BRONX RIVER ART CENTER (BRAC)

Open Call: Cultural Immigrant Initiative

Seeking Bronx-Based Artists

Deadline: Midnight, February 24, 2026

Bronx River Art Center (BRAC) invites Bronx-based artists to apply for the Cultural Immigrant Initiative, a program supporting projects that celebrate and explore the cultural histories, traditions, and heritages of immigrant communities in New York City. This initiative seeks to increase access to meaningful, community-based cultural programming that uplifts immigrant experiences and fosters cross-cultural understanding. Projects may take place in community centers or public spaces (parks, recreation centers, libraries, etc.) selected and approved in partnership with BRAC. These awards are single-year discretionary funding allocations made by NYC City Council Members and administered by the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA). Funded activities must take place within the designated Council District.

Project Requirements

Projects must be cultural in nature. The definition of arts and culture includes the humanities and natural sciences. It does not include physical fitness, social services, or nutrition/diet programs.

Selected artists must complete either:

• 4–6 public events, engagements, or performances
• OR
• 20 or more hours of community engagement (e.g., 10 two-hour workshops or classes)

Projects must:

• Take place between March 15 – June 15, 2026
• Occur within at least one of the following Community Districts:
• CD 15: Fordham, Belmont, East Tremont, West Farms, Bronx Park
• CD 16: Morrisania, Highbridge, Yankee Stadium, Claremont Park, University Heights, Morris Heights, Fordham
• CD 11: Bedford Park, Norwood, Kingsbridge Heights–Van Cortlandt Village, Riverdale, Wakefield–Woodlawn
• Include at least one public event at BRAC

Award & Support

Artist Stipend: $3,000–$5,000

Stipend amount determined by scope of project and number of artists involved. Applications may be submitted by individuals or artist teams.

BRAC will also provide:

• Pre-approved budget coverage for supplies, marketing, program support, photography, travel, and related expenses
• Marketing, programmatic, and administrative support
• Rehearsal or meeting space 

Artists are responsible for:

• Program design and content
• Venue coordination and community relationship management
• Documentation (photos, sign-in sheets, tracking engagement hours)
• Adherence to grant guidelines and deadlines
• Submission of a final report

Project Award Requirements

This award is structured as a contract for services. Selected artists must:

• Sign and return a residency agreement
• Include required funding credit and logos on all materials
• Submit event notifications 2–4 weeks prior to public programming
• Participate in potential site visits
• Document programs and collect required participant data
• Submit a final report upon project completion

Failure to comply with requirements may impact funding and future eligibility.

Selection Process

Applications will be reviewed for completeness, eligibility, artistic merit, feasibility, and alignment with the initiative’s goals. Final selections will be made through a BRAC staff led review process.

How to Apply

Deadline: Midnight, February 24, 2026

Submit Application Here

Applications must be submitted via BRAC’s Google Form and include:

• Resume or CV
• Cover Letter
• 3–5 Work Samples
• Project Proposal & Overview (including timeline, locations, estimated engagement numbers, and budget needs)

Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

Please email opencall@bronxriverart.org with any questions or for technical support with the application

Examples of Past BRAC Cultural Immigrant Initiative Projects

Previous projects have included:

• Golden Door Project by Sohhee Oh — A mobile outdoor installation serving as a symbolic “portal” for the immigrant experience, inviting residents to share greetings in their native languages in parks and public spaces.
• Drumming, Dancing & Masks — A series of mask-making workshops culminating in an exhibition and live performance featuring Caribbean and South American musical traditions at Sotomayor Community Center.
• One Person at a Time by Nicolás Dumit Estévez Raful — One-on-one life and art exchanges with Bronx elders, resulting in recorded narratives and a published collection of biographies reflecting migration journeys.
• Site: Yizkor by Maya Ciarrocchi — Story-writing and book-making workshops exploring memory, displacement, and loss through a universal lens of migration and remembrance.
• Monarch Migration Project by Ruth Marshall, Michele Brody & Patti Cooper — Community workshops linking monarch butterfly migration to global migration stories through artmaking, storytelling, and environmental stewardship.

Open Call: Teaching Artists — 2026

Bronx River Art Center (BRAC) is seeking teaching artists and creative facilitators for our 2026 Arts Education Programs. Artists from underrepresented communities are strongly encouraged to apply.