Princeton Arts Fellowships are awarded by the Lewis Center for the Arts at Princeton University to artists whose achievements have been recognized as demonstrating extraordinary promise in any area of artistic practice and teaching. Applicants in the 2026 round (for fellowships during the 2027-29 academic year) should be early career dance, music, or theater artists who would find it beneficial to spend time teaching and working in an artistically vibrant university community (creative writing and visual arts applications will be accepted in the next round). 

Fellows spend two consecutive academic years (September 1-July 1) at Princeton and formal teaching is expected. The normal work assignment will be to teach one course each semester subject to approval by the Dean of the Faculty, but fellows may be asked to take on an artistic assignment in lieu of a class, such as directing a play or creating a dance with students. Although the teaching load is light, the expectation is that Fellows will be full and active members of our community, committed to frequent and engaged interactions with students during the academic year. 

Applications are now being accepted for the 2027-29 academic years.

The Fellowship offers a $93,000 salary per year and benefits with an appointment at the rank of Associate Professional Specialist.

Eligibility: 

Open to early-career artists whose achievements have been recognized as demonstrating extraordinary promise. 
Past recipients of the Hodder Fellowship and individuals who have had a sustained and continuous relationship with Princeton are not eligible to apply. Fellowships are not intended to fund work leading to an advanced degree. Holders of Ph.D. degrees from Princeton are not eligible to apply. Fellows may not hold concurrent teaching positions at other institutions for duration of Princeton appointment. Positions are subject to University background check policy and are not eligible for sponsorship of an H-1B visa requiring consular processing.

Applicants can only apply for the Princeton Arts Fellowship each time it is offered

Deadline: The application is submitted online. The deadline is September 8, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. (ET)

Application Submission: Through the online portal, Princeton Arts Fellowship applicants should include a curriculum vitae; work samples (i.e., video links to performances, etc.); and a 750-word proposal.

Princeton Arts Fellowships are funded in part by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, David E. Kelley Society of Fellows in the Arts, and the Maurice R. Greenberg Scholarship Fund.