Notes Toward Van Lier Fellowship at Judson Commons

The Notes Toward Van Lier Fellowship at Judson Commons is an opportunity designed to uplift and support early-career artists of color in New York City. Developed by Judson Commons, a multidisciplinary performance and arts collective based in New York’s Greenwich Village, the program seeks to provide a space for rigorous, experimental, and subversive performance-based artistic work. Judson Commons has a legacy of fostering avant-garde practices in a community-oriented space, and this fellowship continues that mission by investing directly in the growth and development of historically underrepresented voices in the arts. This iteration of the Fellowship supports two New York City-based BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) artists between the ages of 18 and 30. Fellows are selected based on their commitment to radical experimentation in performance disciplines—this may include theater, music, poetry, performance art, or any other hybrid or multidisciplinary form. The program encourages artists to not only develop their practice but also to consider how their work might contribute to a more liberated and just future. Applicants must not be enrolled in any degree-granting program and must reside within one of the five boroughs of New York City. Over a 10-month period, fellows will receive a range of benefits including a $11,000 unrestricted stipend, a $500 professional development stipend, and 15 hours per month (totaling 150 hours) of free access to creative space at Judson Church. Participants will engage in a range of peer learning activities, including interaction with previous fellows from the Black Aesthetics/{Notes Towards} community. They will also participate in professional development workshops on proposal writing, grant applications, budgeting, and sustainability practices facilitated by experts and professionals in the arts sector. The fellowship also includes performance and presentation opportunities, such as staging a weekend performance, facilitating a public workshop, or organizing a series of small-scale activations at Judson Church. Fellows will have access to lighting and technical equipment, as well as modest production support. An additional support structure includes a mentorship component, where fellows choose their own mentor to support artistic or professional development; these mentors also receive stipends and participate in studio visits and ongoing conversations. Applications must be submitted through the Zealous platform at https://zealous.co/notestowardsatjudsoncommons/opportunity/2026-notes-towards-van-lier-fellowship/ by March 24, 2026. There are no pre-application stages like letters of intent or concept notes. Questions can be directed to the program administrators via email at [email protected]. No telephone contact is listed. The fellowship is non-renewable and runs from 2026 to 2027, with selected fellows notified after the application period closes. This is an annual opportunity. While the current deadline is March 24, 2026, interested applicants may expect the next round to be released around March 2027. The program is designed to maintain continuity in support of emerging BIPOC artists in New York City and operates as part of a broader initiative toward equity and experimentation in the arts landscape.