Immigrant Artist Resource Center
Founded to serve as a hub where immigrant artists can access resources, exchange ideas, collaborate, and amplify their voices in the American cultural landscape.
We help immigrant artists develop and present their works, foster community, and build a sense of belonging through career development programming and resources that support their overall wellbeing.
Examples include workshops on healthcare options, visa applications, and creating and locating opportunities, as well as networking events.
1-ON-1 CONSULTATIONS FOR IMMIGRANT ARTISTS
Looking for advice or feedback on how to start your career in the U.S.?
For a limited time, book a FREE 1-on-1 consultation session with an arts career consultant. The 1-on-1 career support program designed for immigrant artists is returning for the 2nd year, requested by popular demand and presented by the Immigrant Artist Resource Center. The program is made possible with generous support from the Tremaine Foundation.
Learn more about the consultants and book a session here.
1-on-1 Consultas para Artistas Inmigrantes
¿Busca consejos o comentarios sobre cómo comenzar su carrera en los EE. UU.?
Por tiempo limitado, reserve una sesión de consulta individual GRATUITA con un consultor de carreras artísticas. El programa de apoyo profesional 1 a 1 diseñado para artistas inmigrantes regresa por segundo año, solicitado por demanda popular y presentado por el Centro de Recursos para Artistas Inmigrantes. El programa es posible gracias al generoso apoyo de la Fundación Tremaine.
Obtenga más información sobre los consultores y reserve una sesión aquí.
一對一移民藝術家職涯諮詢
想了解如何在美國開啟您的藝術職涯？
移民藝術家資源中心（Immigrant Artist Resource Center）的移民藝術家一對一諮詢服務，因大受好評，今年限時推出免費諮詢服務。我們感謝翠冕基金會（Tremaine Foundation) 的慷慨支持。
ONE-OFF EVENTS
In-person or virtual events supporting immigrant artists’ arts careers and overall well-being. Click below for information:
Upcoming at NYFAPast programs presented by the Immigrant Artist Resource Center include “Every Artist Insured: Understanding Healthcare Options” and “The Art of Managing Money: Building Financial Stability and Credit.” To stay updated on the latest news and events, visit our news page and sign up for the Immigrant Artist Program newsletter.
IAP RESOURCE DIRECTORY
This directory provides the immigrant community a list of organizations to seek support in the arts and well-being New York City wide and nationally.
How to use the directory:
RESOURCES TO SUPPORT YOUR ARTS CAREER
NEW YORK CITY
If you live somewhere in the five boroughs of New York City, one of these local arts councils or alliances should be your first point of contact in your search for support and resources. Many of these organizations offer workshops and grants, present exhibits and performances, and offer web-based services such as free artist registries and location-specific resource listings.
- Bronx Council on the Arts
- Brooklyn Arts Council
- Lower Manhattan Cultural Council
- Queens Council on the Arts
- Council on the Arts & Humanities for Staten Island
Live outside of the City? Here is a list of Arts Councils and Centers in New York State.
OTHER RESOURCES
Both of these agencies offer support mainly to arts organizations and serve individual artists through resource listings, workshops and events calendars.
VARIED DISCIPLINES
- Asian Cultural Council
- Astraea National Lesbian Action Foundation
- Asylum Arts
- Black Rock Arts Foundation
- CEC Artslink
- Creative Capital
- Foundation for Contemporary Arts
- Jerome Foundation
- John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation
- M&T Charitable Foundation
- Mid-Atlantic Arts Foundation
- National Association for Latino Arts and Culture (NALAC)
- National YoungArts Foundation
- New York Community Trust
- NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellowship
- Pollock-Krasner Foundation
- Princess Grace Foundation – USA
- The Puffin Foundation
- The Vilcek Foundation
LITERARY ARTS
- The Academy of American Poets
- American Literary Review
- The Christopher Isherwood Foundation (for fiction)
- Graywolf Press
- National Endowment for the Arts
MEDIA AND FILM
- Cinereach
- Experimental Television Center
- Independent Television Service (ITVS)
- Latino Public Broadcasting
- Solaris: Completion Partners Fund
- Sundance Documentary Fund
- The Women in Film Foundation
- The Women in Film and Television International
PERFORMING ARTS
- Chamber Music America
- Dance Films Association
- The Dime Community Bank Fund for NYC Theatres
- Dramatists Guild Fund, Inc.
- The Franklin Furnace Fund for Performance Art
- American Theatre Wing
- The Multi-Arts Production Fund
- Musicians Foundation, Inc.
- New England Foundation for the Arts: National Dance Project
- Theatre Communications Group
- Jonathan Larson Grants through American Theatre Wing
VISUAL ARTS
- Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University (for photography)
- The W. Eugene Smith Memorial Fund, Inc. (for photography)
- The George and Helen Segal Foundation
- Virginia A. Groot Foundation (for sculptors)
- The Joan Mitchell Foundation
- Samuel and Adele Golden Foundation (for painters)
- The Ruth Chenven Foundation (for crafts)
- Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts
- The Sharpe-Walentas Studio Program
- Adolph and Esther Gottlieb Foundation, Inc.
CROWDSOURCED FUNDRAISING
FUNDRAISING ARTICLES AND TOOLS
- NYFA Classifieds Jobs – the one-stop shop for national arts jobs listings
- Idealist – international non-profit job listings
- Teaching Artist Source
- Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts – Pro-bono legal services to low-income artists and arts organizations, offers workshops on legal issues confronting artists, and advocates for the arts community through legal action. You can call the VLA Art Law Line with all your legal questions: (212) 319-2787, Ext. 1, Monday to Friday, 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
- The Legal Aid Society – Offers a number of specialized direct support programs and an online Self-Help Guide of legal resources
- Artists From Abroad – A complete online guide to immigration and tax requirements for foreign guest artists in the US.
- Business of Art: Legal – These articles cover all manner of legal and financial issues that artists confront, from marketing to housing, from website development to budgeting and tax preparation.
- Arts and Business Council – Joins the resources of the arts and business communities of New York, offering discounts, professional development services, and more to member organization and individuals
- The Artists’ Health Insurance Resource Center – The Actor’s Fund provides this online directory and resource center for all artists, including self-employed and freelancers, seeking affordable health insurance in the US. They also offer local seminars and opportunities to advocate for health care reform.
- Catholic Charities – Provides essential services to immigrants and newcomers to the U.S. Many Catholic Charities locations provide legal assistance. Find a location near you here.
- Fractured Atlas – Provides multiple programs and services that help artists and arts organizations be more effective as businesses, from health and liability insurance to advocacy and professional development.
- Freelancer’s Union – Free national membership organization that offer benefits like insurance and retirement to members and provides political advocacy for all independent workers.
- National Immigration Project – A national non-profit that provides assistance and technical support to immigrant communities, legal practitioners, and advocates in the areas of criminal & deportation defense to noncitizens Living with HIV/AIDS.
- New York City Housing Authority – Provides information on affordable housing.
- The New York City Human Resources Administration/ Department of Social Services (HRA/DSS) – Provides temporary help to individuals and families with social service and economic needs to assist them in reaching self-sufficiency – including Temporary Assistance, Medical Assistance, and Food Stamp (SNAP) Benefits.
IMMIGRANT LEGAL SUPPORT
An introductory listing of recurring and ongoing opportunities for funding, space, and creative and professional development that are open and amenable to immigrant artists.
ONLINE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND RESOURCES
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SERVICES IN NEW YORK
- Alliance of Resident Theatres: A.R.T./ New York Workshops
- Asian American Arts Alliance Workshops
- Creative Capital Workshops
- Harlem Arts Alliance Workshops
- Queens Council on the Arts
- The Field
ONLINE COURSES
- Dance Umbrella of Ontario: a free online workbook with basics in topics such as funding, planning, touring, and promotion (incorporation practices are different in Canada so this section is not relevant to U.S. artists).
- Fractured U: Fractured Atlas offers a series of online courses on topics from fundraising to financial management, from understanding presenting venues to working with agents.
MENTORSHIP AND ADVISORY PROGRAMS
NOTE: Also check the local arts councils listed above; most offer grants to local artists working or residing within their neighborhood/borough.
TOURING
RESIDENCY AWARDS
- LMCC Workspace & Swing Space
- Artists Alliance LES Rotating Studio Program
- HERE Artist Residency Program
- Smack Mellon Artist Studio Program
- The Sharpe-Walentas Studio Program
- Dieu Donne Papermill Workspace Program
- Art Omi
- Yaddo Residency
- Lower East Side Printshop Keyholder Residencies
- Triangle Arts International & National Residencies
- International Studio & Curatorial Program
- A.I.R. Gallery Fellowship
- Eyebeam Fellowship
- Res Artis: an organization of artist residencies worldwide in all discipline
- Residency Unlimited
- The Flux Factory
- Topaz Arts
- Movement Research
ARTIST REGISTRIES ONLINE
- Artists Space – Irving Sandler Artists File Online
- BRIC Contemporary Artist Registry
- Percent for Art Image Registry
- White Columns Artist Registry
To stay informed of the latest upcoming opportunities, sign up for the Immigrant Artist Program Newsletter – a free online publication with deadlines, tips, features, and more. For a complete listing of opportunities for artists, you can search NYFA Source, the nation’s most extensive directory of awards, services, and publications for artists.
From short-term residencies and rehearsal spaces to long-term studio rentals, many artists require physical space to build their practice. Beyond the residency awards listed above, there are lots of ways to search for affordable workspaces. Here are some resources:
- NYFA Classifieds – Space Directory – rental listings for visual artists’ studios
- Trestle Art Space – gallery and studio space for visual artists and writers
- Chez Bushwick – subsidized performing arts studio rentals
GALLERIES, ARTS SPACES, AND PRESENTERS
RESOURCES TO SUPPORT YOUR OVERALL WELL-BEING
Through efforts in outreach and research, this directory is curated with priority to accessibility and relevance.
Helpful Notes Before You Read On:
• We provide the organization with their website, preferred contact information, core services, and languages that they specifically offer.
• Many of the organizations provide translation services therefore please reach out if the language you are looking for is not specified.
- FWD.us is an advocacy organization created to help organize the broader tech community to promote a bipartisan policy agenda–including comprehensive immigration reform, education reform, and support for scientific research–that will boost the knowledge economy to ensure more jobs, innovation, and investment, now and in the future.
- Immigration Equality is focused on providing free legal services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and HIV-positive immigrants, including: asylum seekers forced to flee to the U.S. to find safety; binational couples and families separated by oceans; detainees trapped in immigration jail facilities, undocumented LGBT immigrants living in the shadows inside the U.S.
- NYFA Emergency Resources Page
- Tamizdat is a sympathetic and affordable artist-oriented Visa Service designed to help performing artists to navigate the US visa system.
- Upwardly Global provides resources for immigrant professionals and employers who are looking to find jobs back in their field in the United States.
African Communities Together
Phone: (347) 746-2281
Email: [email protected]
Core Services:
- Advocacy and Community engagement
- Labor and Employment
- Legal Services and lawful status
Languages: French, Arabic
CUNY Citizenship and Immigration Project
Phone: (646) 344-7245
Email: [email protected]
Core Services:
- Advocacy and Community engagement
- Legal Services and lawful status
- Youth and Education
Immigrant Justice Corps
Phone: (212) 407-3417
Email: https://justicecorps.org/contact/
Core Services:
- Advocacy and Community engagement
- Legal Services and lawful status
Immigrant Financial Justice Project
Phone: (212) 680-5100
Email: https://www.neweconomynyc.org/about-us/contact/
Core Services:
- Advocacy and Community engagement
- Youth and Education
International Center
Phone: (929)504-2596
Email: https://www.newintlcenter.org/contact-us.html
Core Services:
- Legal Services and lawful status
- Youth and Education
Legal Service NYC
Phone: (917) 661-4500
Core Services
- Advocacy and Community engagement
- Health Care and Insurance
- Housing
- Public Assistance
- Safety
Languages: Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese
Make the Road NY
Phone: (718) 418-7690
Email: https://maketheroadny.org/contact/
Core Services:
- Advocacy and Community engagement
- Health Care and Insurance
- Housing
- Legal Services and lawful status
- Safety
- Youth and Education
Languages: Spanish
Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs
Hotline: 212-788-7654
Legal Help: 800-354-0365
Email: [email protected]
Core Services:
- Advocacy and Community engagement
- Labor and Employment
- Legal Services and lawful status
- Public Assistance
New Immigrant Community Empowerment
Phone: (718) 205-1687
Core Services:
- Advocacy and Community engagement
- Labor and Employment
- Legal Services and lawful status
- Public Assistance
- Safety
- Youth and Education
New Women New Yorkers
Email: [email protected]
Core Services:
- Advocacy and Community engagement
- Labor and Employment
New York Immigrant Coalition
Phone: 212-627-2227
Email: [email protected]
Core Services:
- Advocacy and Community engagement
- Health Care and Insurance
- Public Assistance
- Youth and Education
Office for New Americans (New York State)
Hotline: 1-800-566-7636 (support 200+ languages)
Core Services:
- Legal Services and lawful status
- Health Care and Insurance
- Labor and Employment
- Public Assistance
- Youth and Education
Sakhi for South Asian Women
Phone: (212) 714.9153
Help Line: (212) 868.6741
Email: [email protected]
Core Services:
- Housing
- Labor and Employment
- Legal Services and lawful status
- Safety
- Youth and Education
Languages: Urdu, Panjabi, Napal
The New York Historical Society Citizenship Project
The New York Historical Society offers free civics and American history classes, among other educational and digital learning tools to help immigrants in the naturalization process.
Phone: (212) 873-3400
Email: [email protected]
Core Services:
- Advocacy and Community engagement
- Youth and Education
UnLocal, Inc.
Phone: (646) 216-8210
Email: [email protected]
Core Services:
- Advocacy and Community engagement
- Legal Services and lawful status
- Youth and Education
Languages: Mandarin, Spanish
Organizations listed below are categorized based on their office locations. Most of the organizations serve people from all backgrounds and across all boroughs.
Casita Maria Center for Arts & Education
Phone: (718) 589-2230
Email: [email protected]
Core Services:
- Youth and Education
Languages: Spanish
Mekong NYC
Phone: (347) 918-9220
Email: https://mekongnyc.org/contact-us
Core Services:
- Advocacy and Community engagement
- Public Assistance
- Safety
- Youth and Education
Languages: Vietnamese, Khmer
Sauti Yetu Center for African Women and Families
Phone: 718-665-2486
Email: http://www.sautiyetu.us/contact
Core Services:
- Advocacy and Community engagement
- Legal Services and lawful status
- Safety
- Youth and Education
Organizations listed below are categorized based on their office locations. Most of the organizations serve people from all backgrounds and across all boroughs.
Arab American Association of New York
Phone: (718) 745-3523
Email: [email protected]
Core Services:
- Advocacy and Community engagement
- Health Care and Insurance
- Labor and Employment
- Legal Services and lawful status
- Youth and Education
Languages: Arabic, Spanish
Brooklyn Defender Services
Phone: (718) 254-0700
Email: [email protected]
Core Services:
- Housing
- Labor and Employment
- Legal Services and lawful status
- Public Assistance
CAMBA
Phone: 718-287-2600
Email: [email protected]
Core Services:
- Health Care and Insurance
- Housing
- Labor and Employment
- Legal Services and lawful status
- Safety
Chinese American Planning Council – Brooklyn Community Center
Phone: (718) 492-0409
Email: [email protected]
Core Services:
- Health Care and Insurance
- Labor and Employment
- Legal Services and lawful status
- Public Assistance
- Youth and Education
Languages: Mandarin, Cantonese
Mixteca
Phone: (718) 965-4795
Email: [email protected]
Core Services:
- Health Care and Insurance
- Legal Services and lawful status
- Youth and Education
Languages: Spanish
Fifth Avenue Committee
Phone: (718) 237-2017
Email: [email protected]
Core Services:
- Advocacy and Community engagement
- Housing
- Labor and Employment
- Legal Services and lawful status
- Public Assistance
- Youth and Education
Languages: Mandarin, Spanish
Organizations listed below are categorized based on their office locations. Most of the organizations serve people from all backgrounds and across all boroughs.
Alianza (Dominican Cultural Center)
Phone: (917) 242-0811
Email: https://cccsny.org/contact-us
Core Services:
- Housing
- Labor and Employment
- Legal Services and lawful status
- Public Assistance
- Safety
- Youth and Education
Languages: Spanish
Asian Americans for Equality – Manhattan Office
Phone: (212) 979-8381
Email: [email protected]
Core Services:
- Advocacy and Community engagement
- Health Care and Insurance
- Housing
- Legal Services and lawful status
- Public Assistance
- Youth and Education
Languages: Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Spanish
Chinese American Planning Council – Manhattan Community Center
Phone: (212) 941-0030
Email: [email protected]
Core Services:
- Health Care and Insurance
- Labor and Employment
- Legal Services and lawful status
- Public Assistance
- Youth and Education
Languages: Mandarin, Cantonese
Hudson Guild
Phone: (212) 760-9800
Email: [email protected]
Core Services:
- Advocacy and Community engagement
- Health Care and Insurance
- Youth and Education
Languages: Mandarin, Cantonese, Spanish
People’s Theatre Project
Phone: (646) 398-9062
Email: https://peoplestheatreproject.org/contact-2/
Core Services:
- Advocacy and Community engagement
- Youth and Education
Languages: Spanish
Organizations listed below are categorized based on their office locations. Most of the organizations serve people from all backgrounds and across all boroughs.
Adhikaar
Phone: (718) 937-1117
Email: [email protected]
Core Services:
- Advocacy and Community engagement
- Health Care and Insurance
- Labor and Employment
- Legal Services and lawful status
- Public Assistance
Languages: Nepali, Hindi, Tibetan
Center for the Integration and Advancement of New Americans (CIANA)
Phone: (718) 545-4040
Email: [email protected]
Core Services:
- Advocacy and Community engagement
- Legal Services and lawful status
- Public Assistance
- Youth and Education
Languages: Spanish, Bangla, Arabic, Greek
Asian Americans for Equality – Queens Offices
Flushing Office Phone: 718-961-0888
Jackson Heights Office Phone: 718-316-9993
Email: [email protected]
Core Services:
- Advocacy and Community engagement
- Health Care and Insurance
- Housing
- Legal Services and lawful status
- Public Assistance
- Youth and Education
Languages: Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Spanish
Chinese American Planning Council – Queens Community Center
Phone: (718) 358-8899
Email: [email protected]
Core Services:
- Health Care and Insurance
- Labor and Employment
- Legal Services and lawful status
- Public Assistance
- Youth and Education
Languages: Mandarin, Cantonese
Desis Rising Up & Moving
Phone: (718) 205-3036
Email: [email protected]
Core Services:
- Advocacy and Community engagement
- Labor and Employment
- Legal Services and lawful status
- Youth and Education
Languages: South Asian Languages
Hellenic American Neighborhood Action Committee (HANAC)
Phone: (212) 840-8005
Email: [email protected]
Core Services:
- Health Care and Insurance
- Housing
- Labor and Employment
- Legal Services and lawful status
- Safety
- Youth and Education
MinKwon Center for Community Action, Inc.
Phone: (718) 460-5600
Email: [email protected]
Core Services:
- Advocacy and Community engagement
- Health Care and Insurance
- Housing
- Labor and Employment
- Legal Services and lawful status
- Public Assistance
- Youth and Education
Languages: Korean, Mandarin
Sunnyside Community Services
Phone:(718) 784-6173
Email: [email protected]
Core Services:
- Advocacy and Community engagement
- Labor and Employment
- Legal Services and lawful status
- Public Assistance
- Youth and Education
New New Yorkers Program at Queens Museum of Art and Queens Library
In partnership with the Queens Library, the Queens Museum’s New New Yorkers program offers free multilingual classes to meet the needs of adult immigrant communities in Queens.
Phone: 718.592.9700 x135
Email: [email protected]
Core Services:
- Advocacy and Community engagement
- Youth and Education
Organizations listed below are categorized based on their office locations. Most of the organizations serve people from all backgrounds and across all boroughs.
El Centre del Inmigrante
Phone: (347) 825-2086
Core Services:
- Advocacy and Community engagement
- Health Care and Insurance
- Labor and Employment
Languages: Spanish
Sauti Yetu Center for African Women and Families
Phone: 718-665-2486
Email: http://www.sautiyetu.us/contact
Core Services:
- Advocacy and Community engagement
- Legal Services and lawful status
- Safety
- Youth and Education
CONTACT IAP
In addition to exploring all the resources listed above, you can always contact the Immigrant Artist Program directly. Our program staff do not always have time to meet in person, but are happy to answer specific questions via phone or email.
Phone: (212) 366-6900 Ext. 224
Email: [email protected]
- Sign up for the Immigrant Artist Program Newsletter
- Check our blog for upcoming events and opportunities
Image Detail: Lily & Honglei, whose “The Stereotype” project is Fiscally Sponsored by NYFA, presenting a socially-engaged art project in Flushing Chinatown, NY, 2022, Photo Credit: Korea Art Forum
