Are you an early-career artist ready to spend two years developing your work inside one of the world's leading universities, and get paid $93,000 a year to do it? The Princeton Arts Fellowship, run by Princeton's Lewis Center for the Arts, is one of the most respected fellowships in the arts, and applications for the next cycle close on 8 September 2026. At Youth Works Hub, we've set out the full fellowship below, from the stipend and the disciplines open this cycle to the eligibility fine print and the application materials, so you can submit a strong application in time.
About the Fellowship
The Princeton Arts Fellowship is awarded to early-career artists who show "extraordinary promise" in both their artistic practice and their teaching. Fellows spend two years as full-time Visiting Fellows at Princeton, teaching and creating within an artistically vibrant university community. The fellowship has been running since 2013, with around 30 fellows selected so far, and is funded in part by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the David E. Kelley '79 Society of Fellows in the Arts Fund and the Maurice R. Greenberg Scholarship Fund.
Which Disciplines Are Open This Cycle
🎭 For this cycle, the Princeton Arts Fellowship is awarded to early-career dance, music, and theater artists (Program in Dance, Program in Theater and Music Theater, and the Department of Music).
✍️ Creative writing and visual arts applications are not open this cycle — they will be considered in the next year's cycle.
Suitable profiles include composers, conductors, musicians, choreographers, playwrights, designers, directors and performance artists.
What You'll Receive
💶 A $93,000 stipend for each of the two years
🔬 An additional $5,000 per year for research expenses
🏫 An additional $2,000 per year for classroom expenses
🩺 As academic appointees, fellows are eligible for benefits during the two fellowship years
Please note that housing is not provided, though fellows have access to shared studio/office space on campus.
Structure and Commitment
📅 Two consecutive academic years (1 September to 1 July), a 24-month full-time appointment
🎓 Each semester you either teach one course (subject to the Dean's approval) or take on an artistic assignment (such as directing a play or creating a dance with students)
📍 The role is in-person on the Princeton campus; you are expected to spend a significant part of the week on campus and be an active member of the community
Eligibility
🎓 No degree is required, and prior teaching experience is not required; there is no age limit
⛔ Applicants who hold a PhD from Princeton cannot apply; former Hodder Fellows cannot apply; those with a sustained and continuous relationship with Princeton are not eligible (occasional/sporadic relationships are fine); you cannot hold a concurrent teaching post elsewhere during the fellowship, and the fellowship cannot be used to fund work towards an advanced degree
🔁 You may reapply in any cycle; there is no limit
🌍 International applicants: US citizenship is not required. Because this is a paid appointment, work authorisation is required; the Davis International Center advises on the visa process, but the visa application and costs are the fellow's responsibility. Note that these positions are not eligible for sponsorship of an H-1B visa requiring consular processing. To receive payment, you'll eventually need a US address and US bank account.
🗽 Staying in the United States for your next opportunity? Another prestigious funded path worth exploring is the Harvard Radcliffe Institute Fellowship Program in 🇺🇸 the United States → https://youthworkshub.org/20070
Selection Process
👥 Typically two Princeton Arts Fellows are selected each year. The relevant programme's committee reads all applications. Shortlisted candidates are first invited to a virtual interview; those advancing are notified in November, and finalists are expected to attend an in-person campus interview in the week of 7 December 2026. All decisions are announced during the spring academic term. No feedback is given to unsuccessful applicants.
Application Materials
Applications are submitted through Interfolio and include:
📄 A curriculum vitae (CV)
📝 A 750-word proposal in three parts (~250 words each): how you'll use the two years to develop your work; what you'll teach or lead with undergraduates; and your approach to building community with people of different backgrounds and perspectives
📇 The contact details of one reference (contact only, not a letter; not a Lewis Center faculty member)
🎬 Work samples plus a 150-word description of how they relate to your proposal, following the specifications for your discipline (for example: Dance, 1–3 links up to 10 minutes total; Music, 1–2 scores and/or performance samples up to 10 minutes; Theater, up to 15 pages of writing and/or 10 design images and/or a reel up to 10 minutes)
Word limits are strict, and all application materials and samples must be in English.
🎭 Interested in creative work in Europe too? Take a look at this free online leadership programme for young people in 🇪🇺 Europe → https://youthworkshub.org/22014
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is it paid? Yes, $93,000 per year for two years, plus research and classroom funds.
❓ Do I need a degree? No, and no teaching experience is required.
❓ Can international artists apply? Yes, US citizenship is not required, but work authorisation is needed (no consular H-1B sponsorship).
❓ Which disciplines this cycle? Dance, music and theater; creative writing and visual arts are considered next year.
❓ Can I reapply? Yes, with no limit.
Deadline
⏳ 08 September 2026, 23:59 (ET). The application portal opened on 1 July 2026, and late applications are not accepted.
Links
🔗 Apply (Interfolio): https://apply.interfolio.com/187043
🔗 Programme page: https://arts.princeton.edu/fellowships/princeton-arts-fellowship/
📩 Contact: lca-fellowships@princeton.edu
More funded fellowships like this, explained in plain language, are gathered on Youth Works Hub.
⚠️ Important Notice
Youth Works Hub is not the organiser, partner, or representative of the listed projects. This listing is shared for information only, based on details from the source. Deadlines, eligible countries, dates, and other details may change or be withdrawn at any time, and all funding, reimbursements, and allowances are set by the project coordinator or National Agency. Applications go directly to the coordinator or hosting organisation through the official link. Listings may include third-party links (ESC Portal, infopacks, forms) that Youth Works Hub does not control. Always verify the details on the official project page before applying.
