Online Application opens November 11, 2015 Apply Now. 
The Artist Protection Fund announces the November 11, 2015 launch of its inaugural round of applications for artists from every artistic discipline. With the fellowship, artists who are facing threats to their lives and/or practice can find temporary support through placements at host universities and arts centers anywhere in the world where they can continue their work in safety.
The Artist Protection Fund builds upon IIE’s nearly 100 years of support for threatened scholars. This includes the work of the IIE Scholar Rescue Fund, which since its foundation in 2002 has provided fellowships to enable 625 threatened scholars from 54 countries to escape from harm and continue their work in freedom and safety.
Who can apply:
Artists from any country and artistic discipline may apply. Applications are reviewed for artistic merit, the quality/potential of the applicant’s work, and the severity of the threats that the applicant faces. Preference is given to artists who:
are facing or have recently fled from immediate, severe, and targeted threats to their lives and/or artistic practice in their home countries or countries of residence;
demonstrate accomplishment and promise in their artistic practice;
will benefit their home and/or host communities.
We encourage applications from women and members of ethnic, racial, cultural, or religious minority groups, or those otherwise underrepresented in their fields.
Students or professionals seeking funding to pursue academic studies or training are not eligible.
How the Artist Protection Fund works: 
Sponsored by a grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, APF fellowships will support threatened artists for up to one calendar year. Artists from any country and artistic discipline/practice may apply. Applications will be reviewed for artistic merit, the quality/potential of the applicant’s work, and the severity of the threats that the applicant faces.
Fellowships will be disbursed through partnering universities, colleges, or arts institutes that provide a safe haven for APF fellows to continue their work in safety. In some cases, hosting institutions will match the APF fellowship award by providing salary/stipend support, housing, and/or other assistance.
For consideration in February 2016, all application and portfolio materials must be received by Monday, January 4, 2016.
Please note that applications are accepted on a rolling basis, and will be considered by the APF Selection Committee at least two (2) times per year. Emergency applications may be considered out of cycle if circumstances require.
To apply:
Details on how to apply can be found here.
To submit on behalf of an artist:
Contact APF@iie.org to refer a threatened artist in need of assistance.
To host an APF scholar:
Visit our website to learn more about how to host an APF scholar.