Two emerging visual artists will receive $20,000 fellowships, mentorship, professional development support, and solo exhibitions at the Queens Museum.
The Emerging Artist Fellowship NYC opportunity from the QM-Jerome Foundation Fellowship Program is now accepting applications for its 2027-2028 cohort. The program will select two emerging visual artists living in New York City and provide each fellow with a $20,000 award, professional development consultations, mentorship from Queens Museum staff and an established New York-based artist, and a solo exhibition at the Queens Museum in 2028.
The fellowship is designed for early-career visual artists who are building public visibility and developing ambitious new projects. Applications are due September 28, 2026, at 11:59 PM EST.
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Emerging Artist Fellowship NYC Snapshot
What: QM-Jerome Foundation Fellowship for Emerging Artists
Who: Emerging visual artists residing in New York City
Where: Queens Museum, Queens, New York City, USA
Award / Support: $20,000 fellowship award, Professional development consultations, Mentorship from Queens Museum staff, Mentorship from an established New York-based artist, Solo exhibition at Queens Museum in 2028
Application Fee: FREE
Residency Duration: One-year fellowship (2027-2028)
Deadline: September 28, 2026, 11:59 PM EST
Official Link: Queens Museum Fellowship Program
Strategy Coach Notes: https://www.patreon.com/pformart/posts/strategy-coach-161613730
Get The Application Strategy
This fellowship includes a detailed application with work samples, a cover letter, a project proposal, and supporting materials. The strongest applications will demonstrate a developed artistic practice, a clear project that can benefit from a year of institutional support, and readiness for a museum exhibition context.
Join the Contemporary Performance network to access Strategy Coach Notes for this opportunity, including proposal structure, project positioning, work sample strategy, reviewer analysis, and application development guidance.
About the Emerging Artist Fellowship NYC
The QM-Jerome Foundation Fellowship for Emerging Artists supports visual artists working at an early stage of their public careers. The program focuses on artists who have developed a consistent practice but have not yet received significant institutional recognition. The fellowship provides financial support, mentorship, and curatorial engagement across a full year of project development.
The fellowship culminates in solo exhibitions at the Queens Museum in 2028. Throughout the year, fellows work closely with museum staff while developing a project for presentation. This structure creates an opportunity for artists to refine ideas, receive feedback, and navigate the process of developing work within a museum setting. The inclusion of professional development consultations and artist mentorship extends the program beyond exhibition production and supports long-term career growth.
The program is supported by the Jerome Foundation and specifically targets New York City-based emerging artists. The eligibility requirements establish a clear profile for applicants, emphasizing early-career artists with between two and ten years of professional artistic practice who have not yet reached major institutional milestones.
What Is Offered
- $20,000 fellowship award per artist
- Two artists selected
- One year of project development support
- Professional development consultations
- Mentorship from Queens Museum staff
- Mentorship from an established New York-based artist
- Solo exhibition at Queens Museum in 2028
- Curatorial support throughout the fellowship
- Inclusion in a museum-based fellowship cohort
Who Should Apply
This opportunity is intended for emerging visual artists living in New York City. Applicants should have an established body of work and a developing public profile while remaining early in their careers. The fellowship is particularly relevant for artists preparing to move from smaller exhibition contexts into larger institutional settings.
Eligible artists must currently reside in one of New York City’s five boroughs and maintain residency throughout the fellowship period. Artists enrolled in degree-granting programs are not eligible. Applicants should review the detailed eligibility criteria carefully, especially requirements related to exhibition history, previous grants, and years of professional practice.
Timeline
Applications Open: Now
Application Deadline: September 28, 2026, 11:59 PM EST
Fellowship Period: 2027-2028
Exhibitions: 2028
Artists Selected: Two
Why The Emerging Artist Fellowship NYC Matters
Museum fellowships with direct exhibition outcomes remain highly competitive and relatively rare. This program combines unrestricted financial support, institutional mentorship, professional development resources, and a solo exhibition platform. The year-long structure gives artists time to develop ambitious projects while building relationships with curators and mentors.
For artists seeking greater visibility within New York City’s visual arts ecosystem, the fellowship offers a significant opportunity to strengthen their practice and present new work within a major museum context.
Apply
Official Program Information:
Queens Museum Fellowship Application Information
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