Asian Cultural Council (ACC) Grants 2027

Organisation: Asian Cultural Council (ACC)
Location: Asia and the United States
Support: Grants for international cultural exchange, research, study and professional development
Duration: Varies by programme, including opportunities lasting 1–6 months
Programme period: 1 August 2027–31 December 2028
Application deadline: 10 November 2026, 9:59 am (US Eastern Time) / 10:59 pm (Hong Kong Time)
Recommendation letter deadline: 16 November 2026

Translated and adapted from the original Traditional Chinese call. Applications must be submitted in English, with additional language requirements for applicants applying through ACC Japan and ACC Taiwan. Applicants through ACC Hong Kong may optionally submit a Chinese translation.

The Asian Cultural Council (ACC) invites applications for its 2027 grant programmes, supporting artists, scholars, arts professionals and organisations undertaking international cultural exchange between Asia and the United States, and within Asia.

ACC’s mission is to advance international dialogue, understanding and respect through cultural exchange. Its grants provide opportunities for recipients to step outside their everyday environments, immerse themselves in unfamiliar cultural contexts, expand their perspectives and artistic practices, and build connections with peers across geographical boundaries.

Since 1963, ACC has awarded more than $100 million in grants, supporting nearly 6,000 cultural exchanges involving recipients from 26 countries and regions across 16 artistic disciplines.

Grant programmes

ACC offers four grant programmes supporting immersive cultural exchange.

New York Fellowship

A six-month programme supporting artists, scholars and arts professionals from Asia to live in the United States and immerse themselves in a new cultural environment.

The fellowship provides time for reflection, exploration and meaningful exchange with peers across disciplines, without the pressure to produce or present new work.

Individual Fellowship

A flexible programme lasting one to six months, supporting artists, scholars and arts professionals from Asia and the United States to undertake research, independent exploration and immersive cultural experiences in unfamiliar environments.

The programme encourages dialogue, collaboration and knowledge-sharing. It is not intended to fund the production of new artworks, attendance at a single conference or event, or promotional tours.

Joint applications of up to three participants are permitted.

Graduate Fellowship

Supports graduate students from Asia pursuing degree programmes in the United States that are unavailable or underrepresented in their home countries or regions.

The fellowship contributes towards travel and living expenses, enabling recipients to access academic training in arts and culture while experiencing new intellectual and cultural perspectives.

Organization Fellowship

Supports arts and cultural organisations in Asia and the United States to develop activities that deepen understanding of specific subjects or professional practices through immersive cultural exchange.

Projects may involve sending participants to another country or region, hosting participants from abroad, or both, to benefit staff, communities and organisational partners.

Eligibility

ACC supports artists, scholars, arts professionals and cultural organisations engaged in exchange between Asia and the United States or within Asia.

Eligible countries and regions identified in the application guidance include:

• East Asia: Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Japan, South Korea, Mongolia and Taiwan.
• Southeast Asia: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam.
• South Asia: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
• North America: United States.

Eligibility depends on the applicant’s citizenship or permanent residency, primary place of residence and the specific grant programme.

Each applicant may submit only one application to one ACC grant programme per application cycle.

Applicants should review the detailed eligibility requirements for their chosen programme before applying.

Application requirements

Applications must be submitted through ACC’s GoApply online application platform.

Depending on the programme, applicants may be required to provide:

• Personal and contact information
• CV and biography
• Personal or artistic statement
• Up to three work samples
• Recommendation letter
• Professional references
• Project budget
• Graduate programme information, where applicable
• Organisational information and nonprofit documentation, where applicable

Applicants to the Individual and Organization Fellowships must prepare a detailed budget using ACC’s Excel template.

Recommendation letters

Applicants are generally required to provide one recommender and two professional references, with different arrangements for certain joint applications.

Recommendation letters must be uploaded by the recommender after the application has been submitted.

Applications without the required recommendation letter by 16 November 2026 will be considered incomplete and will not be reviewed.

Language requirements

Applications must be completed in English, with additional requirements depending on the relevant ACC office.

• ACC Hong Kong: Applicants who are citizens or permanent residents of Mainland China, Hong Kong or Macau may optionally submit an additional application in Traditional or Simplified Chinese.
• ACC Japan: Japanese citizens or permanent residents must submit an additional Japanese-language application, bilingual English/Japanese CV and bilingual work sample descriptions.
• ACC Taiwan: Taiwanese citizens or permanent residents must submit an additional Traditional Chinese application, bilingual English/Traditional Chinese CV and bilingual work sample descriptions.

Applicants should consult the relevant regional office’s instructions for further details.

Key dates

• Applications open: 1 October 2026
• Application deadline: 10 November 2026, 9:59 am US Eastern Time / 10:59 pm Hong Kong Time
• Recommendation letter deadline: 16 November 2026
• Review and selection: November 2026–April 2027
• Notification of results: Mid-May 2027
• Grant activity period: 1 August 2027–31 December 2028

Application process

Applicants must register or log in to ACC’s GoApply platform, complete the eligibility screening and submit the required application materials.

Applications submitted by email will not be accepted.

ACC encourages early submission to allow recommenders sufficient time to upload their letters before the separate recommendation deadline.

Image: Beijing Dance Theater performing at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. Photo: Jiang Han.