Opportunities in Focus: Grants and Open Calls for Emerging Artists

The Asian Cultural Council (ACC) grants support emerging artists and curators. Announced on October 2, 2023, this year’s open call invites applicants to develop projects that cross cultural and disciplinary boundaries. Founded in 1963 in New York City, the ACC prioritises cross-cultural exchange. Its grants target artists and scholars in Asia and the United States, fostering essential dialogues. The programme guidelines encourage proposals that highlight "the transformative power of cultural exchange." Since its inception, the ACC has supported over 6,000 individuals, including renowned figures like composer Tan Dun and choreographer Eiko Otake.

The 2024 cycle features two categories: Individual Fellowships for independent projects and Organisation Collaboration Grants for partnerships between cultural institutions. Individual grants range from $5,000 to $20,000, while organisational collaborations can secure up to $50,000. Both categories prioritise emerging voices, especially those lacking large-scale institutional support.

For many recipients, ACC funding provides financial assistance and networking opportunities. Nisha Chaudhary, a 2020 grantee and multidisciplinary artist from Mumbai, stated, "The grant made it possible to relocate temporarily to New York, where I connected deeply with the South Asian diaspora artist community." These connections influenced her series on archival storytelling, exhibited at Mumbai’s Project 88.

ACC’s emphasis on cross-cultural exchange reflects broader trends in the art world. Recent discussions about globalism in creative production often focus on market expansion. The biennial circuit—Venice, São Paulo, Kochi-Muziris—frequently prioritises capital over ideas. In contrast, organisations like the ACC promote global dialogue through local collaboration.

Emerging practitioners face challenges as public institutions tighten acquisition budgets and private foundations favour established artists. A 2022 Knight Foundation report revealed that only 15% of US-based arts funding reached individuals. The ACC’s grants help address this imbalance by funding artists directly, avoiding the restrictive conditions of commercial galleries or institutional residencies.

Applications for the 2024 ACC grant cycle close on December 1, 2023. The review process includes evaluating portfolio materials, project feasibility, and alignment with ACC’s ethos. Funding is open to various media; filmmakers, sound artists, sculptors, and performance artists have all received grants. This openness aligns with the ACC's commitment to experimentation.

Other autumn open calls echo similar priorities. The Prince Claus Fund for Culture and Development in Amsterdam is accepting applications for its 2024 Seed Awards, targeting creatives in the Global South. The Sharjah Art Foundation in the UAE has launched an architecture-focused residency programme promoting sustainability in design. These initiatives indicate a growing recognition in arts philanthropy of the need to diversify funding recipients and supported projects.

Despite these efforts, the funding landscape remains uneven, particularly in regions like South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, where public arts funding is often scarce. In these contexts, private grants from the ACC become increasingly vital. The focus on cross-cultural collaboration is significant in a polarised geopolitical environment, where cultural diplomacy can counter isolationist policies.

Artists interested in applying to the ACC grant programme can find guidelines and past recipient lists on the organisation’s website. Submissions must include a detailed project proposal, budget outline, and timeline. Letters of recommendation, while optional, are strongly advised.

While the ACC’s funding may not resolve systemic imbalances in the art market, it offers a model worth examining. Rather than viewing artists solely as market-ready producers, the programme sees them as cultural interlocutors, emphasising process over product. This shift opens doors for new work and encourages fresh thinking about the role of art.