The Asian Cultural Council promotes international discussion, understanding, and respect through cultural exchange initiatives in Asia and the United States to create a harmonious and peaceful world. Independent artists, scholars, and art experts are supported through fellowships and other initiatives that help them achieve their goals.
The Asian Cultural Council awards scholarships and grants to practicing artists, scholars, and arts professionals to foster cultural interchange in the arts.
Process-driven activities that facilitate cultural immersion, relationship-building, cooperation, or peer-to-peer knowledge exchange are prioritized. Research, training, study, and exploration are examples of process-driven activities. Production-related activities such as touring, performing, exhibiting, publishing, or creating work are not eligible for ACC fellowships or awards.
Prospective Applicants and General Eligibility Guidelines
Applicants must be eligible and a strong fit for ACC's support services, current program priorities, and available finances to be competitive. Before opting to apply, please read all of the sections below to understand these variables better.
The range of all ACC fellowship and assistance programs is described in these guidelines. Eligibility may be more restricted within each program, and the program's focus may shift from year to year.
Applicants on an individual basis (for Individual Fellowship, New York Fellowship, and Graduate Scholarship applicants)
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Must live in an eligible region/country or be a citizen of one.
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Afghanistan
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Bangladesh
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Bhutan
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Brunei
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Cambodia
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Mainland China
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East Timor
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Hong Kong SAR
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India
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Indonesia
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Japan
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Korea
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Laos
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Macau SAR
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Malaysia
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Mongolia
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Myanmar
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Nepal
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Pakistan
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Philippines
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Singapore
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Sri Lanka
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Taiwan
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Thailand
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Vietnam
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United States
Must be a working artist, a scholar in the humanities, or an arts practitioner in a qualifying discipline
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Archaeology
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Architecture
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Art History
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Arts Administration
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Arts Criticism
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Conservation
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Crafts
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Curation
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Dance
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Ethnomusicology
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Film/Video/Photography
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Literature
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Museum Studies
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Music
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Theater
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Visual Art
Applicants for projects and organizations
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Must be based in a country or territory that qualifies (mentioned above)
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Must be a registered nonprofit or non-governmental organization (NGO) or have financial sponsorship from a nonprofit or non-governmental organization (NGO).
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Only involved participants who meet the individual application eligibility criteria outlined above may apply for ACC financing.
New York Fellowship
The New York Fellowship is a six-month fellowship based in New York City. Fellows may engage in expansive exploration, workshops, or training programs or perform concentrated study to find fresh creative inspiration. A group of fellows joins the program at any given time, building a supportive community and expanding chances for discourse and cooperation across countries and professions. One cohort starts in January, while the other starts in July. ACC provides complete funding and comprehensive logistical and programmatic support (housing, J-1 visa sponsorship, and health insurance) so that fellows can fully immerse themselves in New York City's cultural life.
Further about ACC Support Services
Staff from the ACC will offer advice and assistance in planning an activity program suited to each fellow's specific aims and interests. This could involve the following:
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An introduction to New York City as well as monthly recommendations for cultural events, services, and other options
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Introductions to appropriate connections inside the ACC network, as well as assistance in arranging encounters outside of the ACC network
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Travel planning assistance to different parts of the country
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Placement in a university program* or with a personal advisor
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Meetings with staff and presenting to other fellows in the program allow reflection.
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Connection with an ACC mentor
Review and Selection Criteria
Applicants must meet the following requirements to be eligible for the program:
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Demonstrate creative, scholarly, or professional competence and the ability to progress in the future.
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Be able to affect a more significant community or field by sharing their fellowship experience or outcomes.
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Be self-sufficient, resourceful, inquiring, open-minded, and willing to explore beyond their instruction.
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Demonstrate a compelling need for this opportunity at this particular point in their career and life.
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To participate in conversations and develop relationships, you must be able to communicate in English.
Application Process
Before starting the application, candidates are required to pass the ACC Eligibility quiz through the link (https://bit.ly/3wbWTvz)
Applicants must include Excel sheets of their standard budget for the New York Fellowship and their work samples. All the templates can be found following the link (https://bit.ly/3wb7Ayp)
Individual Fellowship
Individuals—or two collaborators—pursuing cross-cultural study or creative inquiry are supported by the Individual Fellowship Program. Observation trips, specialized training, dissertation fieldwork, or other non-commercial artistic, scholarly, or professional activities are all examples of this. Process-driven activities that facilitate cultural immersion, dialogue, relationship-building, cooperation, or knowledge exchange among peers are emphasized in all ACC programs.
ACC Support Services
Individuals—or up to two collaborators—pursuing cross-cultural study or creative inquiry are supported by the Individual Fellowship Program. Process-driven activities that facilitate cultural immersion, dialogue, relationship-building, cooperation, or knowledge exchange among peers are emphasized in all ACC programs. Observation trips, specialized training, dissertation research, or other non-commercial artistic, scholarly, or professional activities are examples of this.
Support services are designed to improve a proposed activity plan, provide more access to artistic communities and cultural resources in the host country, and enhance the cultural exchange experience. Proposals should, however, be practicable with or without more ACC direction. Support may come in the form of:
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Partnership establishment with relevant connections within ACC's network of alumni and partners across Asia and the US; this network spans all 26 of ACC's geographic jurisdictions and is particularly strong in the countries where ACC maintains offices: Hong Kong, Japan, the Philippines, Taiwan, and the US.
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Sponsorship of J-1 visas for project participants visiting the United States
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Organizational overhead funding (not more than 20 percent of the project budget)
Opportunities and Expectations
If selected, fellows are expected to:
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Begin their fellowship journey throughout the financing period mentioned above period.
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Notify ACC if their fellowship intentions alter.
Please be aware of the following limitations:
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Collaborators are required to submit a single application to ACC and plan to travel together; solo excursions are not allowed. Successful applications often propose a shorter travel time because joint fellowships are unlikely to get more funding than individual fellowships.
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Ideally, all fellowships should be done in one trip. Except in rare situations with previous written approval from ACC, ACC assistance may not be utilized for numerous international airfares to the same region or country.
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This program is not for creating new art, exhibiting, performing, presenting, or engaging in other public activities.
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The size of funds is determined by the anticipated destination country(s) and length of travel. If plans change considerably after the fellowship is granted, it is subject to change.
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Applicants must specify other potential financial sources for dissertation research that lasts longer than six months.
Application Process
Before starting the application, candidates are required to pass the ACC Eligibility quiz through the link (https://bit.ly/3wbWTvz)
Applicants are required to include Excel sheets of their standard budget for the New York Fellowship, along with their work samples. All the templates can be found following the link (https://bit.ly/3wb7Ayp)
Graduate Scholarship
Each year, ACC awards a small number of scholarships to students who have been accepted to a graduate degree program in a qualified field in the United States. This money can be used for travel and living expenses, but it won't be enough to cover the entire cost of tuition. Applicants who have not yet received an admissions offer are eligible to join, but verification of admission is required before assistance can be provided. Applicants who opt to study abroad because equivalent programs are unavailable in their home country and those working in disciplines that are undervalued in their home country are given priority. ACC hopes to contribute to the diversification of scholarly storylines and critical discourse by providing international students with access to academic training.
Applicants may request support for three years in their initial application. Multiyear awards will be given, but they will only be paid if the student maintains excellent academic standing and meets the ACC reporting requirements.
ACC Support Services
Staff from the ACC are available to provide assistance and support to university students as needed. Graduate scholarship recipients are encouraged to participate in ACC's broader community as much as possible during and beyond their grant period.
Support may include:
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Possibilities to interact with the present ACC fellows and graduate students, as well as the alumni network
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Personal introductions to important contacts among ACC's alumni and partners in Asia and the United States.
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Access to information about living and studying in the United States.
Opportunities and Expectations
If selected, graduate scholarship recipients are expected to:
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During the financing period, enroll or continue in a degree-granting graduate program.
Please note the following restrictions:
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Degree programs in schooling are not eligible, even if the emphasis is on the arts. Commercial degree programs and individuals with a history in the commercial arts are not eligible.
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ACC cannot propose specific graduate programs or assist prospective students with their graduate school applications.
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Because ACC funding only covers living expenses up to $30,000 per year, applicants must find additional sources of money for tuition.
Application Process
Before starting the application, candidates are required to pass the ACC Eligibility quiz through the link (https://bit.ly/3wbWTvz)
Applicants are required to include their work samples. All the templates can be found following the link (https://bit.ly/3MUmL59)
Organization and Project Grants
Organization and project grants are given to endorse cultural exchange possibilities for specific project participants who will benefit from the experience in the same way that individual fellowship receivers do – through cultural exchange, research, specialized training, peer exchange, and other process-oriented activities. Participants in the project must be working artists, scholars, or arts workers. Touring, exhibition, performance, and public-facing activities are not eligible, even if they may form part of a larger environment where ACC-qualified exchange activities occur.
ACC Support Services
Support services are designed to improve a proposed activity plan, provide more access to artistic communities and resources in the host country, and enhance the cultural exchange experience. On the other hand, proposals in this program should be practicable with or without ACC's assistance.
On request, ACC may provide:
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Partnership establishment with relevant connections within ACC's network of alumni and partners across Asia and the US; this network spans all 26 of ACC's geographic jurisdictions and is particularly strong in the countries where ACC maintains offices: Hong Kong, Japan, the Philippines, Taiwan, and the US.
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Sponsorship of J-1 visas for project participants visiting the United States
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Organizational overhead funding (not more than 20 percent of the project budget)
Application Process
Before starting the application, candidates are required to pass the ACC Eligibility quiz through the link (https://bit.ly/36n13Gj)
Applicants are required to include their work samples. All the templates can be found following the link (https://bit.ly/3wh1ZqF)
For further information, please click the "LINK TO ORIGINAL" button below.