This award sits within the Fulbright U.S. Student Program in France. It pairs a Fulbright grant with free housing at the Fondation des Etats-Unis in Paris, and up to two awards are offered per competition.
Recipients spend nine months, October to June, on their own study or project in visual fine arts (painting, printmaking, sculpture, photography) or music (composition, instrumental or vocal performance).
Benefits & funding
- Monthly stipend, estimated at €1,600.
- Free housing at the Fondation des Etats-Unis, with access to its performance and exhibition spaces.
- International travel benefits and accident and sickness health cover.
- Tuition is not covered: grantees pay any degree fees or ask the school for a waiver.
- 12 months of U.S. federal non-competitive hiring eligibility.
Eligibility
- U.S. citizens or nationals at the deadline; permanent residents are not eligible. Dual French citizens may apply.
- A bachelor’s degree conferred before the grant starts (graduating seniors may apply), or four years of professional arts training or experience; Ph.D. holders are not eligible.
- Visual fine arts or music only, with evidence of high-level artistic or musical accomplishment.
- No residence in France (10 months counts) in the year before the grant.
- Not eligible if you lived abroad five or more of the six years before the deadline.
- French is recommended at the level the project needs, not required.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
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“Applicants must have a conferred bachelor's degree or equivalent before the start of the grant period. … In the creative and performing arts fields, four years of professional training and/or experience meets the basic eligibility requirement. … The following individuals are not eligible for consideration: … Applicants who currently hold or will hold a doctoral degree (Ph.D.) by the national application deadline. … Anyone who has resided abroad for five or more years in the six-year period preceding the national application deadline.” Eligibility
Eligible nationalities
USA
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Application process
- 1Apply through the Fulbright U.S. Student online application, choosing “Harriet Hale Woolley Award” as the award name.
- 2Upload the portfolio required for your arts field before submitting.
- 3Submit by the national deadline: 6 October 2026 for 2027–28.
- 4Finalists have a virtual interview with the selection committee at the Fondation des Etats-Unis.
Program timeline
6 October 2026
2027–28 application deadline (closed)
Semi-finalist notification
End of January 2027
Final decisions
March–June 2027
Mandatory orientation in France
Late September/early October 2027
Grant period
1 October 2027 – 30 June 2028