The Edward and Sally Van Lier Fellowship Program Grant

The Edward and Sally Van Lier Fellowship Program, funded by The New York Community Trust, provides grants to support historically underrepresented artists. It targets two development stages: young individuals aged 6-18 and young professionals aged 18-30. The program focuses on artistic training, mentorship, and opportunities for growth within New York City. Eligible organizations must facilitate artistic study and career development while ensuring recipients are not enrolled in degree-granting programs during funding.

The Edward and Sally Van Lier Fellowship Program makes grants to arts organizations to support historically underrepresented artists at two important stages of their artistic development: pre-professional, which describes the training and artistic growth of young people ages 6 to 18, prior to attending college or conservatory programs; and young professional, during which adults ages 18 to 30 seek to establish a career in the arts. We issue a separate Request for Proposals (RFP) for each level of development, typically in alternating years.

Eligibility

To be eligible for Van Lier funding, fellowship programs must:Help young people ages 6 to 18 pursue the study of one or more arts disciplines (e.g., filmmaking, theater, music, visual arts).Provide recipients with artistic training and related services (e.g., mentoring; opportunities to perform, exhibit, or publish artistic work; college preparation and visits).Be responsible for recruiting and selecting fellowship recipients, assuring that support and resources are provided, monitoring the artists’ progress over the term of the fellowship, and tracking subsequent professional career development.Be located and primarily take place within New York City’s five boroughs.