43 open listings · Updated 5 November 2026
What a fellowship offers that a residency does not
A fellowship supports a person; a residency supports a period of work. That is the cleanest way to hold the difference. A residency gives you time and space somewhere specific. A fellowship gives you funding, standing and usually a relationship with an institution, and it often does not require you to be anywhere in particular.
The practical consequence is that fellowships tend to be longer, more competitive and more career-shaping. They are frequently framed as awards rather than placements, which means being named a fellow carries weight on a CV in a way that attending a residency generally does not.
Fellowship or residency?
They overlap considerably, particularly in the arts, but the centre of gravity is different.
| Residency | Fellowship |
|---|
| Core idea | Time and space to make work | Support and recognition to develop |
|---|
| Usually involves | Being based somewhere for a defined period | Funding, mentorship, research, professional development or institutional affiliation |
|---|
| Physical presence | Usually required | Not necessarily |
|---|
| Accommodation and studio | Often provided or arranged | Sometimes, but not the defining feature |
|---|
| Funding | May be funded, partly funded, or fee-based | More commonly funded or stipended |
|---|
| Selection | Based on project, practice and fit | Often more competitive, framed as an award |
|---|
| Typical duration | Weeks to months | Months to a year or more, though it varies enormously |
|---|
| Expected output | Artwork, research, open studio, exhibition | Research, professional development, a project, publication or teaching |
|---|
What fellowships typically involve
Most combine money with something else: mentorship, an institutional affiliation, research access, teaching, a public programme, or a cohort of other fellows. The non-financial part is often the point, access to a collection, a laboratory, an archive or a peer group you could not otherwise reach.
Expectations in return vary and are worth reading closely. Some fellowships ask for a public outcome, a publication or a period of teaching. Others ask only that you do the work you proposed. Neither is a problem, but they are different commitments.
Applying for a fellowship
Because fellowships are framed as awards, applications lean more heavily on trajectory than a residency application does. Panels are assessing where your practice is going and what a year of support would change about it, not only what you would make next.
Expect a longer process. Fellowship deadlines are often annual, decisions take months, and many run a two-stage process with interviews. Apply well ahead of when you need the support, and treat the proposal as a serious piece of writing rather than a form to complete.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a fellowship and a residency?+
A residency gives you time and space somewhere specific, usually for weeks or months. A fellowship supports you as an artist, funding, mentorship, affiliation and standing, often without requiring you to be anywhere in particular, and usually for longer.
Are fellowships always funded?+
More often than residencies are. Funding or a stipend is closer to the defining feature of a fellowship, whereas residencies range from fully funded to fee-based. The amount and duration should be stated in the listing.
Fellowships for artists in the United StatesDo I have to relocate for a fellowship?+
Not necessarily. Many fellowships are non-residential, requiring only periodic contact with the host institution. Where relocation is required the listing says so, and accommodation is sometimes but not always included.
How competitive are fellowships?+
Generally more so than residencies, because they are framed as awards and carry money, standing and institutional affiliation. Panels read for trajectory, where your practice is going and what a year of support would change.
