The Asian Cultural Council is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit foundation supporting cultural exchange in the visual and performing arts between the United States and Asia, and between the countries of Asia. Headquartered in New York City, the ACC has representation in Hong Kong, Manila, Taipei, and Tokyo. Its geographic purview includes an extensive area of Asia, ranging from Afghanistan to Japan. Grants are made in the following fields, including both traditional and contemporary arts: archaeology, architecture (design, theory, and history), art history, arts administration, arts criticism, cinema, conservation, crafts, dance, design (not commercial), literature (Japan-U.S. Arts Program only), museology, music, new media, painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture, theater, and video.

Fellowships to individuals constitute the central feature of the ACC’s grant program, with an emphasis on awards to artists, scholars and specialists for research, study and creative work. Grants are also made to educational and cultural institutions engaged in projects of special significance to Asian-American exchange.