Lower East Side Young Artists of Color Fellowship 2026 - Fourth Arts Block (FABnyc)

Overview

FAB's Lower East Side Young Artists of Color Fellowship supports early-career artists in exploring creative practices centered on community engagement and cross-sector collaboration. The program helps fellows build peer networks, meet with experienced arts professionals of color, and develop strategies for advancing their work. The fellowship culminates in a public showcase of original projects.

Key Dates

• Application deadline: Sunday, December 7, 2025 (11:59 PM)

Eligibility

• Artist of color between ages 18 and 26 (as of 12/31/2026)
• NYC resident with year-round/permanent address
• Not enrolled full-time as a student
• Priority given to NYCHA tenants and Lower East Side residents (includes area from 14th Street to Canal, Bowery to East River, Chinatown, Loisaida, East Village, and Community District 3)

What You'll Receive

• $500 stipend
• Weekly meetings with full fellowship cohort
• Mentorship from established arts professionals of color
• Opportunity to share works-in-progress and discuss career challenges
• Access to workshops on community engagement practices, cross-sector collaboration, fundraising, communications, and portfolio development
• Public showcase to present work-in-progress, ideation, and research

Who We're Looking For

We are accepting 8 fellows. The program supports artists creating original work from all disciplines who are interested in community engagement and cross-sector collaborative work. The program is most useful for creative artists interested in working with nonprofit arts organizations and pursuing residencies, commissions, exhibits, public space activations, and non-traditional venues. The program is not well-suited for artists interested in connecting to commercial music and media industries or securing agents.

How to Apply