Arts Writers Fellowship 2026

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Irene Yamamoto Arts Writers Fellowship 2026

Institution: Japanese American National Museum (Daniel K. Inouye National Center for the Preservation of Democracy)
Deadline: March 16, 2026 (11:59 p.m. PST)
Location: Los Angeles, United States

The Japanese American National Museum (JANM), through its Democracy Center, announces the 4th annual Irene Yamamoto Arts Writers Fellowship. The 2026 edition awards two unrestricted $5,000 fellowships to emerging writers of color who critically engage with visual art.

The fellowship supports cultural critics whose work expands public discourse by offering analytical, contextual, and interpretive perspectives on visual art.

Fellowship Format

Two (2) fellowships awarded
$5,000 unrestricted award per fellow
Six-month fellowship period
Opportunity to publish a piece of criticism or review on the Democracy Center blog
Opportunity to deliver a public talk at the Democracy Center at JANM
Final written report (letter format) required at the end of the fellowship

Funds may be used for any purpose that supports the fellow’s career development, including paying themselves to write.

2026 Focus: Visual Art

Writing samples must demonstrate critical, analytical, or interpretive engagement with visual art.

Eligible topics include:

Visual art exhibited in museums or galleries
Reviews of performance, sound art, film, or time-based work presented in visual art contexts
Criticism of public art (murals, monuments, sculpture)
Writing on NFTs, websites, memes, or other primarily visual digital works
Critical analysis of the visual art market, when directly tied to aesthetics, production, or reception

Not eligible:

Creative writing (poetry, fiction, plays, memoir, screenplays)
Artistic production
Reviews of performances or screenings in theater settings
Functional architecture or design

Eligibility Criteria

Open to:

Emerging writers of color
Journalists, critics, and cultural commentators whose primary practice is writing about the arts

Applicants must submit writing samples focused on visual art to be considered.

Timeline

Application portal opens: February 6, 2026
Application deadline: March 16, 2026 (11:59 p.m. PST)

Supporters

The fellowship is funded by a gift from Sharon Mizota in honor of Irene Yamamoto and supported by Critical Minded, cofounded by Nathan Cummings Foundation and Ford Foundation.