We Asked the 2024 Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program Participants: What is One Takeaway from the Program that has Helped to Navigate Your Career as an Immigrant Artist?
With the conclusion of the 2024 NYC Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program, we asked the artists to share what they learned and are taking away from the program.
NYFA’s Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program pairs immigrant artists with artist mentors who provide one-on-one support for their mentee, guiding them to achieve specific goals and providing them with broader access to the U.S. cultural world through an exchange of ideas, resources, and experiences.
NYFA’s Immigrant Artist Program will return to San Antonio (SA) in the second part of 2024; in early 2025, NYFA will launch the New York City-based program. The SA program open call will be announced on June 3 on NYFA’s website. The NYC program open call will be announced in late August. Subscribe NYFA’s Newsletter for more information.
What is one takeaway from the program that has helped you navigate your career as an immigrant artist?
Gabriela Bornstein
It has been so valuable to receive input, feedback, advice, tips and motivation from my mentor and NYFA. It has helped me navigate the art world and understand what steps I should take to move forward in my career. Since I joined this program I finally built my website, CV, BIO, artist statement, applied for several art opportunities, was selected for some open calls, and participated in five gallery exhibitions! I feel so much more confident and inserted in the artistic community!
Image Detail: 2024 Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program mentee Gabriela Bornstein
Lafina Eptaminitaki
The program’s emphasis on community-building deeply resonated, as art has often been solitary for me. Balancing individual identity with cultural integration as an immigrant in the US can be daunting, and connecting with fellow immigrant artists who share similar dreams and challenges was truly inspiring. NYFA’s gatherings were a true gem, not only for professional development but also for forming friendships and a supportive network extending beyond the program’s duration.
Mari Nagem
I moved to NYC without measuring the steps an immigrant artist would face in the city. For me, it was not about the language, or about the creative work itself, the hardest part was to navigate the art world nuances, select the opportunities, and find ways to contact and maintain a community. What I’ve learned with NYFA IAP (and my wonderful mentor) would have taken me years to learn by myself, and it wouldn’t be that fun!
Image Detail: 2024 Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program mentee Mari Nagem
On Building Skills to Navigate the Arts Field
What I’ve learned with NYFA IAP (and my wonderful mentor) would have taken me years to learn by myself, and it wouldn’t be that fun!
Mari Nagem
Azadeh Nia
What has been amazing about this program is meeting other artists who are facing very similar struggles pursuing an art career in NYC. It has been illuminating to see all the different ways in which artists are making their way into the art scene here as “outsiders.” There are so many resources that I was not aware of. The program really helped me find the tools I needed to achieve my goals as an artist and gave me the opportunity to be a part of a very supportive art community.
Ruoyun Chen
I feel that NYFA’s programs have greatly enhanced my appreciation for the freedom and diversity inherent in the immigrant experience. Each person, whether mentor or mentee, follows a unique path leading from roots embedded in vastly different cultures and languages. It’s truly amazing how naturally we all connect once our paths converge here. My mentor shared how, during her toughest times, she didn’t even know how she would afford a Metrocard for the following week. Yet today, she guides me with confidence as I navigate my passion in the film industry. The fluidity, resilience, connectivity, and vigorous vitality I’ve witnessed and learned here will stay with me throughout my career and life.
Image Detail: 2024 Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program mentee Ruoyun Chen
Rocío Delaloye
A significant takeaway from the NYFA IAP program has been the chance to connect with fellow artists, my mentor, guest speakers, and curators. This experience has been truly meaningful, providing me with a diverse and supportive community that understands the challenges of being an immigrant artist. Through these connections, I’ve received not only encouragement but also very invaluable advice and shared experiences, which have strengthened my confidence and determination in navigating the art world.
On Finding A Sense of Belonging
This experience has been truly meaningful, providing me with a diverse and supportive community that understands the challenges of being an immigrant artist.
Rocío Delaloye
Doreen Chan
I struggle to introduce my work to others. I am gradually improving my confidence from this program. The art professionals’ sharings and exchanges reinforced to me how artists could share their work. Although not every mentee is introverted, the empathy gained from chatting about different experiences attending openings strengthens us.
Eiko Nishida
Now I have a new community with which to get informed, exchange thoughts, and expand possibilities. Every interaction was valuable, and I couldn’t have them without this program.
Image Detail: 2024 Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program mentee Eiko Nishida
Lee Jensen
The program opened my eyes to just how many opportunities there are for artists in NYC. I now understand more about the many different ways you can choose to participate in the art world here, at any stage of your career. It was a gift to have a mentor I could go to with all my questions and such an encouragement to have the support of the whole NYFA organization.
On Different Career Paths
I now understand more about the many different ways you can choose to participate in the art world here, at any stage of your career.
Lee Jensen
Lana Bolycheva
This program made me more confident about moving on with my career. Talking to the artists made me see the value of my immigrant experience differently. We are immigrants, and we have scars, so we have stories to tell. Now, I’ll not be ashamed but proud to be an immigrant.
Doi Kim
As I navigated my career path in NYC, I was impressed and often overwhelmed by the many artistic communities rooted in the city’s unique geopolitical location and history. However, with the guidance of my mentor, Ezra Wube, and by learning from other mentees’ practices, I was able to develop my understanding of the complex dynamics of this polyphonic environment, cultivating a more nuanced perspective toward my practice.
Image Detail: 2024 Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program mentee Doi Kim
Tika Gzirishvili
I have been an immigrant woman in America for six years, and in that time, I faced many obstacles and difficulties to pursue my lifelong dream of continuing to work as an artist in the USA. One of my first professional achievements, NYFA’s Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program, allowed me to fully break through the linguistic and cultural barriers I had faced before as an immigrant artist.
Image Detail: 2024 Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program mentee Tika Gzirishvili
Min Baek
One of the highlights of the NYFA program for me was the supportive community of artists and mentors I connected with. This network not only gave my career a significant boost but also fostered lasting relationships within the city.
Image Detail: 2024 Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program mentee Min Baek
On Building A Community
This network not only gave my career a significant boost but also fostered lasting relationships within the city.
Min Baek
–Compiled by Ju Hye Kim, NYFA Learning Associate and Ya Yun Teng, Program Officer, Immigrant Artist Resource Center (NYC)
This post is part of the ConEdison Immigrant Artist Program Newsletter #170. Subscribe to this free monthly e-mail for artist’s features, opportunities, and events. Learn more about NYFA Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program.
