AICA-USA Art Critic Fellowship

Launching in 2025, AICA-USA’s Art Critic Fellowship supports emerging writers by providing mentorship, professional development workshops, and publication.

2025 Call for Applications

Application Deadline: October 30, 2024, 11:59PM ET
Notifications: December 8, 2024

Application Guidelines

AICA-USA is excited to announce the Art Critics Fellowship Program, reflecting our ongoing commitment to supporting critical writing within a vibrant arts ecosystem. As the oldest professional organization for art critics and writers in the United States, we believe that thoughtful criticism is essential—not only for the arts community but also for enriching the experiences of individual viewers, writers, and artists alike.

While writing programs continue to shrink and many publications are reducing or eliminating their cultural coverage entirely, the central tenet of our charter — the support of art criticism as a discipline – has never felt more pressing. Over six weeks, fellows will engage in four lectures led by award-winning editors and writers to discuss the joys and concerns of writing and editing art criticism today, and will meet one-on-one with their assigned mentors to develop a piece of criticism for publication on the AICA-USA website. We embrace an expansive definition of art, which includes performance, dance, video art, and other transmedia practices. Each of our mentors comes with a distinct voice, area of focus, scholarly positions, sets of concerns, editorial background and mediums. From radio to small press to newspapers to academic forums, each mentor brings a rich diversity that speaks to the different avenues that artists and critics take on the way to publication in this 21st century landscape.

We particularly encourage applicants from non-traditional backgrounds to apply. To enhance accessibility, the program is hybrid, allowing for in-person meetings when fellows and mentors are in the same location, with lectures streamed online. When applying, please indicate any accessibility measures that would support your participation in the program.

Timeline & Structure

The program opens on January 6, 2025 and ends on March 7, 2025. Fellows are required to meet with their assigned mentor at least four times over the course of the program, and to attend every lecture. There is no cost to attend, and Fellows will be awarded a stipend of $750 to cover potential lost wages while participating in the Fellowship and will be compensated according to W.A.G.E. standards for their work upon publication in the amount of $250.

Timeline

Program Dates: January 6 – March 7, 2025

Orientation: January 6, 2025, 7PM ET (Virtual)

Lecture #1: January 11, 2025, 11:30AM ET (Virtual)

Lecture #2: January 25, 2025, 11:30AM ET (Virtual)

Lecture #3: February 8, 2025, 11:30AM ET (Virtual)

Lecture #4: February 22, 2025, 11:30AM ET (Virtual)

Final Draft Due: March 7, 2025

Eligibility

You must be 18 years or older and living in the United States or Puerto Rico. Also, you must be able to commit to all program dates.

Students are eligible to apply. This program is specifically designed to be between semesters to provide students the opportunity to gain experience beyond the academic setting.

Although it’s not required, applicants are encouraged to have an interest in visual arts, writing, criticism, art history, and contemporary visual culture.