Artist Protection Fund

What is the Artist Protection Fund (APF)? The Artist Protection Fund (APF) is a three-year pilot program at the Institute of International Education. With funding from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, APF will make life-saving fellowship grants to threatened artists from any field of artistic endeavor, and place them at host universities and arts centers in safe countries where they can continue their work. How can my organization help? The Institute welcomes expressions of interest from arts organizations around the world interested in hosting threatened artists. Hosts can be traditional university art education programs and arts residencies, as well as arts centers, performing arts organizations and less traditional artistic communities. Hosts will be requested to match the fellowship support, through contributions that may include housing, studio space, art supplies, and other support from their networks. I\’m a threatened artist. How can I apply? The Institute welcomes inquiries from threatened artists directly or from individuals or institutions nominating threatened artists for support. APF is for artists who are facing or have recently fled from immediate, severe, and targeted threats to their lives and/or careers in their home countries or countries of residence. Who Is Eligible? Artists from any country and artistic discipline may qualify. Applications are reviewed for artistic merit, the quality/potential of the applicant\’s work, and the severity of the threats that the applicant faces. Preference is given to artists who: are facing or have recently fled from immediate, severe, and targeted threats to their lives and/or artistic practice in their home countries or countries of residence; demonstrate accomplishment and promise in their artistic practice; will benefit their home and/or host communities. We encourage applications from women and members of ethnic, racial, cultural, or religious minority groups, or those otherwise underrepresented in their fields. Please note that APF does not grant fellowships to students seeking to continue their academic studies. In addition, APF gives priority to individuals still living in their home country or who have recently fled. APF typically does not consider applications from individuals who have been displaced or in exile for more than two years, or who hold citizenship or other permanent status in a second country. Please direct any questions to . Applications and submissions are accepted at any time throughout the year, on a rolling basis. Upcoming Deadline: In order to be considered for the upcoming Selection Committee Meeting, all application materials must be received by December 1st, 2016.