The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs -- Directorate General for Cultural Promotion and Cooperation --, the Italian Cultural Institute, and the Italian Academy for Advanced Studies at Columbia University in New York   announce the 7th edition of the Premio New York/New York Prize, a scholarship program for emerging Italian artists.

 

The prize offers artists the opportunity to spend four or eight months in New York, to coincide with one or two academic semesters at the Italian Academy (four months starting September 2009 or January 2010, or eight months, September, 2009-April 2010) to develop their own work while being in contact with the artistic scene in the United States and particularly in New York. The winning artists will participate in the cultural activities organized by the Italian Cultural Institute and the Italian Academy, and may, with the permission of the professors, audit classes at Columbia University in subjects such as art history, film theory, visual arts and architecture. At the end of the fellowship the artists will organize an exhibition of their work at the ISCP Gallery (International Studio and Curatorial Program) and/or at another public exhibition space in New York.

 

For the Seventh Annual Premio New York/New York Prize, the committee will award two eight-month long fellowships (or four four-month long fellowships) and will provide the following benefits:

1. a monthly stipend of US $2,500 lodging and accommodation will be provided by the FIAC Foundation for the entire fellowship period;

2. studio space at the ISCP;

3. round-trip air transportation between Italy and New York;

4. health and accident insurance;

5. visa arrangements for the duration of the Fellowship (provided by the Italian Academy).

 

Applicants must:

(a) be Italian citizens;

(b) have been born after December 31, 1969;

(c) be artists working in the visual arts;

(d) have already had at least one personal exhibition;

(e) have a good knowledge of the English language.

 

3. Eligibility and Exclusion:

Applicants who meet any one of the following conditions are not eligible:

a) members of the selection committee, members of the technical secretariat, their spouses, relatives and extended family members up to and including second cousins and their offspring;

b) employees of the institutions offering the prize, including the ISCP Gallery, or dependents and assistants of committee members.

 

One complete copy of the application (Attachment A) and related documentation must be addressed by registered mail with return receipt to “Premio New York,” The Italian Cultural Institute of New York, 686 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10065, by April 30, 2009. The date of the postmark will constitute proof of the date of mailing.

At the same time, candidates must send the application form only, without documentation, to fax number (212) 861-4018 in New York, or by e-mail to [email protected] [4]

The applications must explicitly declare that personal data can be shared for the purpose of this selection (see form below).

 

The application materials should be sent in a single envelope and should include:

1. four signed copies of the applicant's Curriculum Vitae (in Italian and English);

2. four letters of recommendation from distinguished art critics, contemporary art historians, museum directors, or experts in the artist’s field, discussing the applicant's work and character;

3. documentation of the applicant's activity in the field of visual arts, without restriction regarding technique or topics. The documentation should consist of captioned photographs (no more than 20) on a Windows compatible CD-Rom (images saved as .tif or .jpg with a maximum of 150 dpi), and/or of video or DVD (maximum duration 10 minutes); 

4. any press reviews of past artistic activity (of no more than 10 pages);

5. four copies of the project the applicant intends to develop in New York (in Italian and English) specifying the institutions and colleagues who will be involved in order to complete the project;

6. a photocopy of a valid identity document.


 

Applications which do not respect these requirements will not be considered. Unsolicited materials (such as brochures, catalogues, and slide transparencies) will not be reviewed. Application materials shall remain at the disposal of the Italian Cultural Institute of New York/the Italian Academy.

 

The Fellowship recipients will be selected by an international committee drawn from the Italian and American cultural scene.

The names of the selection committee members will be published on the websites of the Foreign Ministry (www.esteri.it), the Italian Cultural Institute  [5]and the Italian Academy  [6]after the application deadline. The appointees will be notified by June 15th, 2009, through direct contact and through publication on the websites of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Italian Cultural Institute and the Italian Academy.

 

For further information please contact:

The Italian Cultural Institute: (212) 879-4242 ext. 328; e-mail: [email protected] [4] or the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Directorate General for Cultural Promotion and Cooperation

e-mail: [email protected] [7]