Applications are open for the Princeton Arts Fellowship, a prestigious two-year program for early-career artists whose work demonstrates extraordinary promise. Supported by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the David E. Kelley Society of Fellows in the Arts, and the Maurice R. Greenberg Scholarship Fund, the fellowship offers artists the opportunity to teach, create, and engage with a vibrant university community.

Fellows will join Princeton University as full-time Lecturers for two academic years, from September 1 to July 1, receiving an annual salary of $93,000 plus benefits. They are expected to teach one undergraduate course per semester or undertake an artistic project with students, while dedicating substantial time to advancing their own creative practice.

This opportunity is open to visual artists, filmmakers, poets, novelists, playwrights, composers, musicians, choreographers, designers, directors, and performance artists. The fellowship is designed for artists who would benefit from Princeton’s collaborative environment and are committed to active participation in its academic and creative life.

Brief Details

• Application Deadline: September 8, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. EDT
• Fellowship tenure: September 1 to July 1 (two consecutive academic years)
• Funding Type: Fully funded
• Organizer/Host Institution: Princeton University
• Eligible Countries: All nationalities
• Eligible Gender: Male/Female
• Target Group: Early-career artists in diverse disciplines (visual arts, film, poetry, novel writing, playwriting, design, directing, performance, etc.)
• Focus Area: Arts and creative practice with teaching involvement
• Duration: Two years (2027–2028 and 2028–2029)
• Program Language: English
• Host Country: United States

Fellowship benefit

Fellows will benefit from the following items:

• Annual stipend of $93,000.
• Two academic years of support at Princeton University.
• Opportunity to teach one course per semester or pursue an alternative artistic assignment.
• Freedom to develop artistic projects in a supportive, resource-rich environment.
• Integration into a vibrant university community with opportunities for collaboration and student engagement.

Eligibility Criteria

Applications in creative writing, visual arts, and theatre are acceptable, and applicants should meet the following criteria to apply for the Princeton Arts Fellowships:

• The application is open to early-career artists demonstrating extraordinary promise.
• Applicants can be from any nationality.
• Not open to holders of a Ph.D. degree from Princeton.
• Past recipients of the Hodder Fellowship or those with a sustained, continuous relationship with Princeton University are not eligible.
• Applicants with occasional or sporadic relationships with Princeton may apply.
• Applicants can apply for the Princeton Arts Fellowship only twice in their lifetime.

Selection Criteria for the Princeton Arts Fellowships

The selection of the finalists will be based on artistic commitment and record of achievement, as well as the potential for meaningful engagement with a vibrantly diverse pool of undergraduate students, and the possibility of tremendous dedication to the intellectual and artistic life of the Princeton community.

How to Apply?

• Complete the online application through Princeton University’s Arts Fellowship portal. (the application link will be posted here soon)
• Submit all required documents (CV, proposal, references’ contact info, work samples).
• Ensure submission by the deadline: September 8, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. EDT.
• For questions, email: lca-fellowships@princeton.edu.

Apply Now 

Application Requirements

All applicants should submit the following documents:

• A curriculum vitae
• A proposal of 750 words that outlines the following:

1. How do you plan to use the two years of the fellowship to advance your work (250 words)

1. What you could do with undergraduates as part of your fellowship, such as teach, direct, or choreograph (250 words)
2. How have you promoted diversity and inclusion in your artistic endeavors, classroom instruction, or research? (250 words)

• Contact details for three references
• Work samples with a 150-word explanation of how they relate to your proposal are required:

1. Examples of creative writing are limited to 3000 words.
2. You can submit up to 20 still photos and 5 minutes of video for the visual arts category. Video can show an entire piece or selected portions. Send documents in PDF format and a link to a suitable online video format. If required, give access passwords.
3. Theatre: a 10- to 15-page writing sample; 20 to 30 design renderings or photos; or a video or audio reel with cue points. We encourage links to reputable websites or web archives.

Please visit Princeton University’s website for further information about the Princeton Arts Fellowship.

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