Queer|Art
A NYC-based nonprofit supporting LGBTQ+ artists through mentorship programs, grants, and community events including film and performance fellowships
Overview
Queer|Art is a New York City-based nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the creative development of LGBTQ+ artists working across disciplines, with a strong emphasis on community building, mentorship, and the advancement of queer artistic practice. Founded to address the specific challenges and opportunities facing LGBTQ+ artists in a cultural landscape where queer perspectives have historically been marginalized, underrepresented, or tokenized, Queer|Art provides structured programs that help artists develop their work, build their careers, and connect with a supportive community of peers and mentors. The organization's programming spans visual arts, film, performance, writing, and interdisciplinary practices, reflecting the broad creative range of the LGBTQ+ artistic community. Queer|Art is grounded in the belief that LGBTQ+ artists bring essential perspectives to the cultural conversation and that supporting their work strengthens the broader arts ecosystem.
The organization's flagship mentorship program pairs emerging LGBTQ+ artists with established mentors who provide one-on-one guidance over an extended period, helping mentees develop specific projects, refine their artistic practice, and navigate the professional dimensions of creative careers. The mentorship relationships are carefully curated to match mentees with mentors whose artistic sensibilities, career experiences, and areas of expertise align with the mentee's needs and goals. This personalized approach to professional development is particularly valuable for LGBTQ+ artists who may lack access to supportive mentorship in mainstream institutional settings where their identity and artistic perspective may not be fully understood or valued. The mentorship program culminates in public presentations of the mentees' work, providing visibility and audience engagement opportunities that help launch the next phase of each artist's career.
How It Works
Queer|Art offers annual fellowships in film and performance that provide financial support and professional development to selected LGBTQ+ artists working in these disciplines. The film fellowship supports queer filmmakers at various stages of their careers with funding, mentorship, and production support for projects that explore LGBTQ+ themes, experiences, and aesthetics. The performance fellowship provides similar support to LGBTQ+ performing artists, including actors, dancers, theatre makers, and performance artists, helping them develop new work and advance their careers. These fellowships represent a significant commitment to the individual artists selected, providing resources that can be transformative for emerging creators working with limited budgets and institutional support.
Community events are a central element of Queer|Art's programming, creating spaces where LGBTQ+ artists and audiences come together to share work, exchange ideas, and build the relationships that sustain creative practice. The organization hosts screenings, performances, readings, exhibitions, and social gatherings throughout the year, maintaining a vibrant calendar of events that serves as a hub for the NYC queer arts community. These events provide both emerging and established artists with opportunities to present their work to engaged audiences in supportive environments, building the confidence and visibility that are essential for career advancement. The community building function of these events is just as important as their artistic content, as the connections formed at Queer|Art gatherings often lead to collaborations, referrals, and ongoing creative partnerships.
Who Uses It
Queer|Art's programming reflects a commitment to intersectionality, recognizing that LGBTQ+ identity intersects with race, ethnicity, class, disability, and other dimensions of experience that shape artistic practice and career trajectories. The organization actively seeks to support artists from the full diversity of the LGBTQ+ community, with particular attention to artists from communities that face compounded marginalization. This intersectional approach ensures that Queer|Art's programs do not default to serving only the most privileged segments of the LGBTQ+ community but instead reach artists whose work and perspectives are most urgently in need of support and visibility. The organization's programming also addresses the intergenerational dimension of LGBTQ+ arts, connecting younger artists with the legacy of queer artistic practice while honoring the contributions of elder artists who built the foundations of LGBTQ+ cultural life.
Pricing & Plans
Queer|Art's programs and events are available at no cost to participating artists, with the organization's operations funded through grants, donations, and institutional partnerships. The mentorship program does not charge fees to mentees, and the fellowships provide financial awards rather than requiring payment from recipients. Community events are generally free or offered at low cost to ensure accessibility for artists and audience members across economic circumstances. There are no membership fees or subscription costs required to engage with Queer|Art's resources or attend its events. The fellowship programs provide direct financial support to selected artists, making them a source of income rather than an expense. Compared to MFA programs or private arts training that can cost tens of thousands of dollars, Queer|Art offers structured professional development and mentorship at no financial cost, though its programs are competitive and acceptance is selective.
Pros & Cons
What's Great
Queer|Art's greatest strength is the intentional creation of supportive creative community for LGBTQ+ artists, which addresses the isolation and marginalization that many queer artists experience in mainstream institutional settings. The mentorship program provides deeply personalized professional development that is difficult to access through other channels, pairing emerging artists with experienced practitioners who understand both the artistic and identity dimensions of their work. The film and performance fellowships provide meaningful financial and professional support that can catalyze significant career advancement for selected artists. The organization's community events create a vibrant social infrastructure that sustains creative practice and builds the networks of mutual support that are essential for artistic careers. Queer|Art's intersectional commitment ensures that its programs serve a genuinely diverse range of LGBTQ+ artists rather than defaulting to the most visible or commercially viable segment of the community. The organization's base in New York City provides access to one of the world's richest and most active arts ecosystems.
What Could Be Better
Queer|Art's programs are competitive, and the limited number of mentorship slots and fellowships means that many qualified applicants will not be selected, which can be discouraging for artists who invest significant effort in their applications. The organization's physical base in New York City means that LGBTQ+ artists in other cities and regions have limited access to its community events and in-person programming, though some programs may accommodate remote participation. The organization's broad artistic focus, spanning visual arts, film, performance, writing, and interdisciplinary practices, means that actors and performers specifically may find that only a portion of its programming is directly relevant to their discipline. As a relatively small nonprofit, Queer|Art's capacity to serve the enormous and growing demand from LGBTQ+ artists is constrained by its funding and staffing levels. The fellowship amounts, while meaningful, may not be sufficient to fully support the development or production of ambitious projects that require significant budgets. The organization's programming cycle means that opportunities arise at specific times during the year, requiring artists to plan ahead and be ready to apply when windows open.
Our Recommendation
Queer|Art is a valuable resource for LGBTQ+ artists in the New York City area, and particularly for performers, filmmakers, and interdisciplinary artists who want structured mentorship, fellowship opportunities, and connection to a supportive queer creative community. Emerging LGBTQ+ actors and performers who are developing their own work — whether solo performances, short films, or theatre pieces — should consider applying for the performance or film fellowships as a way to fund their projects and gain professional visibility. Artists who feel isolated in mainstream training programs or industry settings may find that Queer|Art's community provides the understanding and support that enables them to develop their most authentic and compelling work. Non-performing LGBTQ+ artists working in writing, visual arts, or interdisciplinary practices will also find relevant programming and community at Queer|Art. The organization is most valuable for artists who are actively developing their creative practice and looking for community engagement rather than passive consumption of resources.
Pro Tips
Visit the Queer|Art website to review current fellowship deadlines and mentorship program application windows, as these opportunities have specific timelines that require advance planning. Attend Queer|Art community events — screenings, performances, readings, and social gatherings — to experience the organization's community firsthand and begin building relationships with other LGBTQ+ artists before applying to formal programs. Follow Queer|Art on social media and subscribe to their newsletter to stay informed about upcoming opportunities, events, and developments in the LGBTQ+ arts community. When applying for mentorship or fellowship programs, invest significant time in your application materials and artistic samples, as the selection process is competitive and the quality of your application directly affects your chances. If you are not selected for a program on your first attempt, reapply in future cycles — selection committees change, your work evolves, and persistence is rewarded. Engage with the broader LGBTQ+ arts community in New York by attending events hosted by allied organizations, as the relationships you build across these communities will enrich your artistic practice and expand your professional network.