The Clemente is accepting applications for its pilot 2026–2027 Van Lier Fellowship, a unique 18-month residency designed to support two NYC-based visual artists between the ages of eighteen and thirty. This opportunity offers a monetary award of $20,000 USD, shared studio access, professional development, and exhibition development within a vibrant cultural hub deeply rooted in community and experimentation.

The Clemente Van Lier Fellowship is shaped by our broader institutional commitment to supporting emerging artists who seek a return to community-rooted, civic-minded, and critically engaged cultural institutions. In addition to benefiting from immersion in The Clemente’s historic campus and multidisciplinary creative ecosystem, New York Community Trust Van Lier Fellows will have the opportunity to explore participation in the citywide Historias initiative. These contributions range from contributions to the newly launched Nueva York Chronicles digital archive to inclusion in the 2026 Reveladas exhibition.  

New York Community Trust Van Lier Fellows will conclude their residency with a dedicated two-artist exhibition at The Clemente’s newly renovated galleries in late 2027.

 Fellowship Details

• Duration: 18 months (starting April/May 2026)

• Stipend: $20,000 per artist

• Studio: Rent-free, shared studio at The Clemente (valued at $1,400/month)

• Exhibitions:

• Historias Reveladas (Fall 2026, potential participation in physical exhibition and/or digital representation on the Nueva York Chronicles)

• Two-artist showcase (Late 2027, in-house) 

New York Community Trust Van Lier Fellows will receive monthly mentorship with The Clemente’s executive and curatorial leadership, focusing on project development, community engagement, budgeting, and communications. New York Community Trust Van Lier Fellows will also gain access to peer networks through the Latinx Arts Consortium of New York (LxNY), a coalition of 50+ cultural institutions.

Artists cannot be considered for the 2026–2027 Van Lier Fellowship if they:

• Are over the age of 30 (born before 1996) or are under the age of 18 (born after 2008)

• Have gallery representation or have had a major solo show

• Are currently academically enrolled in a degree-granting program

• Have previously received a grant or fellowship of $20K or more