Vilcek Foundation Prizes Celebrate How Immigration is Vital for a Robust Society

2025 Cohort Announced, with 2026 Open Call Forthcoming in Early March 2025

The Vilcek Foundation raises awareness of immigrant contributions in the United States and fosters appreciation of the arts and sciences. The foundation, which celebrates and invests in immigrant artists at every stage of their careers, has awarded more than $8.7 million to immigrant artists from 67 countries since it was established in 2006. They recently awarded $950,000 to 14 immigrants and cultural leaders in biomedical science, visual arts, curatorial work, art history, and literary scholarship. 

The foundation will soon launch the 2026 cycle of its Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise in “Fashion and Design” and “Fashion and Culture”. Through this open call program, the Vilcek Foundation will award a total of six $50,000 prizes, three in each category, to young immigrants who demonstrate outstanding early achievement in their field. Individuals are eligible to apply for the “Fashion and Design” category if they are a designer, materials innovator, makeup artist or hairstylist, or if they work in environmental or technology design. The “Fashion and Culture” category encourages those who work as writers and researchers, curators and museum professionals, stylists, and image makers for fashion to apply. 

The new cycle, opening in early March 2025, will seek applicants from immigrant artists who were born outside of the U.S. who are not more than age 38. Applicants must have five years of professional experience in “Fashion and Design” or “Fashion and Culture” and possess a strong track record of creating high-caliber work. 

In the lead-up to the 2026 cycle, get application tips below from the program staff at Vilcek and share with friends who might be interested and eligible!

New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA): This program specifically asks applicants to consider how their experience as an immigrant informs and enriches their approach to visual arts or curatorial work. What are panelists looking to see here?

Vilcek Foundation: The immigration stories offer valuable context that helps panelists view each applicant as an individual. This question allows panelists to see how applicants’ artistic languages or curatorial approaches have evolved over time and whether this experience significantly shapes their practices or influences their decision-making and material choices. The panelists recognize that each journey is unique and understand that not every individual’s practice should be directly defined by the applicants’ immigration experiences. The purpose of this question is to deepen the panelists’ understanding of you during the review process.

NYFA: Can applicants submit materials in foreign languages?

Vilcek Foundation: Our application form includes two types of questions. For essay questions with a character limit, we encourage applicants to respond in English. For other questions that require materials such as portfolios, project descriptions, or press coverage, applicants may submit these in a non-English language, accompanied by translations.

NYFA: From the perspective of past jurors who are established curators and arts professionals, what makes for a strong portfolio? Are there any commonalities across applications that signal promise in an applicant?

Vilcek Foundation: A strong portfolio presents applicants’ work and artistry. It should show a distinctive artistic voice, highlight a range of materials used, and demonstrate sensitivity to the subject matter they are dealing with. Applicants who invest time putting together the pieces of their portfolio and crafting a compelling narrative through their work tend to engage the panelists more effectively. Since panelists review numerous applications, the portfolio should invite them to spend time with the work, reflect on it, and understand the story behind the pieces in particular and the artist’s identity as a whole.

NYFA: Do you have any other advice for immigrant artists as they apply for this and other grants and opportunities? 

Vilcek Foundation: We encourage applicants to carefully read the eligibility criteria and application instructions for any open calls for prizes or grants and to follow them closely. Provide detailed and succinct responses, and represent yourselves authentically. Lean on your network of peers to provide feedback on your application materials, such as the artist statement, proposals, and essay responses. Keep character limits in mind when drafting your responses, and upload materials in the format outlined in the application instructions. We recommend that applicants draft their responses outside of the application form and enter their answers only when they are ready. Please note that once an application is submitted, changes are not guaranteed due to the high volume of applications received during these open calls.

NYFA: From the Vilcek Foundation’s perspective, why is it important to support and celebrate immigrant artists? 

Vilcek Foundation: The arts need diversity to thrive. Diversity sparks dialogue. Diversity propels innovation. Diversity refines ideas. Immigrants from around the world bring different perspectives that are crucial to strengthening America’s cultural community. At the Vilcek Foundation, we honor these essential contributions by recognizing the accomplishments of immigrants and advocates for immigrants in the arts and sciences.

The 2025 Vilcek Foundation Prizes were recently awarded to 14 prizewinners. Join us in congratulating the newest cohort of recipients here.

We will update this article to include a link to the Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise in “Fashion and Design”and “Fashion and Culture” open call once it is made live on the Foundation’s website. Stay tuned for more!

This Sponsored Post is part of the Immigrant Artist Program Newsletter. Subscribe to this free monthly e-mail for artist’s features, opportunities, and events. Learn more about NYFA Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program.