Open Call: 2026–2027 QM-Jerome Foundation Fellowship for Emerging Artists

About the Open Call

The Queens Museum (QM) is pleased to launch its seventh QM-Jerome Foundation Fellowship for Emerging Artists in New York City. Two visual artists will receive $20,000 each, professional development consultations, and close mentorship from QM staff members working toward an artist’s project. The fellowships will culminate in solo project exhibitions at the Queens Museum in 2027. The duration of each fellowship is one year, culminating with the opening of the fellow’s exhibition. The QM-Jerome Foundation Fellowship is open to emerging visual artists living in the five boroughs of New York City. The Queens Museum defines an emerging artist as one who is at the beginning of their public career. The eligible artist has completed their studies, but has not had solo exhibitions at commercial galleries or public institutions or yet received major grants. The category also includes artists who are well beyond their studies, and may have participated in group exhibitions but have not received extensive press or market recognition. These artists may have exhibited their work in other countries on a limited basis, but have not had major exhibition opportunities in the US or in New York in particular. QM defines an emerging artist as one who has had limited exhibition exposure, with no more than a few grants or fellowship awards. You are at the beginning of your public career and have completed your studies, but have not had solo exhibitions at established commercial galleries, museums, or major public institutions; OR you are well beyond your studies, and may have participated in group exhibitions but have not received extensive press or market recognition; AND/OR you have exhibited work in other countries on a limited basis, but have not had major exhibition opportunities in the US or in New York in particular. You have not received major grants comparable to the amount granted by this fellowship ($20,000). Applications will be shortlisted based on the strength of their proposed project, overall practice, and work samples. Strong applications demonstrate a clear and ambitious vision, strong readiness to expand and experiment in their artistic practice, and have an understanding of the context at QM. A jury made up of curatorial staff from QM and two guest jurors will review applications. Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an in-person interview at QM in early November. We hope to inform all applicants before the new year. Equity, Access, and Inclusion are at the forefront of all our initiatives. The Queens Museum proudly welcomes residents and visitors to participate in and enjoy our programs in an inclusive, diverse, equitable, artistic, and educational environment. Community is at the center of the QM’s work. We collaborate with neighbors and community partners across the borough of Queens to serve our uniquely diverse audiences. We seek to provide every resident with an equal opportunity to pursue their creative practice and share their work with the public/community. The Queens Museum is an Equal Opportunity Employer that does not discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived race ancestry, religion, national origin, immigration status, age, disability, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, pregnancy, sexual and reproductive health decisions, familial status, HIV status, caregiver status, conviction record, domestic victim status, unemployment status, military service, credit history, salary history, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. Our management team is dedicated to this policy with respect to recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, transfer, training, compensation, benefits, employee activities and general treatment during employment. Our commitment to equal opportunity employment applies to all persons involved in our operations and prohibits unlawful discrimination by any employee, including supervisors and co-workers. The QM is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for physical or cognitive needs. If you have any questions or would like to know more about the building and our programs in relation to your accessibility needs, or if you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process, please contact us at idea@queensmuseum.org or by phone at (718) 592-9700.

What is Offered

Two visual artists will receive $20,000 each, professional development consultations, and close mentorship from QM staff members working toward an artist’s project. The fellowships will culminate in solo project exhibitions at the Queens Museum in 2027. The duration of each fellowship is one year. The $20,000 award is a lump sum payment paid in two installments, covering the artist fee, materials, and relevant production costs for the exhibition.

Requirements

The QM-Jerome Foundation Fellowship is open to emerging visual artists living in the five boroughs of New York City. Applicants must have resided in New York City—any of the five boroughs—for at least one year prior to the application deadline and must reside in NYC until the end of the Fellowship period. Emerging artists are defined as those at the beginning of their public career, who have completed their studies, but have not had solo exhibitions at established commercial galleries, museums, or major public institutions, or received major grants comparable to this fellowship. This also includes artists who may have participated in group exhibitions but lack extensive press or market recognition, or have had limited exhibition opportunities in the US or New York.

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted via the Queens Museum's Submittable portal by September 22, 2025, 11:59pm EST. Late submissions will not be accepted. You can apply here: https://queensmuseum.submittable.com/submit/50db613d-a0a2-4790-9305-933eaaa4f562/open-call-2026-2027-qm-jerome-foundation-fellowship-for-emerging-artists