition to producing our own content and programming, we encourage artists to build relationships with organizations in their own communities - we have listed some especially interesting ones below.

This Resources for Immigrant Artists directory should serve as a starting point, introducing immigrant artists to only a sample of the resources available to them in New York. Read through this page, explore the links and see where they take you!

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Resources Directory Contents

Scroll Down or Jump to Section:

• Arts Councils & Government Entities
• Alliances & Art Service Organizations
• General Arts Resources
• Opportunities for Artists
• Grants and Awards
• Workspace
• Jobs
• Legal & Financial Assistance
• Immigrant Services
• Immigrant Rights & Advocacy
• Contact Us
  

Image: Jeanne Verdoux, Listening #105, 2009, ink on paper

Arts Councils - If you live somewhere in the five boroughs of New York City, one of these local arts councils or alliances should be your first point of contact in your search for support and resources. Many of these organizations offer workshops and grants, present exhibits and performances, and offer web-based services such as free artist registries and location-specific resource listings.

>Bronx Council on the Arts
>Brooklyn Arts Council
>Lower Manhattan Cultural Council
>Queens Council on the Arts
>Council on the Arts & Humanities for Staten Island

Live outside of the City? Arts Councils and Centers in New York State

State and Municipal Agencies - Both of these agencies offer support mainly to arts organizations, including some of those listed above and below, but also serve individual artists through resource listings, workshops and events calendars - check out their websites to learn more:

>NYC Department of Cultural Affairs
>New York State Council on the Arts

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>Alliance of Resident Theaters (A.R.T./ NY)
>Asian American Arts Alliance
>Creative Capital
>Fractured Atlas
>Harlem Arts Alliance
>Leveraging Investments in Creativity (LINC)
>Northern Manhattan Arts Alliance
>The Field

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>Arts and Business Council of New York
>Chicago Artists Resource
>NYFA Source Online Database
>Our Goods
>PEN American Center

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An introductory listing of recurring and ongoing opportunities for funding, space, and creative and professional development that are open and amenable to immigrant artists.

Professional Development:

Online Professional Development and Resources:
>NYFA Business of Art Articles with information about: Careers ; Exhibiting & Performing ; For Art Students; Fundraising; Housing & Studio; Insurance ; Legal; Marketing ; Mental Health ; Money ; Web Site Development; Interviews with Visual Artists; Interviews with Performing Artists; Interviews with Arts Professionals; New York State Resources (arts councils and centers)
>NYFA Immigrant Artist Project Helpful Tips & IAP in Translation Archives
>Resources for fine art photographers & other visual artists

Professional Development Services in New York:
>Alliance of Resident Theatres: A.R.T./ New York Workshops
>Asian American Arts Alliance Workshops
>Creative Capital Workshops
>Harlem Arts Alliance Workshops
>MARK: Business of Art for NY State
>Queens Council on the Arts Workshops
>The Field

Online Courses:
>Dance Umbrella of Ontario: a free online workbook with basics in topics such as funding, planning, touring and promotion. (incorporation practices are different in Canada so this section is not be relevant to US artists)
>Fractured U: Fractured Atlas offers a series of online courses on topics from fundraising to financial management and from understanding presenting venues to working with agents
>University of Waterloo in Canada : an online cultural management hub

Mentorship and Advisory Programs:
>Aljira Emerge
>Creative Time Open Door advisory program at PS1
>Made HERE
>Mentoring Program for Immigrant Artists
>Queens Council on the Arts: Individual Artist Initiative

*Also check the local arts councils listed above - most offer grants to local artists working or residing within their neighborhood/borough

Touring:
>Alliance of Artists’ Communities
>Center for Traditional Music and Dance
>Dance/NYC articles on touring
>World Music Institute

Residency Awards:
>LMCC Workspace & Swing Space
>Artists Alliance LES Rotating Studio Program
>Socrates Sculpture Park Open Space
>Dance Theater Workshop
>HERE Artist Residenct Program
>Smack Mellon Artist Studio Program
>Marie Walsh Sharp Space Program
>Dieu Donne Papermill Workspace Program
>Art Omi - Ledig House International Writers Residency, International Dance Collective, International Artists Residency and International Musicians Residency
>Yaddo Residency
>Lower East Side Printshop Keyholder & Special Editions Residencies
>Triangle Arts International & National Residencies
>International Studio & Curatorial Program
>A.I.R. Gallery Fellowship
>Eyebeam Fellowship
>Res Artis: an organization of artist residencies worldwide in all disciplines
>Residency Unlimited
>The Flux Factory
>The Field: Field Artist Residency & Emerging Artist Residency
>Topaz Arts
>Movement Research

Artist Registries Online:
>Artists Space - Irving Sandler Artists File Online
>BAC Registry of Brooklyn Artists
>BRIC Contemporary Artist Registry
>The Drawing Center Viewing Program
>NURTUREart Artist Registry
>Percent for Art Image Registry
>PS1 Studio Visit Online Artist Registry
>White Columns Artist Registry

To stay informed of the latest upcoming opportunities, sign up for the Immigrant Artist Project Newsletter - a free online publication with deadlines, tips, features and more.

For a complete listing of opportunities for artists, you can search NYFA Source, the nation's most extensive directory of awards, services, and publications for artists.

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Institutional Grants/Awards for Individual Artists:

Varied Disciplines:

Literary Arts:

Media and Film:

Performing Arts:

Visual Arts:

Crowd-sourcing Fundraising Sites:
>Crowdrise
>Indiegogo
>Kickstarter
>Rocket Hub

Fundraising Articles and Tools:
>Network for Good Articles
>NYFA Business of Art Article - Fundraising
>Foundation Center-New York - Calendar of Events

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From short-term residencies and rehearsal spaces to long-term studio rentals, many artists require physical space to build their practice. Beyond the residency awards listed above, there are lots of ways to search for affordable workspaces - here are some resources:

>NYFA Studio Space Directory - rental listings for visual artists' studios
>NYC Performing Arts Spaces - citywide listing of rehearsal, performance and classroom space for theater, music and dance artists with interactive search function

There are many spaces like these around the city and state - the best way to start is often in and around where you live, or where you're interested in working. Here are just a few suggestions:

>3rd Ward - Office Space, Media Lab, Photo Studios and Wood&Metal Shop
>The Field - Residency spaces and Resource Center
>Brooklyn Artists Gym - Gallery and studio space for visual artists and writers
>Chez Bushwick - subsidized performing arts studio rentals

Galleries, Arts Spaces, and Presenters:
>The Exhibition Lab
>Arts Support Listing of Photography Galleries
>Topaz Arts
>The Chocolate Factory
>Galapagos Arts Space
>Movement Research
>AIR gallery
>Smack Mellon
>White Wave

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>NYFA Classifieds Jobs in the Arts - the one-stop shop for national arts jobs listings
>Idealist - international non-profit job listings
>Craigslist New York - local job listings

Teaching Art - Teaching is both a passion and a major source of income for many artists. In addition to working directly in public schools, there are many non-profit organizations and learning institutions that hire teaching artists on part- and full-time bases. Explore NYFA's Teaching Artist Source for a listing of many of these opportunities.

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>Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts - Pro-bono legal services to low-income artists and arts organizations, offers workshops on legal issues confronting artists, and advocates for the arts community through legal action.

You can call the VLA Art Law Line with all your legal questions: 212.319.2787 x1, Monday to Friday, 10 am to 6 pm.

>The Legal Aid Society - Offers a number of specialized direct support programs and on online Self-Help Guide of legal resources

>Starving Artists Law - Self-help legal information for artists online - everything from Free Speech Resources to Copyright Law to Disputes.

>Artists From Abroad - A complete online guide to immigration and tax requirements for foreign guest artists in the US.

>Business of Art Articles on nyfa.org - These articles cover all manner of legal and financial issues that artists confront, from marketing to housing to website development to budgeting and tax preparation.

>Arts and Business Council - Joins the resources of the arts and business communities of New York, offering discounts, professional development services and more to member organization and individuals

>The Artists' Health Insurance Resource Center - The Actor's Fund provides this online directory and resource center for all artists, including the self-employed and freelancers. seeking affordable health insurance in the US. They also offer local seminars and opportunities to advocate for health care reform.

>Fractured Atlas - Provides multiple programs and services that help artists and arts organizations be more effective as businesses, from health and liability insurance to advocacy and professional development.

>Freelancer's Union - Free national membership organization that offer benefits like insurance and retirement to members and provides political advocacy for all independent workers.

>National Immigration Project - A national non-profit that provides assistance and technical support to immigrant communities, legal practitioners, and advocates in the areas of criminal & deportation defense to noncitizens Living with HIV/AIDS.

Immigrant Legal Support:
>Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts
>Ask the Lawyer|Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts
>Legal Services NYC
>Legal Aid
>Visas for Artists
>Visas4artists

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Although the Immigrant Artist Project's primary role is supporting immigrants in their roles as artists, we have listed a few important non-arts immigrant resources here.

>Mayors Office of Immigrant Affairs - Promotes the well-being of immigrant communities by recommending policies and programs that facilitate successful integration of immigrant New Yorkers into the civic, economic, and cultural life of the City.

>CUNY Citizenship and Immigration Project - Provides free immigration law services at nine centers located throughout New York City and at Citizenship Now! events throughout the city.

>CAMBA - A non-profit agency that provides legal services, family support, economic development, housing services and more, with a focus on immigrants and refugees based in Brooklyn.

>International Center - A volunteer-driven community where immigrants, refugees, students and other newcomers to the United States come to practice English and learn about American culture. The Center's Andrew Romay Immigrant Support Program offers scholarships for English classes.

>Upwardly Global - Provides resources for immigrant professionals and employers who are looking to find jobs back in their field in the United States.

>Center for the Integration and Advancement of New Americans - Offers immigrant integration services - including newcomer orientation, financial education and employment and legal services - designed specifically for immigrants and refugees from the "traditional" societies of the Greater Middle East and its neighboring countries in Africa and South Asia.

>Tamizdat

>New New Yorkers Program at Queens Museum of Art and Queens Library

Emergency Resources:

NYFA Source list of Emergency Resources: Organizations for Immigrants and Refugees
NYFA Source list of Emergency Resources: Art Organizations in NYC

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Here are some organizations that are actively fighting for fair treatment and reformed immigration policy. Some of these organizations also offer literacy, legal and financial services to individuals, and many have a history of collaborating with artists.

>Make the Road NY - Promotes economic justice, equity and opportunity for all New Yorkers through community and electoral organizing, strategic policy advocacy and support services.

>New York Immigrant Coalition - Advocacy organization for various communities and groups in New York State that work with immigrants and refugees.

>New Immigrant Community Empowerment - A community-based, non-profit organization that works to ensure that new immigrants can build social, political and economic power in their communities and beyond.

>Immigrant Financial Justice Project at the Neighborhood Economic Development Advocacy Project - A coalition of organizers, advocates and service providers from different neighborhoods and sectors that collaborates on research, community education, and corporate reform campaigns to expand immigrants' economic rights.

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In addition to exploring all the resources listed above, you can always contact the Immigrant Artist Project directly. (Keep in mind that project staff does not always have time to meet in person, but would be happy to answer specific questions via phone or email).

Immigrant Artist Project at NYFA
Phone: 212 366 6900 x249
Email: i.outreach@nyfa.org

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>Check our Announcements page for upcoming events and opportunities

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