Kundiman Mentorship Lab 2021

The Mentorship Lab supports nine NYC–based emerging artists for a six-month mentorship program from August 2021–January 2022. This lab will include mentorship support from established artists as well as writing workshops, craft classes, and a culminating reading open to the public. Kundiman has long been a source of community and support for Asian American writers, and we’re excited to offer this space of close collaboration and community guidance.

We are thrilled to have the following writers serving as Mentors this year:
Rajesh Parameswaran: Fiction
Larissa Pham: Creative Nonfiction
Arm Choi Wild: Poetry

Mentorship Fellows receive a $1000 stipend, individual mentoring sessions with the Mentor in their genre, six Craft Classes, and six Workshops. To encourage learning and community across genres, the Craft Classes will include fellows from all three genres. The Workshops will be conducted within specific genres.

Due to current health concerns, the 2021 Mentorship Lab will take place remotely, with a possible in-person reading in February 2022. However, applicants must be residents of New York City in order to participate, due to the nature of our grant.

ELIGIBILITY
The Mentorship Lab is open to emerging writers who self-identify as Asian American. Writers must not have published a full-length book by the conclusion of the Lab, and cannot be enrolled in a degree-granting program during the time of the Mentorship Lab. Writers must be residents of the five boroughs of New York City, and be living in NYC for the full period of the Mentorship Lab.

Mentorship Lab will meet virtually on biweekly Wednesday evenings from 6:30–9:00 PM ET from August 2021–January 2022. Please make sure these times will work for you before applying. A full calendar will be sent out upon acceptance.

Requirements

• Meet with entire cohort for introductory meeting in August 2021, and closing meeting in January 2022
• Participate in biweekly 30-minute check-ins with Mentors from August 2021–January 2022, via phone or Skype
• Attend all 6 Craft Classes and 6 Writing Workshops on bi-weekly Wednesdays from August–January 2022
• Participate in culminating public reading in February 2022

Application Instructions

Application can be found on our website.

Submit a cover letter and brief writing sample of 5–7 pages of poetry or 5 pages of prose (1250 words max).

Mentorship Fellows will be announced by early May. There is no application fee.