Open Call for Creative Catalyst Fellowship (United States)

Deadline: 15-Oct-2026

The Creative Catalyst Fellowship provides $30,000 in funding to individual artists creating public-facing work that addresses issues affecting Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities. The yearlong fellowship combines financial support with professional development, networking, communications assistance, and opportunities to expand the reach of selected projects.

About the Creative Catalyst Fellowship

The Creative Catalyst Fellowship supports artists who use creative work to encourage civic participation, public dialogue, community engagement, and greater understanding of AAPI experiences. The fellowship centers on the theme of “Belonging,” emphasizing community, inclusion, identity, connection, and recognition of the contributions of AAPI communities. Rather than supporting projects solely for private artistic development, the program prioritizes work that can engage broader audiences and stimulate meaningful conversations around issues affecting AAPI communities. What Does the Fellowship Support? Selected fellows receive financial and professional support to develop a creative project that is designed for public engagement and wider dissemination. The strongest projects should explain what issue they address, who they seek to engage, how the creative work will create that engagement, and how the work can reach audiences beyond its initial presentation. How the Creative Catalyst Fellowship Works The fellowship follows a yearlong development and engagement model.

Step 1: Submit an Individual Artist Application

Artists apply individually with a proposed creative project that aligns with the fellowship’s goals.

Step 2: Project Selection

Applications are reviewed to identify artists whose work demonstrates strong creative potential and meaningful engagement with issues affecting AAPI communities.

Step 3: Join the Fellowship Cohort

Selected artists become members of the yearlong Creative Catalyst Fellowship cohort.

Step 4: Participate in Fellowship Activities

Fellows take part in:

Virtual orientation. Online check-ins. Professional development opportunities. Peer and cohort engagement. A two-day in-person retreat.

Step 5: Develop the Creative Project

Each fellow uses the $30,000 grant to develop and produce the proposed work.

Step 6: Expand Public Reach

Through communications support, digital advertising, organizational connections, exhibition opportunities, and potential replica development, fellows are supported in expanding the project’s public impact. Public Engagement and Project Impact A key feature of the fellowship is its focus on portable and reproducible creative work. This means applicants should consider how their work could potentially be: Presented in different communities. Adapted for different audiences. Exhibited or distributed through partner organizations. Replicated or reproduced. Used to stimulate discussions or community engagement. Shared through digital or other public platforms. Applicants should therefore think beyond the initial production of an artwork and consider its long-term audience and community impact. Application Tips Applicants can strengthen their proposals by clearly connecting the creative project to the fellowship’s priorities.

Consider the following:

Define the issue clearly: Explain the AAPI community issue your work addresses.

Explain the creative approach: Show how your artistic medium communicates the issue.

Identify the audience: Describe who will experience or interact with the work.

Demonstrate public value: Explain how the project can encourage dialogue, awareness, or civic participation.

Address “Belonging”: Show how the project relates to community, inclusion, identity, or connection.

Think about scalability: Explain whether the project can travel, be reproduced, or reach multiple communities.

Demonstrate feasibility: Make clear how the $30,000 fellowship support will help you successfully complete the project.

Highlight partnerships: Where appropriate, identify potential relationships with AAPI organizations or community groups.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applicants should avoid proposals that:

Focus exclusively on personal artistic development without a clear public-engagement component. Do not establish a connection to AAPI communities. Lack a clearly defined social or community issue. Present a project that cannot reasonably be shared with the public. Apply as an organization rather than as an individual artist. Ignore the fellowship’s emphasis on portability or reproducibility. Assume that international applicants are eligible simply because U.S. citizenship is not required. Key Fellowship Facts

Program: Creative Catalyst Fellowship

Funding: $30,000 per selected fellow

Applicant type: Individual artists

Minimum age: 18 years

Citizenship: No U.S. citizenship requirement

Tax documentation: W-9 or W-8BEN required for selected fellows

International artists: Not eligible

Duration: One year

Theme: Belonging

Focus: Asian American and Pacific Islander communities

Retreat: Two-day in-person retreat with travel and accommodation covered

Additional support: Communications, digital advertising, networking, exhibition placement, and replica development opportunities

Eligible disciplines: Visual, digital/media, written/narrative, hybrid, and interdisciplinary work

FAQ: What is the Creative Catalyst Fellowship?

The Creative Catalyst Fellowship is a yearlong program that provides $30,000 to individual artists creating publicly engaging work addressing issues affecting Asian American and Pacific Islander communities.

FAQ: How much funding does each fellow receive?

Each selected fellow receives $30,000 to produce and develop their proposed creative project.

FAQ: Who can apply for the Creative Catalyst Fellowship?

Individual artists aged 18 or older can apply. Organizations and minors are not eligible.

FAQ: Do applicants need to be U.S. citizens?

No. The fellowship does not require U.S. citizenship. However, selected fel