2027–2028 A.I.R. FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM

DEADLINE: November 10, 2026 at 11:59 PM ET

Info Session: TBA

Notification: April 2027


Established in 1993 by artist Stephanie Bernheim, the A.I.R. Fellowship Program for Emerging and Underrepresented Women and Non-Binary Artists has enabled more than 130 artists to realize their first solo exhibition in New York City with the support of the A.I.R. community. The Fellowship Program annually awards six emerging artists based in New York City with their first solo exhibition, professional development programming, curatorial support, and mentorship during a 12-month fellowship that runs September–August.

Intended to support artists in building sustainable and enriching artistic practices, the program provides participants with career-changing, lifelong resources and community in a space that encourages creative risk-taking and intergenerational dialogue. Central to the program are a series of professional development workshops on subjects such as grant writing and exhibition design, close collaboration with an A.I.R. artist mentor, and scheduled studio visits throughout the year, including one with a selection panelist.

Since 2009, A.I.R. has named one yearly A.I.R. Fellowship seat in memory of the artist, activist, writer, and feminist Emma Bee Bernstein (1985–2008). In recognition of Emma’s significant contributions as a young artist, the youngest A.I.R. Fellowship recipient receives the honor of holding the Emma Bee Bernstein Fellowship seat. Since 2024, A.I.R. has annually named one Louise H. McCagg Fellow in honor of artist, philanthropist, feminist, and mother Louise H. McCagg (1936–2020).

The A.I.R. Fellowship Program is made possible by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council and the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature, as well as the generous support of The Arison Arts Foundation, The Milton and Sally Avery Arts Foundation, The Bernheim Foundation, The Every Page Foundation, The Teiger Foundation, The Wilhelm Family Foundation, The Wolf Kahn Foundation, Materials for the Arts, and individual donors to the Emma Bee Bernstein Fellowship and Louise H. McCagg Fellowship Funds.

Learn more about our current and past Fellows here.

 

Eligibility

  • A woman or non-binary visual artist working in any media

  • 18 years of age or older

  • A resident of the five boroughs of New York City (Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, the Bronx, and Staten Island) for the full duration of the Fellowship (September 2027–August 2028)

  • Have not had a solo exhibition at a permanent venue in NYC in the last 10 years

  • Not a student or enrolled in any degree-granting program at the time of the program (September 2027–August 2028)

  • Not participating in a comparable development, fellowship, or residency program at the time of the program (September 2027–August 2028)

  • Not currently a member, employee, or board member of A.I.R. Gallery, and have not previously had a solo show at A.I.R.

  • Not a Fellowship Program alum

 

Benefits

  • 4–5 Professional development workshops led by professionals in the field (Fall 2027)

  • A solo exhibition at A.I.R. Gallery (Spring/Summer 2028)

  • An artist-mentor at A.I.R. Gallery to work with throughout the program

  • One-on-one studio visit with one of the review panelists

  • Ongoing studio visits and support from A.I.R. staff

  • A stipend of $3,000

Apply Here

PLEASE NOTE: THIS APPLICATION IS AN ANONYMOUS REVIEW. None of your submitted materials may include your name (including the file name or body of images, statement, CV, or any other submitted files). If a submitted file contains or is titled with the artist’s name, the submission will be disqualified and the applicant will not be permitted to re-apply until the next Fellowship cycle.

Selection Process

The selection review process is completely anonymous. The review is conducted in three rounds by a three-person panel of outside curators, critics, and established artists. Artists are evaluated based on the quality of and commitment to their work, as well as their potential to significantly benefit from the Fellowship Program’s support. A final interview and selection is made by A.I.R. Members and Staff. Six artists will be awarded a fellowship.

The 2027–2028 A.I.R. Fellowship panelists are:

Ada Potter is an artist and curator living in Brooklyn. She has an MFA in Sculpture from Pratt Institute and a BA in Art History and Studio Art from Barnard College. She is the Founder and Director of Parent Company, a non-profit artist-run gallery space. She has participated in exhibitions at A.I.R Gallery, Public Swim, NADA Governors Island, Elizabeth Foundation for the Arts, and Transmitter Gallery.

Jo-ey Tang is an artist, writer, and curator, who experiments with the formats of versions, repetitions, and iterations as an ongoing engagement with time, history, and forms of knowledge. He has curated exhibitions and commissions internationally, including at Centre Pompidou, Paris; Blaffer Art Museum, University of Houston; The Lab, San Francisco; and Pinacoteca de São Paulo. In 2015, he conceived arms ache avid aeon: Nancy Brooks Brody / Joy Episalla / Zoe Leonard / Carrie Yamaoka: fierce pussy amplified, in collaboration with co-founding members of art collective fierce pussy, drawing upon the resonances of their individual and collective practices. He is an advisory committee member of Slash, San Francisco, and has served as Director at KADIST San Francisco; Director of Exhibitions at Beeler Gallery at Columbus College of Art & Design; Curator at Palais de Tokyo; and Arts Editor at n+1.

Mindy Seu (b. 1991, California) is an artist and technologist based in Los Angeles and New York City whose practice focuses on technology-driven performance and publication. A SEXUAL HISTORY OF THE INTERNET (2025) follows her first book CYBERFEMINISM INDEX (2023), a pseudo-encyclopedia that gathers three decades of online activism and net art, which was commissioned by Rhizome, premiered at the New Museum, and awarded a Graham Foundation Grant. Mindy is currently teaching as an Associate Professor at University of California, Los Angeles in the Department of Design Media Arts.

FAQ

DO I NEED TO BE AN AMERICAN CITIZEN TO APPLY FOR THE A.I.R. FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM?
No, but you must live in the greater New York City metropolitan area for the duration of the program. A.I.R. is unable to provide sponsorship to artists seeking a visa.

IF I AM BASED IN THE GREATER NY METROPOLITAN AREA BUT NOT NEW YORK CITY ITSELF, AM I ELIGIBLE FOR THE FELLOWSHIP?

No. Applicants must live or maintain a studio within New York City’s five boroughs (Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, the Bronx, and Staten Island) to be eligible for the Fellowship program.

SHOULD I APPLY WITH MY PAST WORK OR SKETCHES FOR A NEW PROJECT I AM PLANNING TO DO WHILE AT A.I.R. ?
Your application should include examples of your strongest and most representative work created in the past three years. Please do not submit sketches or images of works-in-progress.

CAN I BE A STUDENT AT THE TIME OF THE APPLICATION IF I WILL GRADUATE BEFORE THE PROGRAM BEGINS IN SEPTEMBER?
Yes, as long as you will not still be enrolled in a degree-granting program at the time the Fellowship starts (September 2027).

IF I HAD A SOLO SHOW AT A POP-UP GALLERY IN THE LAST 10 YEARS DOES THAT MAKE ME INELIGIBLE?
Only artists who have had a solo show at a permanent venue in New York City in the last 10 years are ineligible. Permanent venues include commercial galleries, non-profit exhibition spaces, museums, and universities. A solo show at a temporary/pop-up space, art fair, or non-art space is NOT disqualifying. A two-person or group show at a permanent venue is NOT disqualifying. If you have any questions regarding whether your exhibition history makes you ineligible, please email us.

CAN I SUBMIT MULTIPLE IMAGES OF THE SAME PROJECT WITHIN ONE IMAGE?
Please only submit ONE view of a work per image. We have found that composite images or multiple angles of a work can make it harder for reviewers to understand what they are looking at.

DO YOU ACCEPT APPLICATIONS FROM ARTIST TEAMS OR COLLABORATIVE GROUPS?
Yes, however, your exhibition must be collaborative as opposed to a group show. The joint application must demonstrate that you have a history of working together collaboratively. You must submit only one application and set of materials for all members, and these materials (including the CV) should reflect your past collaborative work rather than the work of each individual member. The stipend would be split among the collaborators.

I HAVE PLANS TO TRAVEL DURING THE FELLOWSHIP. CAN I STILL APPLY FOR THE PROGRAM?
We understand that 12 months is a long time, however, it is important that all Fellows are present and able to participate in-person in order to make the most of the Fellowship experience. A Fellow should plan to miss no more than two scheduled monthly events during the course of the program.

I ACCIDENTALLY UPLOADED THE WRONG FILE/MADE A MISTAKE ON MY APPLICATION. CAN I REPLACE IT WITH A CORRECTED ONE IF IT IS STILL BEFORE THE DEADLINE?
You can make changes and save your Submittable application up until you submit. Check over your work before submitting to make sure everything is correct. After that your application is final. Please do not contact A.I.R. regarding edits to your application.

IF MY APPLICATION IS INCOMPLETE, WILL A.I.R. LET ME KNOW?
The applicant is responsible for reading and abiding by all guidelines for the A.I.R. Fellowship Program as well as the application instructions.

IF I AM ACCEPTED INTO THE A.I.R. FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM, WHAT IS EXPECTED OF ME?
Community is one of the most vital and important aspects to a fulfilling experience at A.I.R. Gallery. The best way to participate in the Fellowship Program is to attend openings, gallery events, and engage with mentors and our community of artists. The mandatory criteria to complete a successful Fellowship are: executing a solo exhibition, holding a group discussion during your exhibition, and participating in programmed professional development workshops.

HOW CAN I MAKE SURE I’M SUBMITTING A STRONG APPLICATION?
In an effort to help artists understand the Fellowship Program and learn tips for putting together a really great application, A.I.R. will host a FREE info session. Attendance is not mandatory, however we strongly encourage applicants to attend if possible. A video recording of the session will be made available to those unable to attend.

If you have a question not answered above, please email us!