Individual Fellowship

The Individual Fellowship program provides support to artists and arts and culture professionals working in ACC’s eligible disciplines, empowering them to take risks, develop their artistic practices through research projects, and take time to immerse themselves in a different culture.

ACC emphasizes that an Individual Fellowship is not a residency, a fund to attend a singular conference, travel grant, or an individual’s personal public relations tour. Rather, ACC expects Individual Fellows to be self-directed and have focused research questions and/or activities that that enable and promote cultural immersion, dialogue, relationship-building, collaboration, and/or exchange of knowledge among peers.

Compared to the New York Fellowship, the Individual Fellowship has more flexibility and freedom regarding location and timing of travel, travel length, and budget.

Single and Joint Applicants
ACC will consider applications submitted by and designed to support one individual (a “single applicant”) as well as applications designed to support up to three (3) individuals (a “Primary Applicant” who submits the application on behalf of the group and two (2) “Co-Applicants”).  

In either the single or joint application, all eligibility criteria and fellowship requirements apply to all applicants (including co-applicants). In addition to meeting the same eligibility criteria (see below), co-applicants must commit to traveling during the full duration of the proposed fellowship activities (separate trips are not permitted) and must have equal levels of participation (no assistant or secondary roles). Further, ACC will not grant more than $35,000 USD for an Individual Fellowship, regardless of the number of individuals participating in the fellowship activities.

If you are applying alone, please select “Single Applicant” at the application selection screen. If you are applying with co-applicants, please select “Joint Applicants” at the application selection screen. Joint applicants should submit only one shared application.

Strong applications will include:

• A detailed overview of your fellowship activities. ACC does not expect a day-to-day schedule, but we are interested in how you intend to spend your time during an Individual Fellowship, what you hope to gain from this experience, and the impact that you hope these activities will have on you and on others.
• An explanation of the applicant’s interest in ACC's mission and how spending time abroad and exposure to new cultures will enable them to contribute to this mission.
• A clear explanation of the feasibility of your proposal, including the consideration of the accessibility of communities or cultural resources of interest, the logistics of transportation (especially to remote areas), accommodations, and language barriers.
• A reasonable budget that is realistic (based on typical and expected pricing) with regard to the plan of activities, travel costs, interpretation services (if necessary), and the cost of living in the country, territory, or region where the applicant is traveling to. Strong applications will justify expenses with explanations and/or links to cost estimates.
• Possible contacts and connections that will help you with your research and cultural immersion.
   

Individual Fellowship—Specific Eligibility
Please note that in the case of a joint application for an Individual Fellowship, all co-applicants must meet the general and Individual Fellowship-specific eligibility requirements.

• Must be over the age of 21 at the start date of an Individual Fellowship.
• Must be able to demonstrate at least five (5) years of experience in one of ACC’s eligible fields (see under General Eligibility).
• Applicants cannot be enrolled in university studies during the time of the fellowship.
• Joint applications that do not provide the required information for all co-applicants will not be considered.
   

Eligible Travel Directions
The Individual Fellowship program supports travel from:

• Asia-to-U.S.
• Intra-Asia
• U.S.-to-Asia (not available in this application cycle)

Individual Fellows have the flexibility to conduct fellowship activities in multiple countries, territories, or regions; however, it is important to consider logistical challenges and/or restrictions related to traveling to multiple destinations.

Grantees are responsible for securing visas, as needed, to travel to countries, territories, and regions within Asia. This includes collecting and submitting the necessary application materials, scheduling visa appointments, and paying for necessary fees, which may be paid with ACC grant funds if included in the budget.

Travel to the U.S. cannot occur prior to September 1, 2025, due to the time needed to administer J-1 visas.


Budget
ACC may award Individual Fellowship grants up to $35,000 USD. When creating a budget, please include the following information:

• Travel costs, including airfare (economy class only)
• Accommodation
• Daily expenses, including food and local transportation
• Costs and fees relevant to the research project
• Interpretation services, if necessary

Strong applications will provide reference points for budget categories (i.e. quotes or links for intended air travel, interpretation rates estimated by local contacts, etc.) and justification for any relatively significant expenses proposed, as needed (i.e. why X amount for item Y?).

Grant amounts awarded for an Individual Fellowship are subject to adjustments based on ACC’s review of the budget.  Please also note that grant amounts may be adjusted if there are changes to the proposed fellowship.


Support for Individual Fellows
ACC support services are intended to enhance a proposed plan of activity, give increased access to artistic communities and cultural resources in the chosen destination(s), and deepen one’s cultural exchange experience.

Please note that ACC does not have offices and staff throughout Asia; therefore, support such as making specific connections may be limited. Please keep this possibly limited programmatic and logistical support in mind while developing your proposal. Proposals should be feasible, with or without additional guidance from ACC.

Support that Individual Fellows may receive includes:

• Recommending sites to visit or activities in which to participate, especially in Hong Kong SAR, Japan, the Philippines, Taiwan ROC, and the United States.
• Connecting Individual Fellows to ACC’s broader community of current fellows and alumni.
• Administering the J-1 visa sponsorship and health insurance necessary for Individual Fellows who travel to the U.S.

 

FAQS for the Individual Fellowship

• How do the Individual Fellowship and New York Fellowship differ?
  • It may seem that the Individual Fellowship and New York Fellowship have the same application; however, there are several distinct differences. Please read the following to determine which application is best for you.  

Individual Fellowship	New York Fellowship
Proposals accepted for: Asia-to-U.S. and intra-Asia travel  (U.S.-to-Asia travel proposals will be accepted in the 2026 cycle opening in fall 2025.)	Proposals accepted for Asia-to-U.S. only. New York Fellows begin in New York City and may remain based in New York or spend their fellowship in other parts of the U.S.
Dates are self-determined, but please note the following: Proposed travel and activity timeline must fall within the grant period (August 1, 2025 – December 31, 2026). Minimum and maximum durations per Individual Fellowship travel and activity timeline: Asia-to-U.S.: 1 – 6 months Intra-Asia: 1 – 6 months cumulative, but Individual Fellows may spend less than one (1) month traveling to a particular country/territory/region at a time, upon prior approval from ACC, so long as their total fellowship is at least one (1) month in duration. U.S.-to-Asia: 1 – 6 months (U.S. applicants are currently not allowed to apply)	Start in January 2026 or July 2026 and last for six (6) months. Dates are non-negotiable.
Limited programmatic support at destination country/territory/region (e.g.: advice and connections to ACC alumni where possible.)	Regular programmatic support (e.g. advice, introductions to ACC alumni and connections, site visits, etc.)
Individual Fellows must identify housing on their own.	New York Fellows have the option of securing accommodation through ACC at International House (this is deducted from the grant amount) or identifying their own accommodations.
Up to three (3) individuals (including the Primary Applicant and co-applicants) can participate in the same Individual Fellowship.	Co-applicants are not allowed.
All Individual Fellows who travel to the U.S. are required to obtain a J-1 visa. ACC’s New York office will support the visa application process for U.S.-bound fellows. Individual Fellows who travel to or within Asia are responsible for securing visas, as needed.	New York Fellows must secure a J-1 visa to enter the U.S. for the fellowship. ACC’s New York office will sponsor New York Fellows’ visas. Please note that U.S. citizens and permanent residents are not eligible to apply for a New York Fellowship.

 

• How much funding may I ask for in an Individual Fellowship application?
  • You may ask for up to $35,000 USD for an Individual Fellowship. Please note that ACC’s awarded grant may differ from the amount requested. Furthermore, changes to proposals after being awarded may result in adjustments to the grant amount. Please also note that, for those applying in a joint application, ACC’s maximum grant amount for the whole group is $35,000 USD.
• How long can I travel on an Individual Fellowship?
  • 1 – 6 months cumulative, but Individual Fellows traveling within Asia may spend less than one (1) month traveling to a particular country/territory/region at a time, upon prior approval from ACC, and so long as their total fellowship is at least one (1) month. Fellows traveling from Asia to the U.S. must travel for at least one (1) month.
• How structured should an Individual Fellowship application be?
  • ACC encourages activities and research that advance cross-cultural exchange and immersion. Strong applicants will ensure that their proposal balances structured activities that support their fellowship objectives and time open for engaging with new cultures.
• Does my co-applicant need to create a separate application?
  • No, please select “Joint Application” and include all applicants in one (1) application.
• My co-applicant does not meet ACC’s eligibility guidelines, can I still apply?
  • All applicants must meet the eligibility requirements. You may still apply for an Individual Fellowship, but please reimagine your application without the co-applicant.
• Can I bring my spouse, partner, and/or children for the duration of an Individual Fellowship?
  • Spouses, partners, and/or children are welcome to visit for short-term stays during the fellowship term; however, guests are discouraged from accompanying Individual Fellows for the entire duration of the fellowship term. ACC is not responsible for visitors’ visas and logistics, and ACC funding cannot be used towards visitor expenses.
• My fellowship will take place in the U.S. Will ACC provide a visa to my spouse, partner, and/or children?
  • No, ACC does not provide visas to anyone except the Individual Fellow.
• Can ACC secure accommodation in the locations where I am traveling for my Fellowship?
  • No, ACC does not provide or arrange accommodations for Individual Fellows. For certain countries, territories, or regions, ACC may provide resources and guidance on housing; however, this is not guaranteed for every destination.
• Can I participate in an exhibition or conference while pursuing an Individual Fellowship?
  • ACC strongly encourages Individual Fellows to focus on their proposed activities and cultural immersion throughout the fellowship experience. In some cases, conferences, events, and exhibitions may directly relate to the proposed fellowship activities. However, Individual Fellows may not be allowed to accept payments for participating in these activities depending on the immigration, labor, and tax laws of the country, territory, or region where they pursue their fellowship (see question below). 
• Can I work or receive payments for my activities (e.g. conferences, lectures, writing articles) while pursuing an Individual Fellowship?
  • No. Individual Fellows must be mindful of relevant immigration, labor, and tax laws of the country, territory, or region where they pursue their fellowship. Such laws may prohibit or otherwise restrict fellows’ ability to engage in paid work activities for both domestic and international employers. Governments may consider paid activities to include, and thus restrict, participation in conferences or other events for a speaker fee. As a J-1 visa sponsor for Individual Fellows who travel to the U.S., ACC’s New York office will only authorize activities described in the fellowship proposal. ACC’s New York office will not authorize or support other paid work activities.
• Can I travel outside the destination country/territory/region during the fellowship (e.g. a trip to one’s home country)?
  • The Individual Fellowship is intended for uninterrupted, long-term cultural exchange and immersion. With the exception of medical or family emergencies, ACC strongly discourages grantees from leaving their destination country/territory/region during the fellowship. Individual Fellows who travel to the U.S. on a J-1 visa should stay in the U.S. during their fellowship, unless their fellowship proposal includes multiple countries/territories/regions. Individual Fellows traveling to the U.S. who wish to visit another country during their fellowship are required to sign ACC’s International Travel Liability Waiver.
• Will ACC sponsor my visa if I travel to or within Asia for my fellowship?
  • No, Individual Fellows who travel to or within Asia are responsible for securing their visas on their own. Fellows traveling to or within Asia must carefully review the travel information made available by the government of their destination country/territory/region and understand the requirements and procedures for securing visas and other travel permissions before applying for a fellowship. Fellows who are unsure of their eligibility to travel to their destination(s) should contact the nearest embassy or consulate of their travel destination for additional information.

 

To apply for the Individual Fellowship (single applicant), click the link below to register and/or log in to the GoApply application portal. For instructions on how to register in the GoApply portal, click HERE.

APPLY HERE

 

To apply for the Individual Fellowship (joint applicant), click the link below to register and/or log in to the GoApply application portal. For instructions on how to register in the GoApply portal, click HERE.

APPLY HERE