Asian American Arts Alliance Seeks Submissions for 2017 Van Lier Fellowships in Music

The Asian American Arts Alliance is launching the 2017 Van Lier Fellowships in Music Composition and Music Performance for artists of Asian American descent who are 30 and under and based in New York City.

There is an open application process. Each fellow will receive a $12,000 cash stipend-an unprecedented amount dedicated to young Asian American artists-as well as a package of professional development opportunities that includes artistic mentorship with an established mid-career theater professional, leadership coaching, and technical assistance resources. The fellowships are supported by a grant from the New York Community Trust.

Interested applicants may view guidelines and eligibility at aaartsalliance.org/van-lier-2017-guidelines. Applicants can apply here starting February 22nd.

This is the second year of the Alliance's three-year cycle of fellowships for artists in theater, music and the visual arts. The inaugural 2016 Van Lier Fellowships (Cycle 1), was dedicated to theater artists and were awarded to director Seonjae Kim and performer Diana Oh. This year is dedicated to those pursuing a career in music.

The Alliance will award two eight-month fellowships (June 2017 to February 2018) to one music performer and one composer of Asian descent who are age 30 or under and based in the five boroughs of New York City. Fellows will be selected by a high-level review panel composed of leading music professionals whose names will be announced along with the fellows in June 2017.

Evaluation criteria for applicants will include: their work shows outstanding promise; they will benefit from further professional development; and they possess limited financial means.

"The Alliance is thrilled to be offering this extraordinary opportunity to young Asian American music professionals in New York City," said Andrea Louie, executive director of the Alliance. "This terrific program has never been more timely, as it helps support work in the field regarding representation, diversity, inclusion, and equity in the arts. It's our hope that programs such as the Van Lier Fellowships will help advance the careers of exceptional young Asian American musicians and composers at pivotal moments, providing the public recognition, financial support, and artistic guidance that will impact them across a lifetime of making work. We also hope the experience will help encourage these young artists to serve as mentors themselves, fostering a culture of generosity in what can be a challenging field."

The Sally and Edward Van Lier Fund at The New York Community Trust has been underwriting similar fellowships since 1991 at such nonprofit arts organizations as New Dramatists, The Lark Play Development Center, Second Stage Theatre, and the Asian American Writers' Workshop. The Trust carries out the Van Liers' legacy of arts appreciation by supporting arts groups and training programs. To read more about the fund's history, click here.

Asian American Arts Alliance is dedicated to strengthening Asian American arts and cultural groups through resource sharing, promotion, and community building. Since 1983, the Alliance has sought to unify, promote and represent the artistic and cultural producers of one of New York City's fastest­growing ethnic populations. The organization is a diverse alliance of artists, organizations, and arts supporters who believe that working together as a pan­ethnic, multidisciplinary community is essential to nurturing the development of artists and arts organizations and to providing meaningful and innovative ways for civic engagement in society. Visit www.aaartsalliance.org.