The Artistic Research Fellowships are run by the Folger Institute, the advanced-research centre inside the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, DC. They support artists whose work would benefit from significant primary research into the histories, concepts, art, and objects of the early modern world (roughly 1400–1800) and its legacies. A fellow takes one, two, or three months with the library’s manuscripts, printed books, art, costumes, and visual resources, and can do that time fully onsite, fully virtually, or as a mix of both.
No formal degree is required — artists document their training and industry experience in a CV instead. The application window runs from October 15 to January 15 each year, artistic awards are announced in late April, and the fellowship is taken during the tenure year that follows.
Benefits & funding
- US$5,000 for each month spent onsite at the Folger.
- US$4,000 for each month spent virtually.
- One, two, or three months of support, in any combination of onsite and virtual time.
- The award is intended to cover travel, housing, and living expenses; fellows may take Folger housing or arrange their own off-site accommodation.
- Direct research access to the Folger collections — manuscripts, printed books, art, costumes, and visual resources — and to the Institute’s research community.
- For fellows coming from abroad, the Folger sponsors the J-1 visa and covers the visa application costs.
Eligibility
- Open to any artist whose work would benefit from significant primary research related to the early modern world (ca. 1400–1800) and its legacies.
- No formal degree is required; applicants describe their training and level of industry-specific experience in their CV.
- Open to applicants of any nationality; the Folger can sponsor international fellows on a J-1 visa.
- No age limit, residency requirement, or minimum years of experience is stated.
- An applicant may apply as many times as they wish, but receives at most two Folger fellowships for the same project.
- Another grant or fellowship may be held alongside this one as long as the funding periods do not overlap.
Can you apply?
Open to all applicants
No nationality, residency, education, or experience limits are listed.
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Application process
- 1Confirm the project genuinely needs Folger materials, and build the list of collection items to consult.
- 2Decide the length — one, two, or three months — and how that time splits between onsite and virtual work.
- 3Prepare the materials: a 250-word project abstract, a 1,500-word project description covering the month breakdown and the onsite/virtual split, a two-page CV, and a one-page list of Folger sources.
- 4Ask one referee for a letter of recommendation, and assemble optional portfolio materials as a single file or a link.
- 5Submit everything through the Folger online portal, which opens on October 15 and closes January 15 at 11:59 pm ET.
- 6Wait for the decision — artistic fellowship awards are announced in late April, after review by a committee of invited specialists and Folger staff.
Program timeline
Application portal opens for the cycle
October 15
Application deadline
January 15 (11:59 pm ET)
Artistic fellowship awards announced
Late April
Tenure window for the cycle that closed on Jan 15, 2026
Jul 1, 2026 to Jun 30, 2027