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 at San Antonio, TX is currently open. Learn more and apply here

Questions? Contact Immigrant Artist Program at [email protected] or call (212) 366-6900, ext. 224.

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.

APLICA

El período de solicitud para el Programa de Mentoría de Artistas Inmigrantes 2024 en San Antonio, TX está actualmente abierto. Aprende más y aplica aquí

¿Preguntas? Comuníquese con el Programa de Artistas Inmigrantes en [email protected] o llame al (212) 366-6900, ext. 224.

TESTIMONIALS FROM PREVIOUS PARTICIPANTS
TESTIMONIOS DE PARTICIPANTES ANTERIORES

“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: San Antonio is made possible by the generous support of: San Antonio Area Foundation. In-kind support is provided by: University of Texas, San Antonio (UTSA).

Our thanks to the the following foundations supporting all our services for Immigrant Artists: Consolidated Edison; Deutsche Bank; Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund; New York Community Trust; Pollock-Krasner Foundation;  Tremaine Foundation; and Vilcek Foundation.

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.

Additional NYFA supporters.

APOYO FINANCIERO

El Programa de Mentoría de Artistas Inmigrantes de la NYFA es posible gracias al generoso apoyo de: San Antonio Area Foundation. In-kind support is provided by: University of Texas, San Antonio (UTSA).

El apoyo a los Programas de Aprendizaje de NYFA incluye: 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.

Apoyo adicional de la NYFA disponible.

2024 IMMIGRANT ARTIST MENTORING PROGRAM: VISUAL & MULTIDISCIPLINARY ARTS

Mentee Melika AbikenariMultidisciplinary (Iran), paired with Mentor Brigitta Varadi, Interdisciplinary (Hungary).

Mentee Andrés AltamiranoVisual (Ecuador), paired with Mentor Rhoda Khalifeh, Multidisciplinary (Syria).  

Mentee Min Kyong BaekVisual (South Korea), paired with Mentor Ivanna Brenner, Multidisciplinary (Argentina).

Mentee Lana BolychevaVideo/Film/New Media (Russia), paired with Mentor Merle AugustinVideo/Film/New Media (Haiti).

Mentee Gabriela BornsteinVisual (Brazil), paired with Mentor Fay KuVisual (Taiwan).

Mentee Doreen ChanSocially-Engaged Practice (Hong Kong), paired with Mentor Yeseul SongVideo/Film/New Media (South Korea).

Mentee Nelise CharlesMultidisciplinary (Grenada), paired with Mentor Alva Mooses, Multidisciplinary (United States). 

Mentee Ruoyun ChenVideo/Film/New Media  (China), paired with Mentor Luz ZamoraVideo/Film/New Media (Venezuela).

Mentee Rocio DelaloyeVideo/Film/New Media (Argentina), paired with Mentor Gal NissimInterdisciplinary (Israel).

Mentee Lafina EptaminitakiMultidisciplinary (Greece), paired with Mentor Kakyoung Lee, Multidisciplinary (South Korea). 

Mentee Tika GzirishviliVisual (Georgia), paired with Mentor Sky PapeVisual (Canada).

Mentee Lee JensenFolk/Traditional Arts (Denmark), paired with Mentor Fanny Allié, Multidisciplinary (France).

Mentee Doi KimVisual (South Korea), paired with Mentor Ezra WubeMultidisciplinary (Ethiopia).

Mentee Jisook Kim, Visual (South Korea), paired with Mentor Simone Couto, Multidisciplinary (Brazil). 

Mentee Mari NagemVisual (Brazil), paired with Mentor Jennifer Wen MaVisual (China).

Mentee Azadeh NiaVisual (Iran), paired with Mentor Jeremy OlsonMultidisciplinary (United States).

Mentee Eiko NishidaSocially-Engaged Practice (Japan), paired with Mentor Jemila MacEwanInterdisciplinary (Scotland and Australia).

Mentee Johan OrellanaVisual (Ecuador), paired with Mentor Andrew KungVisual (United States). 

Mentee Hadeel SaalokVisual (Syria), paired with Mentor Tijay MohammedMultidisciplinary (Ghana).

Mentee Vera Saldivar de Lira, Multidisciplinary (Mexico), paired with Mentor Samantha Box, Visual (Jamaica). 

Image: Merche Blasco (Fellow in Digital/Electronic Arts ’17), Sonic Bloom, Photo: David Rehor