Columbia Alumni and Students Named 2024 NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellows

By
Andrew Scott
September 18, 2024

Several Columbia Alumni and Students feature in this year’s NYSCA/NYFA (New York State Council of the Arts/New York Foundation of the Arts) Artist Fellowship program, its 39th edition.

10 different Columbia alumni are represented across three disciplines, including five Fellows, three Finalists, and two Panelists.

The 2024 recipients were selected from a competitive pool of 4,587 applicants by panels comprised of peers in their respective disciplines. The panelists themselves are practicing artists nominated to serve on a one year basis, and remain confidential until the awards are announced.

In total, this year’s recipients consist of 87 artists practicing throughout the state, representing disciplines including Fiction, Folk/Traditional Arts, Interdisciplinary Work, Painting, and Video/Film. Their awards amount to an impressive $696,000 in unrestricted cash grants, including $8,000 to Fellows and $1,000 to Finalists.

In Fiction, Liza St. James ’19 and Elina Alter ’16 were honored as Fellows, with Raluca Albu ’18 and Mary South '14 confirmed as Finalists, and Amanda K. Horn '19 serving as a Panelist.

Interdisciplinary Work saw Visual Arts alum Kiyan Williams ’19 honored as a Fellow, with Esteban Cabeza de Baca ’14 serving as a Panelist. Williams and Cabeza de Baca also featured in the 2021 program, with Williams recognized as a Finalist and Cabeza de Baca as a Fellow.

The Film/Video discipline had Film student Aisha Amin and Mehrnoush Alia ’13 honored as Fellows, with Ellie Foumbi ’17 confirmed as a Finalist.

Erika Mallin, Executive Director of the NYSCA, offered her personal praise to recipients: “Congratulations to all of this year’s grantees. You are essential to the vitality and well-being of our society and our communities. We are excited for your work ahead and to benefit from your boundless creativity.”

The program supports a wide range of artists in all stages of their careers, with this year’s recipients ranging in age from 25 to 79. While five disciplines were honored this year, the program’s full scope honors artists working in 15 different disciplines, recognizing five per year on a triennial rotation.

Since launching in 1985, the program has delivered awards totalling over $35.8 million to 5,512 recipient artists.

See the full list of this year’s Fellows, Finalists, and Panelists here.