frequently asked questions

Who is eligible to apply?

We accept proposals from young artists internationally, regardless of gender or gender identification, race, religion, citizenship, educational background (public school, private school, home school, or other), or prior experience or education in art.
The only eligibility restriction for the Jeffrey Ahn, Jr. Fellowship is age. For the 2024-25 application cycle, candidates should be no older than 25 years of age on January 1, 2025.

What images should I submit with my Phase I application?

Choose images that represent your best work.
Images of finished work are preferable to works in progress.
The best images are clear, well-lit, and on a clean background.
Please make sure the images are high-quality, not grainy or pixelated. 300 dpi is the standard.

I have been selected for Phase II. Do you have any advice for writing my proposal?

Think big and propose a project you would otherwise be unable to do, while keeping in mind that feasibility is a factor when proposals are chosen.
Feel free to mention the ideas or motivations behind your proposed project, but also explain clearly and concretely how the project will materialize. The jury should be both excited by the idea of your project and confident that you will be able to complete it.
Write in clear and concise sentences. Avoid wordiness or excessive use of jargon (technical, academic, or otherwise).

Phase II: What images should I submit?

Phase II applicants only: Ideally, the images submitted should have some connection to your proposed project. Sketches, drawings, short samples of video, or photographs that illustrate the concept or key components of your proposed project are also very helpful. This will help the jury to envision what you hope to make.

Phase II: What are you looking for in a budget?

Proposed budgets will be carefully reviewed for realistic and well-researched estimates, efficiency, and creative efforts to do more with less.
For technical equipment, electronics, and similar items, the expectation is that the Fellow will rent rather purchase. In some cases, the foundation will purchase equipment at the Fellow’s request and loan the item to the Fellow; the equipment will then be returned to the foundation for use by future Fellows or other foundation purposes.
The Jeffrey Ahn, Jr. Fellowship is not a scholarship fund and cannot fund school tuition, even for an art school. It is possible, however, to request a limited amount of funding for workshops outside of your school’s curriculum to develop a specific skill needed for the development of your proposed Fellowship project.
Fellowship funds cannot be spent on food under any circumstances (unless said food is a pre-approved material used exclusively in the artwork itself).
If travel is involved in your proposal, please justify why such travel is essential for the project and demonstrate careful and economical planning around your travel plans. In the interest of fiscal responsibility, the Fellowship will book travel and accommodation directly for its Fellows’ project-related trips when doing so will be more economical.
Please consider the cost of gas, or transportation tickets, and lodging in your budget; Fellows are personally responsible for basic personal expenses (such as meals).

Phase II: Whom should I list as a reference?

References should not be an obstacle to applying for the Fellowship. Should you not be able to provide references for any reason, please contact us at info@jeffreyahnjr.org and we will work with you to find a solution based on your personal situation. References will only be contacted if you are chosen as a finalist for the Fellowship.
Most applicants enrolled in traditional schools will list teachers of art or other subjects taught at their school or in an after school program. The degree to which a teacher is acquainted with you and your learning style is far more important than the subject that the teacher teaches.
If you are home-schooled or not enrolled in a traditional school, feel free to list any adult person (with no family connection to you) who can speak to your creativity, independence, and/or ability to complete an independent creative project. A teacher, tutor, counselor, or administrator of any educational or other organization or program in which you have taken part would be fine.

I have submitted my application. What happens now?

For the 2024-25 application cycle, Phase I applicants will be notified within 6-8 weeks of the submission deadline if they have been selected for Phase II of the process, which involves the submission of a more detailed proposal, including a budget, and two references.
Phase II applicants will be notified on or before May 1, 2025 on whether or not their proposal has been chosen.

Will I be able to exhibit my Jeffrey Ahn, Jr. Fellowship project?

The Jeffrey Ahn, Jr. Fellowship does not require its Fellows to exhibit their projects formally; however, in the past, many of our Fellows have chosen to exhibit part or all of their Fellowship project in a public setting.
You might decide towards the end of your Fellowship period that you wish to exhibit the artwork(s) resulting from your project. The foundation seeks to support its Fellows in this aim whenever possible, and may-- entirely at its discretion and on a case-by-case basis-- provide financial or other assistance to Fellows in exhibiting.

Any other information for new Fellows to keep in mind?

You are asked to share images of your process and project as you work on it, as well as of the completed project.
We would like to present your project to our Jury, Patrons, and larger Fellowship community during and after it is complete. Historically we have done this in various ways (digitally, printed publications, presentations, etc.). We expect that you will work with us to make this possible.
The Fellowship and the Foundation are entitled to use, without license or pre-approval, in perpetuity and without restriction, any images you share with us related to your project.