AICA‑USA Art Critic Fellowship Grant

AICA‑USA Art Critic Fellowship Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: International Association of Art Critics – USA Section (AICA‑USA)
Amount: Approximately US $1,000
Last Updated: September 16, 2025

Summary

The AICA-USA Art Critic Fellowship is an initiative aimed at fostering critical writing within the arts community. This six-week program offers fellows the opportunity to engage with experienced mentors through lectures and one-on-one sessions, culminating in the development of a published criticism piece. With a focus on inclusivity, the program encourages applicants from diverse backgrounds and provides stipends to support participation, highlighting the importance of thoughtful art criticism in today's cultural landscape.

Overview

AICA-USA AICA-USA is the United States section of the Association Internationale des Critiques d'Art (hence our acronym), which was founded in 1950 in Paris to revive the critical discourse that had suffered under fascism and the Second World War and to develop international co-operation in the fields of artistic creation and cultural development. At present there are 63 member nations representing more than 5,000 art critics. Headquartered in New York, AICA-USA is one of the association's largest national sections with over 500 distinguished critics, curators, scholars, and art historians working throughout the United States. AICA‑USA Art Critic Fellowship About the Program AICA-USA is excited to announce the Art Critics Fellowship Program, reflecting our ongoing commitment to supporting critical writing within a vibrant arts ecosystem. As the oldest professional organization for art critics and writers in the United States, we believe that thoughtful criticism is essential—not only for the arts community but also for enriching the experiences of individual viewers, writers, and artists alike. While writing programs continue to shrink and many publications are reducing or eliminating their cultural coverage entirely, the central tenet of our charter — the support of art criticism as a discipline – has never felt more pressing. Over six weeks, fellows will engage in four lectures led by award-winning editors and writers to discuss the joys and concerns of writing and editing art criticism today, and will meet one-on-one with their assigned mentors to develop a piece of criticism for publication on the AICA-USA website. We embrace an expansive definition of art, which includes performance, dance, video art, and other transmedia practices. Each of our mentors comes with a distinct voice, area of focus, scholarly positions, sets of concerns, editorial background and mediums. From radio to small press to newspapers to academic forums, each mentor brings a rich diversity that speaks to the different avenues that artists and critics take on the way to publication in this 21st century landscape. We particularly encourage applicants from non-traditional backgrounds to apply. To enhance accessibility, the program is hybrid, allowing for in-person meetings when fellows and mentors are in the same location, with lectures streamed online. When applying, please indicate any accessibility measures that would support your participation in the program. Fellows are required to meet with their assigned mentor at least four times over the course of the program, and to attend every lecture. There is no cost to attend, and Fellows will be awarded a stipend of $750 to cover potential lost wages while participating in the Fellowship and will be compensated according to W.A.G.E. standards for their work upon publication in the amount of $250.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Applicants must be 24 years or older and reside in the United States or Puerto Rico.You must be able to attend all program dates.You must be legally eligible to complete and submit a W-9 form.Students are welcome to apply.Although it's not required, applicants are encouraged to have an interest in visual arts, writing, criticism, art history, and contemporary visual culture