NYFA / Knowledge Base / Immigrant Artist Resources

Lily & Honglei Image Credit: Korea Art Forum

Lily & Honglei presenting a socially-engaged art project in Flushing Chinatown, NY.

Immigrant Artist Resources

A hub where immigrant artists can access resources, exchange ideas, collaborate, and amplify their voices in the American cultural landscape.

For your arts career

Arts Councils and Government Entities

NEW YORK CITY

If you live somewhere in the five boroughs of New York City, one of these local arts councils or alliances should be your first point of contact in your search for support and resources. Many of these organizations offer workshops and grants, present exhibits and performances, and offer web-based services such as free artist registries and location-specific resource listings.

Live outside of the City? Here is a list of Arts Councils and Centers in New York State.

OTHER RESOURCES

Both of these agencies offer support mainly to arts organizations and serve individual artists through resource listings, workshops and events calendars.

Alliances and Art Service Organizations

General Art Resources

Grants, Fellowships, and Awards

VARIED DISCIPLINES

LITERARY ARTS

MEDIA AND FILM

PERFORMING ARTS

VISUAL ARTS

CROWDSOURCED FUNDRAISING

FUNDRAISING ARTICLES AND TOOLS

Job Listings

NYFA Classifieds Jobs – the one-stop shop for national arts jobs listings
Idealist – international non-profit job listings
Teaching Artist Source

Legal and Financial Assistance

Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts – Pro-bono legal services to low-income artists and arts organizations, offers workshops on legal issues confronting artists, and advocates for the arts community through legal action. You can call the VLA Art Law Line with all your legal questions: (212) 319-2787, Ext. 1, Monday to Friday, 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
The Legal Aid Society – Offers a number of specialized direct support programs and an online Self-Help Guide of legal resources
Artists From Abroad – A complete online guide to immigration and tax requirements for foreign guest artists in the US.
Business of Art: Legal – These articles cover all manner of legal and financial issues that artists confront, from marketing to housing, from website development to budgeting and tax preparation.
Arts and Business Council – Joins the resources of the arts and business communities of New York, offering discounts, professional development services, and more to member organization and individuals
The Artists’ Health Insurance Resource Center – The Actor’s Fund provides this online directory and resource center for all artists, including self-employed and freelancers, seeking affordable health insurance in the US. They also offer local seminars and opportunities to advocate for health care reform.
Catholic Charities – Provides essential services to immigrants and newcomers to the U.S. Many Catholic Charities locations provide legal assistance. Find a location near you here.
Fractured Atlas – Provides multiple programs and services that help artists and arts organizations be more effective as businesses, from health and liability insurance to advocacy and professional development.
Freelancer’s Union – Free national membership organization that offer benefits like insurance and retirement to members and provides political advocacy for all independent workers.
National Immigration Project – A national non-profit that provides assistance and technical support to immigrant communities, legal practitioners, and advocates in the areas of criminal & deportation defense to noncitizens Living with HIV/AIDS.
New York City Housing Authority – Provides information on affordable housing.
The New York City Human Resources Administration/ Department of Social Services (HRA/DSS) – Provides temporary help to individuals and families with social service and economic needs to assist them in reaching self-sufficiency – including Temporary Assistance, Medical Assistance, and Food Stamp (SNAP) Benefits.

IMMIGRANT LEGAL SUPPORT

Opportunities for Artists

An introductory listing of recurring and ongoing opportunities for funding, space, and creative and professional development that are open and amenable to immigrant artists.

ONLINE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND RESOURCES

NYFA Knowledge Base

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SERVICES IN NEW YORK

ONLINE COURSES

Dance Umbrella of Ontario: a free online workbook with basics in topics such as funding, planning, touring, and promotion (incorporation practices are different in Canada so this section is not relevant to U.S. artists).
Fractured U: Fractured Atlas offers a series of online courses on topics from fundraising to financial management, from understanding presenting venues to working with agents.

MENTORSHIP AND ADVISORY PROGRAMS

NOTE: Also check the local arts councils listed above; most offer grants to local artists working or residing within their neighborhood/borough.

TOURING

RESIDENCY AWARDS

ARTIST REGISTRIES ONLINE

To stay informed of the latest upcoming opportunities, sign up for the Immigrant Artist Program Newsletter – a free online publication with deadlines, tips, features, and more. For a more artists, visit NYFA Classifieds’ Artist Opportunities page.

Workspace for Artists

From short-term residencies and rehearsal spaces to long-term studio rentals, many artists require physical space to build their practice. Beyond the residency awards listed above, there are lots of ways to search for affordable workspaces. Here are some resources:

NYFA Classifieds – Space Directory – rental listings for visual artists’ studios
Trestle Art Space – gallery and studio space for visual artists and writers
Chez Bushwick – subsidized performing arts studio rentals

GALLERIES, ARTS SPACES, AND PRESENTERS

For your overall wellbeing

Most of these organization provide translation services so please reach out if the language you’re looking for is not specified.

National

FWD.us is an advocacy organization created to help organize the broader tech community to promote a bipartisan policy agenda–including comprehensive immigration reform, education reform, and support for scientific research–that will boost the knowledge economy to ensure more jobs, innovation, and investment, now and in the future.
Immigration Equality is focused on providing free legal services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and HIV-positive immigrants, including: asylum seekers forced to flee to the U.S. to find safety; binational couples and families separated by oceans; detainees trapped in immigration jail facilities, undocumented LGBT immigrants living in the shadows inside the U.S.
NYFA Emergency Resources Page
Tamizdat is a sympathetic and affordable artist-oriented Visa Service designed to help performing artists to navigate the US visa system.
Upwardly Global provides resources for immigrant professionals and employers who are looking to find jobs back in their field in the United States.

NYC Wide

African Communities Together
Phone: (347) 746-2281
Email: [email protected]

Core Services:

Advocacy and Community engagement
Labor and Employment
Legal Services and lawful status

Languages: French, Arabic

CUNY Citizenship and Immigration Project
Phone: (646) 344-7245
Email: [email protected]

Core Services:

Advocacy and Community engagement
Legal Services and lawful status
Youth and Education

Immigrant Justice Corps
Phone: (212) 407-3417
Email: Contact Us – Immigrant Justice Corps

Core Services:

Advocacy and Community engagement
Legal Services and lawful status

Immigrant Financial Justice Project
Phone: (212) 680-5100
Email: Contact – New Economy Project

Core Services:

Advocacy and Community engagement
Youth and Education

International Center
Phone: (929)504-2596
Email: Contact Us

Core Services:

Legal Services and lawful status
Youth and Education

Legal Service NYC
Phone: (917) 661-4500

Core Services

Advocacy and Community engagement
Health Care and Insurance
Housing
Public Assistance
Safety

Languages: Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese

Make the Road NY
Phone: (718) 418-7690
Email: Contact | Make the Road New York

Core Services:

Advocacy and Community engagement
Health Care and Insurance
Housing
Legal Services and lawful status
Safety
Youth and Education

Languages: Spanish

Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs
Hotline: 212-788-7654
Legal Help: 800-354-0365
Email: [email protected]

Core Services:

Advocacy and Community engagement
Labor and Employment
Legal Services and lawful status
Public Assistance

New Immigrant Community Empowerment
Phone: (718) 205-1687

Core Services:

Advocacy and Community engagement
Labor and Employment
Legal Services and lawful status
Public Assistance
Safety
Youth and Education

New Women New Yorkers
Email: [email protected]

Core Services:

Advocacy and Community engagement
Labor and Employment

New York Immigrant Coalition
Phone: 212-627-2227
Email: [email protected]

Core Services:

Advocacy and Community engagement
Health Care and Insurance
Public Assistance
Youth and Education

Office for New Americans (New York State)
Hotline: 1-800-566-7636 (support 200+ languages)

Core Services:

Legal Services and lawful status
Health Care and Insurance
Labor and Employment
Public Assistance
Youth and Education

Sakhi for South Asian Women
Phone: (212) 714.9153
Help Line: (212) 868.6741
Email: [email protected]

Core Services:

Housing
Labor and Employment
Legal Services and lawful status
Safety
Youth and Education

Languages: Urdu, Panjabi, Napal

The New York Historical Society Citizenship Project
The New York Historical Society offers free civics and American history classes, among other educational and digital learning tools to help immigrants in the naturalization process.
Phone: (212) 873-3400
Email: [email protected]

Core Services:

Advocacy and Community engagement
Youth and Education

UnLocal, Inc.
Phone: (646) 216-8210
Email: [email protected]

Core Services:

Advocacy and Community engagement
Legal Services and lawful status
Youth and Education

Languages: Mandarin, Spanish

The Bronx

Organizations listed below are categorized based on their office locations. Most of the organizations serve people from all backgrounds and across all boroughs.

Casita Maria Center for Arts & Education
Phone: (718) 589-2230
Email: [email protected]

Core Services:

Youth and Education

Languages: Spanish

Mekong NYC
Phone: (347) 918-9220
Email: Contact Us — MEKONG NYC

Core Services:

Advocacy and Community engagement
Public Assistance
Safety
Youth and Education

Languages: Vietnamese, Khmer

Sauti Yetu Center for African Women and Families
Phone: 718-665-2486
Email: Contact Us

Core Services:

Advocacy and Community engagement
Legal Services and lawful status
Safety
Youth and Education

Brooklyn

Organizations listed below are categorized based on their office locations. Most of the organizations serve people from all backgrounds and across all boroughs.

Arab American Association of New York
Phone: (718) 745-3523
Email: [email protected]

Core Services:

Advocacy and Community engagement
Health Care and Insurance
Labor and Employment
Legal Services and lawful status
Youth and Education

Languages: Arabic, Spanish

Brooklyn Defender Services
Phone: (718) 254-0700
Email: [email protected]

Core Services:

Housing
Labor and Employment
Legal Services and lawful status
Public Assistance

CAMBA
Phone: 718-287-2600
Email: [email protected]

Core Services:

Health Care and Insurance
Housing
Labor and Employment
Legal Services and lawful status
Safety

Chinese American Planning Council – Brooklyn Community Center
Phone: (718) 492-0409
Email: [email protected]

Core Services:

Health Care and Insurance
Labor and Employment
Legal Services and lawful status
Public Assistance
Youth and Education

Languages: Mandarin, Cantonese

Mixteca
Phone: (718) 965-4795
Email: [email protected]

Core Services:

Health Care and Insurance
Legal Services and lawful status
Youth and Education

Languages: Spanish

Fifth Avenue Committee
Phone: (718) 237-2017
Email: [email protected]

Core Services:

Advocacy and Community engagement
Housing
Labor and Employment
Legal Services and lawful status
Public Assistance
Youth and Education

Languages: Mandarin, Spanish

Manhattan

Organizations listed below are categorized based on their office locations. Most of the organizations serve people from all backgrounds and across all boroughs.

Alianza (Dominican Cultural Center)
Phone: (917) 242-0811
Email: Catholic Charities Community Services, Providing Help. Creating Hope.

Core Services:

Housing
Labor and Employment
Legal Services and lawful status
Public Assistance
Safety
Youth and Education

Languages: Spanish

Asian Americans for Equality – Manhattan Office
Phone: (212) 979-8381
Email: [email protected]

Core Services:

Advocacy and Community engagement
Health Care and Insurance
Housing
Legal Services and lawful status
Public Assistance
Youth and Education

Languages: Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Spanish

Chinese American Planning Council – Manhattan Community Center
Phone: (212) 941-0030
Email: [email protected]

Core Services:

Health Care and Insurance
Labor and Employment
Legal Services and lawful status
Public Assistance
Youth and Education

Languages: Mandarin, Cantonese

Hudson Guild
Phone: (212) 760-9800
Email: [email protected]

Core Services:

Advocacy and Community engagement
Health Care and Insurance
Youth and Education

Languages: Mandarin, Cantonese, Spanish

People’s Theatre Project
Phone: (646) 398-9062
Email: Contact

Core Services:

Advocacy and Community engagement
Youth and Education

Languages: Spanish

Queens

Organizations listed below are categorized based on their office locations. Most of the organizations serve people from all backgrounds and across all boroughs.

Adhikaar
Phone: (718) 937-1117
Email: [email protected]

Core Services:

Advocacy and Community engagement
Health Care and Insurance
Labor and Employment
Legal Services and lawful status
Public Assistance

Languages: Nepali, Hindi, Tibetan

Center for the Integration and Advancement of New Americans (CIANA)
Phone: (718) 545-4040
Email: [email protected]

Core Services:

Advocacy and Community engagement
Legal Services and lawful status
Public Assistance
Youth and Education

Languages: Spanish, Bangla, Arabic, Greek

Asian Americans for Equality – Queens Offices
Flushing Office Phone: 718-961-0888
Jackson Heights Office Phone: 718-316-9993
Email: [email protected]

Core Services:

Advocacy and Community engagement
Health Care and Insurance
Housing
Legal Services and lawful status
Public Assistance
Youth and Education

Languages: Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Spanish

Chinese American Planning Council – Queens Community Center
Phone: (718) 358-8899
Email: [email protected]

Core Services:

Health Care and Insurance
Labor and Employment
Legal Services and lawful status
Public Assistance
Youth and Education

Languages: Mandarin, Cantonese

Desis Rising Up & Moving
Phone: (718) 205-3036
Email: [email protected]

Core Services:

Advocacy and Community engagement
Labor and Employment
Legal Services and lawful status
Youth and Education

Languages: South Asian Languages

Hellenic American Neighborhood Action Committee (HANAC)
Phone: (212) 840-8005
Email: [email protected]

Core Services:

Health Care and Insurance
Housing
Labor and Employment
Legal Services and lawful status
Safety
Youth and Education

MinKwon Center for Community Action, Inc.
Phone: (718) 460-5600
Email: [email protected]

Core Services:

Advocacy and Community engagement
Health Care and Insurance
Housing
Labor and Employment
Legal Services and lawful status
Public Assistance
Youth and Education

Languages: Korean, Mandarin

Sunnyside Community Services
Phone:(718) 784-6173
Email: [email protected]

Core Services:

Advocacy and Community engagement
Labor and Employment
Legal Services and lawful status
Public Assistance
Youth and Education

New New Yorkers Program at Queens Museum of Art and Queens Library
In partnership with the Queens Library, the Queens Museum’s New New Yorkers program offers free multilingual classes to meet the needs of adult immigrant communities in Queens.
Phone: 718.592.9700 x135
Email: [email protected]

Core Services:

Advocacy and Community engagement
Youth and Education

Staten Island

Organizations listed below are categorized based on their office locations. Most of the organizations serve people from all backgrounds and across all boroughs.

El Centre del Inmigrante
Phone: (347) 825-2086

Core Services:

Advocacy and Community engagement
Health Care and Insurance
Labor and Employment

Languages: Spanish

Sauti Yetu Center for African Women and Families
Phone: 718-665-2486
Email: Contact Us

Core Services:

Advocacy and Community engagement
Legal Services and lawful status
Safety
Youth and Education

NYFA Immigrant Artist Resources

Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program

The program pairs emerging foreign-born artists with artists who have received a NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellowship and/or past participants of the program. The mentors interact with their mentees one-on-one, guiding them to achieve specific goals and providing them with broader access to urban cultural centers through an exchange of ideas, resources, and experiences.

1-on-1 Immigrant Artist Consultations

Online career consultation service thats offer free, individualized support to anyone who identifies as an immigrant artist.

Events Designed for Immigrant Artists

Public events designed to help immigrant artists develop and present their works, foster community, and build a sense of belonging. Examples include workshops on healthcare options, visa applications, and creating and locating opportunities, as well as networking events.

NYFA Immigrant Artist Newsletter

The free IAP Newsletter is sent out via email, with cover features posted online. The newsletter lists upcoming opportunities and events — of particular interest to immigrant artists but open to all — as well as profiles of an artist or arts/immigrant services organizations.