IAP Mentorship
The Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program pairs immigrant artists from all disciplines with artist mentors who provide their mentees with one-on-one support.
ABOUT
NYFA’s Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program, named one of the “10 Best Mentorship Programs in the U.S. for Post Grads” by Time Out, is the only known program of its kind in the United States. It has provided more than 525 immigrants from 76 countries and regions with mentorship, community, and exposure for their work since it was founded in 2007. The New York program has offered sessions in Visual/Multidisciplinary Art, Performing and Literary Arts, and Social Practice. This competitive program is provided free of charge to accepted applicants. In 2017, NYFA received a 2-year grant to support the expansion of the program to Detroit, MI; Newark, NJ; Oakland, CA; and San Antonio, TX. The program also expanded to Denver, CO, in 2021.
The Program fosters a community, providing opportunities to connect with other immigrant artists through group meetings, peer learning, and informal gatherings with program alumni. Through access to other artists, arts professionals, and organizations, the program offers immigrant artists the opportunity to focus on their creative practice, gain support and exposure for their work, while upholding their distinct identities. Many of the mentors are immigrant artists themselves, and understand the challenges of sustaining one’s art practice while navigating different cultural perspectives in the art world. Each cycle has proven to be an invaluable experience for mentees and mentors alike, and artists often remain connected well beyond the program.
APPLY
The application period for the 2024 Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program: Visual and Multidisciplinary Art is Tuesday, August 28, 10:00 AM ET through Friday, October 6, 11:59 PM ET. Learn more here.
Questions? Contact IAP at [email protected] or call (212) 366-6900, ext. 219.
Please sign up for the free ConEdison Immigrant Artist Program Newsletter and NYFA’s general newsletter NYFA News if you are interested in hearing about future programs.
TESTIMONIALS FROM PREVIOUS PARTICIPANTS
“I feel so grateful for being part of the IAP mentoring program. A huge thank you to the organizers! My mentor was a perfect fit for me. A very warm person, supportive, knowledgeable and professional. I truly enjoyed our conversations. I also feel grateful for the opportunity to connect with other artists, create friendships and possibilities for future collaborations. All the above made this experience meaningful, valuable and unique.”
Despina Zografos (IAP: Visual and Multidisciplinary Artist ‘23)
“NYFA IAP has changed my life as an artist in the USA. I am ever grateful to the NYFA IAP people who supported us in every way possible, which paved our path for a better future.”
Bipasha Hayat (IAP: Visual and Multidisciplinary Artist ‘23)
“Being able to share experiences and resources with fellow immigrant artists makes me feel less alone, and enables me to dedicate my goal as an independent artist in the city.”
Xinan Ran (IAP: Visual and Multidisciplinary Artist ‘23)
FUNDING SUPPORT
NYFA’s Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program is made possible by the generous support of: Consolidated Edison; Deutsche Bank; Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund; New York Community Trust; and Pollock-Krasner Foundation.
In kind support provided by: International Center of Photography (ICP) and Motion Picture Enterprises (MPE)
Support for NYFA Learning programs include: National Endowment for the Arts, New York State Council on the Arts; New York City Department of Cultural Affairs; Altman Foundation; Willem De Kooning Foundation; The Fanwood Foundation; and Rockefeller Foundation.
2023 IMMIGRANT ARTIST MENTORING PROGRAM: VISUAL & MULTIDISCIPLINARY ARTS
Mentee Xiangyun Chen, Multidisciplinary (China), paired with Mentor Andrew Kung, Visual (United States).
Mentee Jin Yong Choi, Visual (South Korea), paired with Mentor Armita Raafat, Multidisciplinary (Iran).
Mentee Katerina Ganchak, Visual (Ukraine), paired with Mentor Inna Babaeva Visual (Ukraine).
Mentee Laura Garcia Serventi, Visual (Argentina), paired with Mentor Rafaela Gomez Luna, Visual (Dominican Republic).
Mentee Emilija Gasic, Multidisciplinary (Serbia), paired with Mentor Luz Zamora, Visual (Venezuela).
Mentee Clare Gemima, Visual (New Zealand), paired with Mentor Kate Bae, Visual (South Korea).
Mentee David Gowan, Multidisciplinary (Nigeria and Zambia), paired with Mentor Sarah Walko, Visual (United States).
Mentee Isabel Hamdan, Multidisciplinary (Brazil), paired with Mentor Lina Montoya, Visual (Columbia).
Mentee Bipasha Hayat, Visual (Bangladesh), paired with Mentor Sky Pape, Visual (Canada).
Mentee Hsiao-Chu (Julia) Hsia, Multidisciplinary (Taiwan), paired with Mentor Simone Couto, Visual (Brazil).
Mentee Pilar Lagos, Visual (Honduras and Chile), paired with Mentor Chemin Hsiao, Visual (Taiwan).
Mentee Yi Hsuan Lai, Visual (Taiwan), paired with Mentor Santina Amato, Video/Film/New Media (Australia).
Mentee Carlos Morales, Video/Film/New Media (Mexico), paired with Mentor Hai Zhang, Video/Film/New Media (China).
Mentee Himeka Murai, Visual (Japan), paired with Mentor Yasuyo Tanaka, Visual (Japan).
Mentee Xinan Ran, Multidisciplinary (China), paired with Mentor Jennifer Wen Ma, Multidisciplinary (China).
Mentee Linda Sok, Visual (Australia), paired with Mentor Cecile Chong, Multidisciplinary (Ecuador).
Mentee Johanna Strobel, Multidisciplinary (Germany), paired with Mentor Eva Davidova, Multidisciplinary (Bulgaria).
Mentee Matteo Uguzzoni, Video/Film/New Media (Italy), paired with Mentor Gal Nissim, Video/Film/New Media (Israel).
Mentee Hong Wu, Visual (China), paired with Mentor Jaclyn Reyes, Multidisciplinary (United States).
Mentee Despina Zografos, Visual (Greece), paired with Mentor Rosemarie Fiore, Multidisciplinary (United States).
Image: Merche Blasco (Fellow in Digital/Electronic Arts ’17), Sonic Bloom, Photo: David Rehor
