Fourteen New York City-based artists will be selected for The Bronx Museum’s 2027 AIM Fellowship, a nine-month professional development programme that connects rising practitioners with the knowledge, networks, and practical tools needed to navigate the contemporary art world.
30 September 2026
Open Call:
Applications are open for the 2027 AIM Fellowship, The Bronx Museum’s annual professional development and career accelerator programme for emerging and rising artists based in New York City.
Now entering its 47th cycle, the programme will select 14 artists for a nine-month practicum covering the practical, professional and critical dimensions of sustaining an artistic career. Fellows participate in expert-led seminars, studio visits, portfolio reviews, peer-led sessions and conversations addressing subjects ranging from the art market and financial literacy to artist archives, institutional relationships and audience development.
Institutional Context:
Founded in 1980, the AIM Fellowship, formerly known as the Artist in Marketplace Fellowship, is The Bronx Museum’s flagship artist incubator and career accelerator.
The programme forms part of the Museum’s wider AIM initiative, which includes the AIM Fellowship, AIM Convening and AIM Biennial. While the Fellowship does not provide studio space, the wider programme gives alum opportunities to present their work through a dedicated biennial exhibition, accompanied by an illustrated catalogue.
Eligibility and Criteria:
Applicants must be 21 years or older and must apply individually. Partnerships, collectives and other groups are not eligible.
Applicants must:
• Be visual artists with between two and ten years of experience actively creating and presenting original work
• Be based in New York City at the time of application and remain NYC residents throughout the Fellowship
• Be US citizens or permanent residents
• Not be enrolled in a degree-granting or professional development programme during the Fellowship
• Not be represented by a commercial gallery in or outside the United States
• Not be current employees of The Bronx Museum or immediate family members or employees of a Museum board member
The programme is intended for artists who have not yet received widespread recognition within their field, the media or the broader public.
Evaluation Process:
The Foundation selects fourteen artists annually through a competitive open-call process.
Applicants must submit six artworks created within the past three years that best represent their artistic practice. Semi-finalists must be available for an in-person group interview with the selection committee at The Bronx Museum in fall 2026.
Successful applicants must commit to attending Fellowship meetings and activities throughout the programme.
Practical Information:
The 2027 Fellowship is divided into two sections—the first runs from February to June 2027, followed by a summer break during July and August. The programme resumes from September to December 2027.
Fellows meet every Tuesday from 18:00 to 21:00 at The Bronx Museum.
The first half, Career Foundations, covers the art market, artist statements, career planning, communication strategies, curator-artist relationships, financial literacy, funding opportunities, and legal issues.
The second half, Career Development, includes studio visits, portfolio reviews, guest artist visits, exhibition preparation, working with institutions, community art practice, artist archives, documentation and presentation.
Applicants should note that AIM is not a studio residency and studio space is not provided.
Applications and Queries:
Applications must be submitted by 25 October 2026 at 23:59 ET. Applications are free and must be completed online through Submittable.
Applicants are encouraged to carefully review the full eligibility requirements and application instructions before submitting, as only complete applications will be considered.
Deadline: 25 October 2026, 23:59 ET
Programme: 2027 AIM Fellowship
Organisation: The Bronx Museum
Location: The Bronx, New York City, USA
Duration: February to December 2027, with a July and August break
Places available: 14
Application fee: Free
Queries: info@bronxmuseum.org
For more information, please refer to the website.
