Asian American Arts Alliance Launches Van Lier Fellowships for Asian American Actors and Directors

The Asian American Arts Alliance is launching the 2016 Van Lier Fellowships in Acting and Directing for theater artists of Asian 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 apply online here: http://aaartsalliance.org/page/van-lier.

The Alliance will be offering a three-year cycle of fellowships for artists in theater, music and the visual arts. The inaugural 2016 Van Lier Fellowships (Cycle 1), will be dedicated to theater artists. The Alliance will award two eight-month fellowships (July 2016 to February 2017) to one actor and one director 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 theater professionals whose names will be announced along with the fellows in June 2016. 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 theater professionals in New York City," said Andrea Louie, executive director of the Alliance. "The launch of this terrific program has never been more timely, particularly with campaigns such as #OscarsSoWhite, which raise awareness of the systemic issues of 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 theater artists 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, please visit here.