The New Museum in New York has announced the 12th cohort of its cultural incubator NEW INC, running from September 2025 to June 2026. This year, 74 new individuals and collectives working at the intersection of art, design, technology, and entrepreneurship have been selected to join the program.
The Role of the Incubator
Throughout the yearlong program, participants will gain access to a business education curriculum, mentorship, and opportunities to showcase their work to the public. The culmination of the cycle will once again be the annual DEMO Festival, a platform that has become an important milestone for emerging creatives.
Another highlight of this year’s program is the inclusion of “Anchor Members” from universities and adjacent industries. Tokyo University of the Arts joins through a partnership with the Melco Group’s Tokyo Geidai New York Project, while the Graduate School of Management at Kyoto University, Aichi University of the Arts, and Tokyo-based architecture firm AS Co., Ltd. will also participate in rotation.
Five Distinct Tracks
Members will develop their practices across five program tracks:
- Art & Code: Redefining digital and cultural landscapes (in collaboration with Rhizome, supported by the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation)
- Creative Science: Merging scientific inquiry with creativity (supported by the Simons Foundation)
- Extended Realities: Expanding artistic expression across physical and digital worlds (supported by EY and Onassis ONX)
- Social Architecture: Reconstructing public and social space through design and architecture (supported by the Jonathan D & Mark C. Lewis Foundation)
- Cooperative Studies: Designing care-based models for collective futures
Many of this year’s projects focus on urgent social issues such as racial equity, climate change, education, access, and the future of work.
Growing Impact
Since its founding in 2014, NEW INC has supported its members in raising a total of $28.9 million in investment capital, generating $45 million in revenue, establishing or sustaining 384 businesses, and creating 686 jobs in New York City.
Director Salome Asega commented: “We are thrilled to welcome our newest members to NEW INC’s expansive community, and we are excited to foster connections between their timely projects and initiatives. Each year, NEW INC’s member cohort reflects what’s next in art, culture, and technology, and we are excited to support and learn from this outstanding group of creatives.”
A Global Stage
Alumni of NEW INC have showcased their work at major international stages, including the Venice Biennale, Whitney Biennial, Sundance Film Festival, SXSW (South by Southwest), and the Cannes Film Festival. They have also received recognition from prestigious institutions and awards such as the Emmy Awards, the Fulbright Program, Creative Capital, and the Webby Awards.
The 12th cohort is expected to follow in these footsteps, with their practices reaching both local and global audiences. Full details of the members and their projects are available on the NEW INC official website.
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