The Creative Catalyst Fellowship is an annual program of the AAPI Civic Engagement Fund for individual artists making public-facing work on issues affecting Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. The 2027 theme is Belonging, and up to eight fellows will each develop an artist-led project.
The program runs from January through December 2027 through virtual orientation and check-ins plus a required in-person retreat at a location still to be finalized. Fellows also receive communications and distribution support intended to help their work reach broader audiences.
Benefits & funding
- Each of up to eight fellows receives a $30,000 project grant.
- AAPI Fund covers travel and accommodation for the required February 16–18, 2027 retreat.
- Support may include communications consulting, digital promotion, community introductions, exhibition placement, and production of replicas such as posters or books.
- Artists retain ownership, while AAPI Fund requires reproduction rights for its charitable activities.
Eligibility
- Applicants must be individual artists aged 18 or older; organizations and minors are not eligible.
- The FAQ says international artists are not eligible, while also stating that U.S. citizenship is not required and that selected fellows outside the United States may submit a W-8BEN; applicants affected by this ambiguity should confirm eligibility with AAPI Fund.
- No educational qualification or professional-experience threshold is published.
- Eligible proposals include visual, digital, media-based, written, narrative, hybrid, and interdisciplinary work designed for public engagement.
- Previously funded Creative Catalyst Fellows may reapply three years after completing their prior fellowship.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
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Age requirement
≥ 18 yrs
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Application process
- 1Review the FAQ and shape an artist-led project around Belonging in an eligible, publicly engaging format.
- 2Prepare concise application responses and one PDF containing up to five relevant work samples, with portfolio or website links included in that PDF.
- 3Submit the online application form by October 15, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. PT.
- 4Applicants could attend either optional information session on September 1 or September 4, 2026.
Program timeline
Call for submissions opens.
August 13, 2026
Optional information sessions.
September 1 and September 4, 2026
Application deadline.
October 15, 2026, 11:59 p.m. PT
Fellows announced.
January 14, 2027
Fellowship period.
January–December 2027
Required in-person fellows retreat.
February 16–18, 2027
Artwork due.
August 15, 2027
Completed artwork promoted.
August–December 2027