The Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program pairs immigrant artists from all disciplines with artist mentors who provide their mentees with one-on-one support.
NYFA's Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program is the only known program of its kind in the United States, and has provided close to 200 NYC-based immigrants with mentorship, community, and exposure for their work since it was founded in 2007. The New York program includes sessions in Visual/Multidisciplinary Art, Performing and Literary Arts, and Social Practice. In 2017, NYFA received a 2-year grant from Ford Foundation to support the expansion of the program to Detroit, MI; Newark, NJ; Oakland, CA; and San Antonio, TX.
This is a competitive program open to artists from all disciplines (performing, literary, and visual) and provided free of charge to accepted participants.
The Program fosters a community, providing opportunities to connect with other immigrant artists through group meetings, peer learning, and informal gatherings with program alumni. Through access to other artists, arts professionals, and organizations, the program offers immigrant artists the opportunity to focus on their creative practice, gain support and exposure for their work, while upholding their distinct identities. Many of the mentors are immigrant artists themselves, and understand the challenges of sustaining one’s art practice while navigating different cultural perspectives in the art world. Each cycle has proven to be an invaluable experience for mentees and mentors alike, and artists often remain connected well beyond the program.
Please sign up for the free ConEdison Immigrant Artist Program Newsletter and NYFA's general newsletter NYFA News if you are interested in hearing about future programs.
Questions? Contact IAP at i.outreach@nyfa.org or call (212) 366-6900, ext. 219.
There are no upcoming deadlines at this time.
"I am very honored to be part of the Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program. It is an amazing program that helps immigrant artist, both Mentee and Mentor, to gain perspective, exchange experiences and come up with strategies to further their artistic careers in the United States. More importantly, the program has created a vibrant International Artist community in New York that is really unique. The participants feel supported by each other and the collaborations that came out of the program are amazing. I hope to be back soon!"
"I am proud to be associated with this unique and forward-thinking program of NYFA's in my role as an immigrant writer in fostering American literature with global perspectives and insights. Kudos to IAP program and its dedicated staff, many of them immigrant artists themselves!"
"As always, I am humbled by the depth and quality of services provided by NYFA to immigrant artists. This program is incredibly meaningful for participants in terms of community building and establishing systems for collaboration and support."
The 2019 NYFA Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program is made possible by the generous support of Deutsche Bank, Ford Foundation, Rubin Foundation, and The Vilcek Foundation.
Mentee Bushra AL Fusail, Visual (Yemen), paired with Mentor Colleen Gutwein O'Neal, Visual (United States).
Mentee Mic Boekelmann, Visual (Philippines), paired with Mentor Katrina Bello, Visual (Philippines).
Mentee Diana Candelejo, Visual (Ecuador), paired with Mentor Matt Gosser, Multidisciplinary (United States).
Mentee Shiza Chaudhary, Visual (Pakistan), paired with Mentor Yvette Molina, Visual(United States).
Mentee Ron Dai, Interdisciplinary (China), paired with Mentor Fayemi Shakur, Multidisciplinary/Literary (United States).
Mentee Kimmah Dennis, Visual (Ghana), paired with Mentor Ceaphas Stubbs, Visual (United States).
Mentee Gisel Endara, Interdisciplinary (Ecuador), paired with Mentor Paula Neves, Visual (United States).
Mentee Bouchra Hachem, Multidisciplinary (Lebanon), paired with Mentor Shauna Kanter, Performing (United States).
Mentee Coney Ishida, Visual (Japan), paired with Mentor Malik Whitaker, Visual (United States).
Mentee Mariejon de Jong-Buijs, Multidisciplinary (Netherlands), paired with Mentor Jen Mazza, Visual (United States).
Mentee Jin Jung, Interdisciplinary (South Korea), paired with Mentor Anne Trauben, Visual (United States).
Mentee Alverson Layne, Interdisciplinary (Guyana), paired with Mentor Sally Helmi, Visual (Egypt/United States).
Mentee Ole Lie Vandal, Multdisciplinary (Dominican Republic), paired with Mentor Alfonse Pagano, Visual (United States).
Mentee Mani Martinez, Multidisciplinary (Mexico), paired with Mentor Ananda Lima, Literary/Visual (Brazil).
Mentee Olufunke Ogundimu, Literary (Nigeria), paired with Mentor Fayemi Shakur, Multidisciplinary/Literary (United States).
Mentee Adishetu Oyibo, Multidisciplinary (Nigeria), paired with Mentor Sarah Walko, Visual (United States).
Mentee Franc Pena, Interdisciplinary (Honduras/Ecuador/USA), paired with Mentor Jo-El Lopez, Visual (Puerto Rico).
Mentee Eka Pramuditha, Interdisciplinary (Malaysia), paired with Mentor Kati Vilim, Visual (Hungary).
Mentee Agnieszka Wszolkowska, Visual (Poland), paired with Mentor Daniela Puliti, Visual (United States).
Mentee Asya Abdrahman, Multidisciplinary (Ethiopia), paired with Mentor Kristian Kabuay, Multidiscplinary/Folk & Traditional (Philippines).
Mentee Katherine Agard, Interdisciplinary (Trinidad and Tobago/Ghana), paired with Mentor Jason Wyman, Multidisciplinary (United States).
Mentee Etty D Alberto-Zamora, Visual (Honduras/Belize), paired with Mentor Kelly Ording, Visual (United States).
Mentee Byb Chanel Bibene, Multidisciplinary (Republic of Congo), paired with Mentor Melanie Wofford, Arts Administration/Performing (United States).
Mentee Kristiana Li-Yen Chan, Visual (Canada/Malaysia), paired with Mentor Alice Wu, Visual/Multidisciplinary (United States/Taiwan).
Mentee Daniel Chein, Film/New Media (Taiwan), paired with Mentor Kwesi D. Wilkerson, Performing/Literary (United States).
Mentee Paola de la Calle, Visual (Colombia), paired with Mentor PJ Policarpio, Multidisciplinary (United States).
Mentee Alisson Göthz, Visual (Brazil), paired with Mentor Jason Wyman, Visual (United States).
Mentee Patricia Leal, Interdisciplinary (Brazil), paired with Mentor Beth Waldman, Visual (United States).
Mentee Izidora Leber Lethe, Interdisciplinary (Croatia), paired with Mentor Brian Conley, Visual (United States).
Mentee Andreina Esther Maldonado Sosa, Performing (Venezuela), paired with Mentor Aimee Suzara, Performing/Literary (Philippines/United States).
Mentee Anthonia Onyejekwe, Film/Video/New Media (Nigeria), paired with Mentor Tossie Long, Performing/Multidisciplinary (United States).
Mentee Ginika Oruche, Film/Video/New Media (Nigeria), paired with Mentor Destiny Muhammad, Performing (United States).
Mentee Reaa Puri, Film/New Media (India), paired with Mentor Shalini Agrawal, Visual/Multidisciplinary (India).
Mentee Lydia Queriani, Multidisciplinary (Philippines), paired with Mentor Ely Sonny Orquiza, Multidisciplinary/Film/Video/New Media (Philippines).
Mentee Keyvan Shovir, Multidisciplinary (Iran), paired with Mentor Megan Wilson, Interdisciplinary (United States).
Mentee Anita Sulimanovic, Visual (Croatia), paired with Mentor Taro Hattori, Visual/Film/New Media (Japan).
Mentee Rupy C. Tut, Folk & Traditional Arts (India), paired with Mentor Karen Fiss, Visual/Folk & Traditional (United States).
Mentee Dor Wand, Film/Video/New Media (Israel), paired with Mentor Lyz Luke, Performing (United States).
Mentee Juniper Yun, Multidisciplinary (South Korea), paired with Mentor Mayumi Hamanaka, Visual/Multidisciplinary/Curatorial (Japan).
Mentee Caroline Binet Royall, Visual (France), paired with Mentor Kim Bishop, Visual (United States).
Mentee Lulu Castillo, Visual (Mexico), paired with Mentor Brandy Gonzalez, Visual (United States).
Mentee Fernanda Michelle Covarrubias, Multidisciplinary (Mexico), paired with Mentor Michael Menchaca, Visual (United States).
Mentee Anna de Luna, Performing (Mexico), paired with Mentor Victoria García-Zapata, Literary (United States).
Mentee Josué Esau, Visual (Honduras), paired with Mentor Alan Serna, Visual (Mexico).
Mentee Juan Carlos Escobedo, Visual (Mexico), paired with Mentor Luis Valderas, Interdisciplinary (United States).
Mentee Sergio Fr, Visual (Mexico), paired with Mentor Hiromi Stringer, Visual (Japan).
Mentee Galileo Gonzalez, Visual (El Salvador), paired with Mentor Fernando Andrade, Visual (Mexico).
Mentee Beatriz Guzman Velasquez, Interdisciplinary (Mexico), paired with Mentor Jennifer Ling Datchuk, Visual (United States).
Mentee Evan Ho, Video/Film/New Media (Taiwan), paired with Mentor Guillermina Zabala, Multidisciplinary (Argentina).
Mentee Fernando Lorenzo, Folk/Traditional Arts (Mexico), paired with Mentor Ricky Armendaríz, Visual (United States).
Mentee Mireydi, Video/Film/New Media (Mexico), paired with Mentor Guillermina Zabala, Multidisciplinary (Argentina).
Mentee Josue Ramirez, Visual (Mexico), paired with Mentor Ashley Mireles, Visual (United States).
Mentee Natalia Rocafuerte, Multidisciplinary (Mexico), paired with Mentor Suzy González, Visual (United States).
Mentee Gabriela Zebadua, Visual (Mexico), paired with Mentor Sabine Senft, Visual (Germany).
Mentee Bifoli 2, Visual (Taiwan), paired with Mentor Armita Raafat, Visual (Iran).
Mentee Ololade Adeniyi, Visual (Nigeria), paired with Mentor Alicia Grullón, Multidisciplinary (United States).
Mentee Yael Ben-Simon, Visual (Israel), paired with Mentor Marco Scozzaro, Visual/Multidisciplinary(Italy).
Mentee Julia Brandão, Multidisciplinary (Brazil), paired with Mentor Rosemarie Fiore, Visual/Multidisciplinary (United States).
Mentee Riaki Enyama, Visual (Japan), paired with Mentor Jennifer Schmidt, Visual/Multidisciplinary (United States).
Mentee Ana Maria Farina, Visual (Brazil), paired with Mentor Sophia Chizuco, Visual (Japan).
Mentee Floor Grootenhuis, Visual (Kenya), paired with Mentor Sue Jeong Ka, Visual/Multidisciplinary (South Korea).
Mentee Sarah Zarina Hakani, Visual (India), paired with Mentor Golnar Adili, Visual (Iran).
Mentee Ziyu He, Multidisciplinary (China), paired with Mentor Sophie Kahn, Visual (United States).
Mentee Sizhu Li, Multidisciplinary (China), paired with Mentor Dain DeltaDawn, Visual (United States).
Mentee Orr Menirom, Visual (Israel), paired with Mentor Elise Rasmussen, Visual (Canada).
Mentee Maryam Mir, Multidisciplinary (Canada/Kashmir), paired with Mentor Kit Yi Wong, Visual/Multidisciplinary (Hong Kong/China).
Mentee Nazanin Noroozi, Visual (Iran), paired with Mentor Kakyoung Lee, Visual/Multidisciplinary (South Korea).
Mentee Robert O’Shea, Multidisciplinary (Ireland), paired with Mentor Larry Krone, Visual (United States).
Mentee Masahito Ono, Visual (Japan), paired with Mentor Helen Dennis, Visual (UK).
Mentee Ernesto Ortiz Leyva, Visual (Mexico), paired with Mentor Takuji Hamanaka, Visual (Japan).
Mentee Supermrin, Multidisciplinary (India), paired with Mentor Daniela Kostova, Multidisciplinary (Bulgaria).
Mentee Lyto Triantafyllidou, Visual (Greece), paired with Mentor Kuldeep Singh, Visual/Multidisciplinary (India).
Mentee Htet T San, Visual (Myanmar), paired with Mentor Zohar Kfir, Visual (Israel).
Mentee Hanae Utamura, Visual (Japan), paired with Mentor Nooshin Rostami, Visual (Iran).
Mentee Luisa Valderrama, Visual (Colombia), paired with Mentor Katya Grokhovsky, Multidisciplinary (Ukraine/Australia).
Mentee Chen Wang, Multidisciplinary (China), paired with Mentor Luiza Kurzyna, Visual/Multidisciplinary (Poland).
Mentee Tina Wang, Multidisciplinary (China), paired with Mentor Jodie Lyn-Kee-Chow, Visual (Jamaica).
Mentee Shiraz Ahmed, Film/New Media (Pakistan), paired with Mentor Osvaldo Rivera, Performing (United States).
Mentee Ievgeniia Andrusiak, Visual (Ukraine), paired with Mentor Oksana Mirzoyan, Visual (Armenia/Azerbaijan).
Mentee Adrian Buncuga, Literary (New Zealand), paired with Mentor Katie McGowan, Performing/Literary (United States).
Mentee Edgar Cardenas, Visual (Mexico), paired with Mentor Andrea Eckert, Visual/Multidisciplinary (United States).
Mentee Cinthya Elizabeth Casillas, Literary (Mexico), paired with Mentor Nandi Comer, Literary (United States).
Mentee Ann Esshaki, Literary (Iraq), paired with Mentor Ajara Alghali, Performing (Sierra Leone).
Mentee Aiko Fukuchi, Literary (Japan), paired with Mentor Shaun Nethercott, Literary (United States).
Mentee Margarita Grishina, Film/New Media (Kazakhstan), paired with Mentor Levon Kafafian, Multidisciplinary (United States).
Mentee Julianna Gonzalez, Performing (Colombia/Puerto Rico), paired with Mentor Christina deRoos, Visual (United States).
Mentee Baraa Ktiri, Multidisciplinary (Morocco), paired with Mentor Sherrine Azab, Performing (United States).
Mentee Tammy Lakkis, Multidisciplinary (Lebanon), paired with Mentor Ava Ansari, Multidisciplinary (Iran).
Mentee Simona Lucut, Visual (Romania), paired with Mentor Katrina Daniels, Curator (United States).
Mentee Abhishek Narula, Interdisciplinary (India), paired with Mentor Paulina Petkoski, Visual/Fashion (United States).
Mentee Demetrio Nasol, Interdisciplinary (United States), paired with Mentor Oksana Mirzoyan, Visual (Armenia/Azerbaijan).
Mentee Thaad Sabolboro, Film/New Media (Philippines), paired with Mentor Christina deRoos, Visual (United States).
Mentee Lauren Santucci, Visual (United States), paired with Mentor Ava Ansari, Multidisciplinary (Iran).
Mentee Alberte Tranberg, Visual (Denmark), paired with Mentor Laura Gajewski, Visual (United States).
Mentee Valeria Zozaya, Visual (Mexico), paired with Mentor Mary Gagnon, Visual/Literary (United States).
Mentee Migguel Anggelo, Performing (Venezuela), paired with Mentor Volker Goetze, Performing (Germany).
Mentee Pascual Brodsky, Literary (Chile), paired with Mentor Vivan Yang, Literary (United States).
Mentee Maria Alejandra Barrios Vélez, Literary (Colombia), paired with Mentor Chia-Lun Chang, Literary (Taiwan).
Mentee Valeria Carboni, Performing (Italy), paired with Mentor Martita Abril, Performing (Mexico).
Mentee Peta Coy, Performing (Australia), paired with Mentor Jonathan Cerullo, Performing (United States).
Mentee Kritika Dey, Performing (India), paired with Mentor Cândida Borges, Performing (Brazil).
Mentee Laurie Deziel, Performing (Canada), paired with Mentor Felice Lesser, Performing (United States).
Mentee Noa Fort, Performing (Israel), paired with Mentor Deanna Witkowski, Performing (United States).
Mentee Bud-Erdene Gankhuyag, Literary (Mongolia), paired with Mentor Ambika Samarthya, Literary (India).
Mentee Sofia Gutierrez Losada, Performing (Colombia), paired with Mentor John Infante, Literary (United States).
Mentee Minhui Lee, Performing (South Korea), paired with Mentor Eunbi Kim, Performing (United States).
Mentee Meher Manda, Literary (India), paired with Mentor Amy Lawless, Literary (United States).
Mentee Kal Mansoor, Literary/Performing (England), paired with Mentor Dave Hall, Performing (United States).
Mentee Mila Milosevic, Performing (Serbia), paired with Mentor Marija Sajkas, Literary (Serbia).
Mentee Christopher Nunez, Performing (Costa Rica), paired with Mentor Runn Shayo, Performing (Israel).
Mentee Samira Sadeque, Literary (Bangladesh), paired with Mentor Marwa Helal, Literary (Egypt).
Mentee Fernando Vieira, Literary (Ecuador), paired with Mentor Ricardo Maldonado, Literary (United States).
Mentee Mehmet S. Yildirim, Performing (Turkey), paired with Mentor Eugene Marlow, Ph.D., Performing (United Kingdom).
Mentee Nana Duffuor, Multidisciplinary (Ghana/United States), paired with Mentor Aimee Suzara, Performing (Philippines/United States).
Mentee Eun Kyung (Judy) Kim, Literary (South Korea), paired with Mentor Vernon Keeve, Literary (United States).
Mentee Pluma Sumaq, Literary (Ecuador/Peru/United States), paired with Mentor Angelique Paramore, Multidisciplinary (United States).
Mentee Colette Eloi, Interdisciplinary (Haiti), paired with Mentor Angelique Paramore, Multidisciplinary (United States).
Mentee Itoro Udofia, Interdisciplinary (Nigeria), paired with Mentor Natriece Spicer, Visual (United States).
Mentee Nkeiruka Oruche, Multidisciplinary (Nigeria), paired with Mentor Kwesi Wilkerson, Performing (United States).
Mentee Reynaldo Culannay, Visual (United States), paired with Mentor Jason Wyman, Visual (United States).
Mentee KyungBae Jeon, Visual (South Korea), paired with Mentor Jason Wyman, Visual (United States).
Mentee Carmen Roman, Performing (Peru), paired with Mentor Ernesto Sopprani, Performing (Peru).
Mentee Hager Asefaha, Multidisciplinary (Eritrea), paired with Mentor Kara Q. Smith, Visual (United States).
Mentee Onyinye Alheri, Multidisciplinary (Nigeria), paired with Mentor Kara Q. Smith, Visual (United States).
Mentee Manar Harb, Interdisciplinary (Palestine), paired with Mentor Kim Anno, Visual (United States).
Mentee Melissa San Miguel, Interdisciplinary (Peru/United States), paired with Mentor Kim Anno, Visual (United States).
Mentee Hamere Seble, Folk/Traditional Arts (Ethiopia), paired with Mentor Jennifer Ross, Visual (United States).
Mentee Kanat Ibragimov, Visual (Kazakhstan), paired with Mentor Ely Sonny Orquiza, Performing (Philippines).
Mentee Andrea Rivas, Visual (Honduras/United States), paired with Mentor Ashley Mireles, Visual (United States).
Mentee Ernesto Ibanez, Visual (Mexico), paired with Mentor Claudio Aguillon, Visual (Mexico).
Mentee Merle Mory, Visual (Venezuela), paired with Mentor Lorena Angulo, Art Jewelry (Mexico).
Mentee Sergio Mata, Visual (Mexico), paired with Mentor Ana Fernandez, Visual (United States).
Mentee Hayfer Brea, Visual (Venezuela), paired with Mentor Guillermina Zabala, Multidisciplinary (United States/Argentina).
Mentee Jorge Villarreal, Visual (Mexico), paired with Mentor Guillermina Zabala, Multidisciplinary (United States/Argentina).
Mentee Carolina Quiroga, Performing (Colombia), paired with Mentor Marisela Barrera, Performing (United States).
Mentee Karola Rotter, Visual (Germany), paired with Mentor Kim Bishop, Visual (United States).
Mentee Jose Balli, Visual (Mexico), paired with Mentor Luis Valderas, Visual (United States).
Mentee Naomi Gakunga, Visual (Kenya), paired with Mentor Deborah Mersky, Visual (United States).
Mentee Jonathan Rocha, Performing (Mexico), paired with Mentor Gregg Barrios, Performing(United States).
Mentee Barbara Minarro, Visual (Mexico), paired with Mentor Jennifer Datchuk, Visual (United States).
Mentee Jesse Jinna Ruiz, Visual (South Korea), paired with Mentor Ricky Armendariz, Visual (United States).
Mentee Julya Jara, Multidisciplinary (Latvia), paired with Mentor Sarah Fisch, Visual (United States).
Mentee Francisco Cortes, Visual (Mexico), paired with Mentor Anne Wallace, Visual(United States).
Mentee Anastassia Rabajille, Visual (Chile), paired with Mentor Claudia Zapata, Visual (United States).
Mentee Jesus Ravelo, Visual (Mexico), paired with Mentor Claudia Zapata, Visual (United States).
Mentee Maria Linan, Folk Art (Peru), paired with Mentor Anel Flores, Visual and Literary (United States).
Mentee Bithika Adhikary, Visual (India), paired with Mentor Alessandra Exposito, Visual (United States).
Mentee Agnes Deja, Visual (Poland), paired with Mentor Ceaphas Stubbs, Visual (United States).
Mentee DongKyu Kim, Multidisciplinary (South Korean), paired with Mentor Colleen Gutwein O'Neal, Visual (United States).
Mentee Hao Feng, Visual (China), paired with Mentor Emma Wilcox, Visual (United States).
Mentee Raúl Flores, Multidisciplinary (Ecuador), paired with Mentor Evonne Davis, Visual(United States).
Mentee Giacomo Colosi, Visual (Italy), paired with Mentor Gianluca Bianchino, Visual (Italy).
Mentee Juan Bernal, Visual (Colombia), paired with Mentor James Wilson, Visual (United States).
Mentee Musah Swallah, Visual (Ghana), paired with Mentor Jen Mazza, Visual (United States).
Mentee George Morel, Visual (Dominican Republic), paired with Mentor Jo-El Lopez, Visual (Puerto Rico).
Mentee Emmanuel Glen, Visual (Guyana), paired with Mentor Kati Vilim, Visual (Hungary).
Mentee Junio Vargas, Multidisciplinary(Ecuador), paired with Mentor Kern Samuel, Visual (Trinidad and Tobago).
Mentee Yeimy Gamez, Performing (Honduras), paired with Mentor Layqa Nuna Yawar, Visual (Ecuador).
Mentee Sunil Garg, Visual (India), paired with Mentor Luiza Pinzon, Visual (Colombia).
Mentee Nava Gidanian-Kagan, Visual (Israel), paired with Mentor Matt Gosser, Visual (United States).
Mentee Paco Marquez, Literary (Mexico), paired with Mentor Paula Neves, Literary (United States).
Mentee Elizabeth Clark, Visual (Colombia), paired with Mentor Rebecca Pauline Jampol, Multidisciplinary (United States).
Mentee Dailza Ribeiro, Multidisciplinary (Brazil), paired with Mentor Shauna Kanter, Performing(United States).
Mentee Isi Igetei, Multidisciplinary (Nigeria), paired with Mentor Universe Konadu, Literary (Ethiopia/United States).