Public Humanities Fellowship

Programme Name: Public Humanities Fellowship
Organizer: Virginia Humanities
Type: Funded humanities fellowship
Location: Virginia, United States
Duration: 4 months
Application Deadline: 31 March 2026
Decision Notification: May 2026
Stipend: $15,000 (paid in four monthly installments)

Overview

The Public Humanities Fellowship supports writers, independent scholars, community historians, and university faculty in sharing research, stories, and cultural knowledge that connect Virginia’s communities to broader regional, national, and global contexts.

Since 1974, more than 400 fellowships have been awarded to projects that deepen understanding of Virginia’s history, culture, and role in the world.

Fellowship Benefits

• $15,000 stipend for a four-month public humanities project

• Research access to:

  • University of Virginia library system

  • Library of Virginia archives and resources

• Office space, research support, and collaboration opportunities

• Participation in public programs such as radio shows, podcasts, festivals, and blogs

• Membership in a community of humanities fellows

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must:

• Be 18 years or older

• Reside in Virginia or be affiliated with a Virginia college or university

• Work on a project relevant to Virginia communities

• Preferably demonstrate experience engaging diverse public audiences

Direct university affiliation is not required.

Project Focus Areas

Preference is given to public humanities topics such as:

• History

• Literature

• Religion

• Community storytelling

• Cultural heritage and public memory

Projects should creatively engage public audiences and produce meaningful cultural impact.

Deliverables & Expectations

Fellows must:

• Dedicate significant time to their project during the fellowship

• Present their research in a public program at the end of the fellowship

• Produce a public-facing final work, such as:

  • Website or digital humanities project

  • Public archive

  • Book or scholarly article

  • Exhibition

  • Podcast or oral history collection

Application Requirements

Applicants must submit:

• Project proposal

• Curriculum vitae (CV)

• Two letters of recommendation

Applications are evaluated based on:

• Original or significant contribution to the field

• Clear plan for public engagement

• Relevance to Virginia communities

• Feasibility within the four-month timeline

Residency Options & Support

Fellows may work at the Library of Virginia or the Virginia Humanities center in Charlottesville, receiving:

• Personal office space and research assistance

• Opportunities for talks, publications, and outreach

• Collaboration with humanities programs, podcasts, and cultural initiatives

Purpose

The fellowship advances publicly engaged humanities scholarship that strengthens cultural understanding, community dialogue, and shared historical knowledge across Virginia.