research fellowships 2026-2027

Since 2014, The Image Centre has offered a variety of fellowships for research related to photography. Research fellows have the opportunity to study select areas of The Image Centre's photography collections first-hand. These include the acclaimed Black Star Collection of photo-reportage, with over a quarter-million prints spanning the 20th century; a historic and fine art photography collection; The Francis Bedford Research Collection; The Edward Burtynsky Collection; The Braun-Epstein Collection; The Rudolph P. Bratty Family Collection (NYT); and several archives devoted to the life and work of a diverse group of photographers, including Werner Wolff, Jo Spence, Wendy Snyder MacNeil, Berenice Abbott, Minna Keene, Violet Keene Perinchief and Richard Harrington.

In 2026, The Image Centre will offer five competitive fellowships for research related to photography.

Details

Research fellowships must take place in Toronto, Canada at The Image Centre or TMU Archives and Special Collections between July 1st, 2026 and January 15, 2027. Dates of residency will be established in dialogue with the IMC’s staff. Research fellows must agree to abide to regulations as directed by Toronto Metropolitan University, The Image Centre, and the Ministry of Health for the province of Ontario. 

Fellows are expected to pay the cost of travel and accommodation in Toronto. The stipend awarded with the fellowship is intended to offset these costs. Fellows without Canadian citizenship are responsible for obtaining travel visas as required by law according to their nationality.

Fellows will be offered access to the IMC’s Peter Higdon Research Centre and collection materials, and (if applicable) the TMU Archives and Special Collections. Please note, some collection items may not be available for physical consultation during the designated time frame or visitation dates