LABA 2027 Fellow Application
Open Call for Applications for LABA 2027 Art Fellowship
The 2027 theme is Visions.
We are a people shaped by visions.
Jacob dreams of a ladder stretching between earth and heaven. Moses encounters a bush that burns without being consumed. Ezekiel beholds a divine chariot unlike anything he has ever known. Jewish texts are riddled with visions that reveal hidden truths, foretell destruction and redemption, and imagine worlds yet to come. Some revelations offer clarity. Other prophecies raise more questions than answers. Nearly all visions leave people who encounter them transformed.
Visions are not confined to the pages and scrolls of our ancient texts. They continue to find us in moments of inspiration and uncertainty, compelling us to reshape the world around us. Artists have long brought these visions to life, making prophecy tangible and giving language to the unknowable.
What do you see?
This year at LABA New York, we will explore VISIONS through Jewish texts and contemporary life. We invite artists across disciplines to join us: to study, question, create, imagine—and share with us your VISIONS.
Information About the Application Process
Applications Open: Saturday, August 1
Application Deadline: Friday, September 18 at 11:59 PM
We encourage professional artists and culture-makers from different fields to apply. Past fellows have included performance artists, musicians, painters, filmmakers, choreographers, bakers, and more!
All applicants must apply to LABA with either a work-in-progress or a concrete project idea connected to the theme of Visions. No previous knowledge of Jewish texts is required; however, we encourage a desire to study these texts in an intellectually rigorous, non-religious setting.
Once submitted, a selection committee of artists and faculty will review all applications. Finalists will be contacted for interviews, which will take place at 14Y or online in mid-October.
LABA Fellowship Details
Fellows are required to:
- Join us for 10–12 study sessions at 14Y. The LABA cohort usually meets twice per month throughout 2027 (excluding the summer), on Mondays from 7:00 PM–10:00 PM.
- Present work-in-progress at one of our LABAlive events, which will take place from September – December 2027.
LABA fellows receive the following:
- A $1,200 study stipend
- Up to $1, 200 in project support
- Access to rehearsal and workspace at 14Y
- Learning, mentorship, and professional development with our renowned Scholar-in-Residence, Ruby Namdar, and Creative Director, Chanan Ben Simon
- A professionally produced public presentation of new work
- A vibrant community of artists and thinkers
For any questions, feel free to reach out: CBenSimon@14streety.org
In the meantime, join us in person for our LABA Fall season! Details to come.
Visit here to learn more about LABA New York.
Follow us on social media: LABA.NYC
What is LABA New York?
Founded at the 14th Street Y in 2007, LABA New York is an artistic fellowship program that brings together a mix of culture-makers to study classic Jewish texts. LABA NY’s goal is to present Judaism’s rich literary and intellectual tradition in a creative setting and use these texts to inspire contemporary Jewish culture. Since its inception, LABA NY has inspired additional hubs in the San Francisco Bay Area, Barcelona, Berlin, Buenos Aires, and Paris.