lower east side young artists of color fellowship 2026

FAB’s Lower East Side (LES) Young Artists of Color Fellowship supports early career artists in exploring creative practices centered on community engagement and cross-sector collaboration.

The fellowship aims to help these artists build a peer network of mutual support, meet with experienced artists & producers of color to help shape strategies for furthering their work in the field, and participate in a culminating public showcase of original projects.

We developed the Fellowship in recognition of the diversity of the Lower East Side community and its many cultures, and the need for FAB to play a role in the development of a generation of artists who reflect that diversity.

The Fellowship was developed particularly to support POC artists who live in the Lower East Side, although we accept applications for any young artist who is a NYC resident. We define the Lower East Side as including the area from 14th Street to Canal, Bowery to the East River, as well as Chinatown. This includes Loisaida, the East Village, and all of Community District 3.

CALENDAR

13 Fellowship Sessions in person at FAB, 70 East 4th Street

Mondays February 16 - May 18 
6:30pm-8:30pm 

Culminating Showcase at FAB's theater and studio, 70 East 4th Street
Please note that our spaces are non-traditional exhibition spaces. Fellows will work with FAB staff to find creative ways to activate these spaces for the culminating showcase. 

   Monday May 11 - Friday May 15 - Setup and install, final rehearsals

   Friday May 15 - Sunday May 17 - Exhibit / installation/ public performance 
   Sunday May 17 - Breakdown

All sessions and participation in the culminating showcase are mandatory.

There may also be up to two field trips which will take place either on a weekend day or a weekday evening during the fellowship period, time to be agreed upon. 

Applications are being accepted now through midnight on December 7, 2025. 

Please note FAB is closed December 20-January 4. Due to the December holidays, we expect to notify accepted applicants in mid January.