ince its inception in 1963 as the Asian Cultural Program of the JDR
3rd Fund, ACC has operated a program of long-term, immersive fellowships
and shorter-term grants for individual artists, scholars, and arts and
humanities professionals who wish to pursue specialized training not
available in their home countries; find new creative inspiration through
travel, research, and exploration; or pursue targeted research projects
aligned with ACC's mission of advancing international understanding.
The Asian Cultural Council makes grants to support international travel and cultural exchange between Asia and the U.S., and among the countries of Asia. The large majority of grants are awarded directly to individual artists, scholars, and arts specialists. Organizations that will facilitate a cultural exchange opportunity for artists, scholars, or arts specialists may also apply on behalf of the individual project participants.
Toward the mission of advancing understanding through cultural exchange, ACC's first priority in all grant areas is to support activities that involve cultural immersion; meaningful cross-cultural engagement; and relationship building, collaboration, or exchange of best practices among peers. Therefore, most of the proposals that receive funding are focused on process rather than production. Examples of process-focused activities are research, study, and exploration. By contrast, proposals for touring, performance, exhibition, or any activity focused on the production of work or audience-driven outcomes are not a priority and will only be considered where there is an exceptional contribution to furthering international understanding.
In addition to funding, ACC offers logistical and programmatic support to its grant recipients. The level of support varies by grant type and destination country, and is tailored to each individual. It may include recommendations of sites to visit or activities to participate in; personal introductions to relevant contacts in the field; and J-1 visa sponsorship for individuals traveling to the U.S.
ACC has supported exchanges for nearly 4,000 individuals to date. By combining funding with mentoring and personal introductions, ACC's program builds relationships that deepen cross-cultural ties beyond the duration of the grant. ACC maintains close connections with many past grant recipients and creates ongoing opportunities for engagement within the alumni community. The signature feature of ACC's program is access to this international network of alumni and other partners - a community of institutional leaders and emerging and established practitioners throughout Asia and the U.S. who help advise current grant recipients.
General Eligibility Guidelines
The following guidelines apply to all grant areas. Applicants should review these guidelines thoroughly to see if they are eligible to apply and if their proposal will be a strong candidate for funding.
Where
Individual applicants must be either residents or citizens of one of the following countries, and their proposed program must involve travel between one or more countries on the list. Organization and project applicants may apply for activities involving travel between one or more countries on the list.
Who
Professional artists, arts administrators, scholars, graduate/post-graduate students, and organizations working in the following fields:
What
ACC grant funds may be used for costs associated with travel and research only. Research is broadly defined as any activities in pursuit of creative or scholarly inquiry, and may take many different forms. The following examples of allowable expenses are not an exhaustive list and are intended as a general guideline only:
The Asian Cultural Council makes grants to support international travel and cultural exchange between Asia and the U.S., and among the countries of Asia. The large majority of grants are awarded directly to individual artists, scholars, and arts specialists. Organizations that will facilitate a cultural exchange opportunity for artists, scholars, or arts specialists may also apply on behalf of the individual project participants.
Toward the mission of advancing understanding through cultural exchange, ACC's first priority in all grant areas is to support activities that involve cultural immersion; meaningful cross-cultural engagement; and relationship building, collaboration, or exchange of best practices among peers. Therefore, most of the proposals that receive funding are focused on process rather than production. Examples of process-focused activities are research, study, and exploration. By contrast, proposals for touring, performance, exhibition, or any activity focused on the production of work or audience-driven outcomes are not a priority and will only be considered where there is an exceptional contribution to furthering international understanding.
In addition to funding, ACC offers logistical and programmatic support to its grant recipients. The level of support varies by grant type and destination country, and is tailored to each individual. It may include recommendations of sites to visit or activities to participate in; personal introductions to relevant contacts in the field; and J-1 visa sponsorship for individuals traveling to the U.S.
ACC has supported exchanges for nearly 4,000 individuals to date. By combining funding with mentoring and personal introductions, ACC's program builds relationships that deepen cross-cultural ties beyond the duration of the grant. ACC maintains close connections with many past grant recipients and creates ongoing opportunities for engagement within the alumni community. The signature feature of ACC's program is access to this international network of alumni and other partners - a community of institutional leaders and emerging and established practitioners throughout Asia and the U.S. who help advise current grant recipients.
General Eligibility Guidelines
The following guidelines apply to all grant areas. Applicants should review these guidelines thoroughly to see if they are eligible to apply and if their proposal will be a strong candidate for funding.
Where
Individual applicants must be either residents or citizens of one of the following countries, and their proposed program must involve travel between one or more countries on the list. Organization and project applicants may apply for activities involving travel between one or more countries on the list.
Who
Professional artists, arts administrators, scholars, graduate/post-graduate students, and organizations working in the following fields:
| Archaeology | Crafts | Literature (for travel to and |
| Architecture | Curation | from Japan only) |
| Art History | Dance | Museum Studies |
| Arts Administration | Ethnomusicology | Music |
| Arts Criticism | Film/Video/Photography | Theater |
| Conservation | Visual Art |
What
ACC grant funds may be used for costs associated with travel and research only. Research is broadly defined as any activities in pursuit of creative or scholarly inquiry, and may take many different forms. The following examples of allowable expenses are not an exhaustive list and are intended as a general guideline only:
- Allowable travel expenses may include international airfare, local transportation, visas, travel insurance, accommodations, and living expenses.
- Allowable research expenses may include admission fees and tickets to cultural institutions and events; fees for classes or workshops; photocopying or supplies; and translator fees.*
| Afghanistan | Indonesia | Pakistan |
| Bangladesh | Japan | Philippines |
| Bhutan | Korea | Singapore |
| Brunei | Laos | Sri Lanka |
| Cambodia | Macau SAR | Taiwan |
| China | Malaysia | Thailand |
| East Timor | Mongolia | Vietnam |
| Hong Kong SAR | Myanmar | United States |
| India | Nepal |
