artistic research fellowships

Folger Institute Artistic Research Fellowships are open to all artists whose work would benefit from significant primary research related to the histories, concepts, art, and objects of the early modern world (ca. 1400-1800), as well as its legacies and ongoing impacts. Artistic applicants are not required to hold a formal degree, but should describe their training and level of industry-specific experience in their CV.

Artistic applicants may apply for one, two, or three months of research support and have the option to take their fellowships fully onsite, fully virtual, or a combination of the two. Fellowship awards are $4,000 per virtual month and $5,000 per onsite month, and may be taken any time between July 1, 2027, and June 30, 2028. Applicants may propose the research schedule that best fits their project’s needs. Please note that while we do award three-month residencies, most awards are one or two months in length.

A final art deliverable is not required upon conclusion of the fellowship residency and the Folger is not able to serve as a dissemination site for current fellows except by invitation. However, we do require all fellows to complete an evaluation survey to help us continue to improve our program.

Please note that while fellowships taken onsite at the Folger provide access to and time with our collection, they do not include studio space. Artists who need studio space while in residence will be expected to arrange their own.

Virtual and Hybrid Fellowships

The option to take an artistic fellowship as fully or partially virtual was designed for individuals who cannot, for a variety of reasons, travel or commit to an extended residential research period. In their applications, artists must make their own best cases for how they will utilize the virtual portions of their fellowship. Examples may include, but are not limited to:

• Offsetting personal and professional expenses such as caregiving and supplementary employment to allow for dedicated research time using the Folger’s online resources

• Conducting research primarily from home using online resources, but traveling to the Folger for a few days to see a specific item that is not digitized

• Working, experimenting, and creating in a home studio with specialized equipment or tools alongside dedicated virtual research time

• Preparing for onsite research at the Folger through virtual consultation with Researcher Services staff, exploring the catalog, refining a list of what to consult onsite, and reading secondary research publications

• Incorporating research already conducted onsite at the Folger through drafting, creating, and experimenting

• Utilizing the Folger’s Virtual Reading Room service (please note, this service is limited)

By alleviating financial, professional, and personal barriers to fellowship participation, full and hybrid virtual opportunities provide greater access to research fellowships while simultaneously allowing artists to take advantage of the increasing multitude of digital resources accessible to them at home.