While most Americans know the Fulbright program as an organization that funds American scholars who wish to research abroad, fewer people realize that the organization also funds scholars--and artists--who wish to undertake work in the United States.
The application and grant administration policies vary widely by country, as the Fulbright Program for Foreigners is administered by offices in each country.
Artists should look into the processes required by their country to apply for funding to work in the United States. Usually, a Fulbright scholarship covers educational tuition and fees (if the artist is pursuing graduate work) as well as a living stipend, and may cover other expenses. Once artists have been accepted into the Fulbright Program, the Institute of International Education finds them positions at universities and supervises their work during the duration of their grants.
Fulbright Program
IIE Headquarters / Northeast
809 United Nations Plaza
New York NY 10017-3580
Tel: 212-883-8200
iie.org
A large organization funded by the estates of artists Jackson Pollock and his wife, Lee Krasner, the Pollock-Krasner foundation gives numerous grants each year to international artists. In 2008-2009, they gave out 125 grants to artists from around the world, totaling more than $2,000,000. They have no application deadline and look at applications on a rolling basis, with two main criteria in mind: recognizable artistic merit and financial need.
The foundation doesn't support artists who work in commercial art, photography, video art, film, and several other fields. Applicants should verify that their work qualifies before applying.
The application approval process can be lengthy, taking from nine months to a year, and the foundation may request additional information at any time during the process.
The Pollock-Krasner Foundation, Inc.
863 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10075
Telephone: (212) 517-5400
pfk.org
Many countries and regions have grants specifically earmarked for artists, including those who wish to pursue their work abroad. Scandinavia gives many grants to such artists as does the Asian Cultural council.
The Asian Cultural Council is an excellent example of such a program: the council gives grants to Asian individuals to work or train in America and to Americans wishing to work or train in Asia. They fund numerous projects, with an average individual grant of around $8,000 for six months, in the fields of archaeology, architecture, art history, arts administration, arts criticism, film, photography, video, conservation, crafts, dance, non-commercial design, literature, museology, music, new media, painting, sculpture, and installation, printmaking, and theater.
Asian Cultural Council
6 West 48th Street, 12th Floor
New York, New York, 10036-1802
USA
Tel: (1) 212-843-0403
asianculturalcouncil.org