Princeton Arts Fellowships & Hodder Fellowships

Organizer Information

The Lewis Center for the Arts at Princeton University is a world-class arts center embedded within one of the world's premier research institutions in Princeton, New Jersey. Rather than operating as a standalone conservatory, the Lewis Center integrates artistic practice—across visual arts, creative writing, dance, theater, music theater, and film—directly into Princeton's liberal arts framework. Housed in the state-of-the-art Lewis Arts Complex, the Center fosters an environment where undergraduate students and internationally recognized visiting artists work collaboratively through practice-based courses, workshops, performance projects, and prestigious residential artist fellowships.

Key Information

• Official Program Title: Princeton Arts Fellowships & Hodder Fellowships / Undergraduate Minors in Arts (Creative Writing, Dance, Theater, Music Theater, Visual Arts)
• Program Type: Fellowship (Princeton Arts Fellowship / Hodder Fellowship) / Undergraduate Minor Programs
• Institution Name: Princeton University (Lewis Center for the Arts)
• Country / City: Princeton, New Jersey, United States
• Academic Field: Visual Arts, Film, Creative Writing, Dance, Theater, Music Theater, Performance Studies, Interdisciplinary Arts
• Language of Degree: English
• Number of Open Study Places: Highly selective (Typically 2 Princeton Arts Fellows and 2–4 Hodder Fellows selected annually; small seminar/studio class sizes for undergraduates)
• Application Period: Early July – Early September (annual fellowship cycle via Interfolio)
• Second Phase Remote Interviews Date: N/A (Evaluated directly by faculty/fellowship selection committees)
• Announcement of Admissions Result Date: Mid-to-Late December
• Application Deadline: Early September (e.g., September 8 at 11:59 PM EDT)
• Start of Studies Date: September 1 (Fall Semester)
• Tuition: $0 USD for Fellows (Fellowships are fully funded paid residency positions with a annual stipend of ~$93,000 USD); Standard Princeton undergraduate tuition applies for degree-seeking minor students (covered 100% by need-blind aid)

Field of Study & Eligible Disciplines

• Accepted Academic Backgrounds: Open to artists across all disciplines (visual arts, filmmaking, composition, choreography, creative writing, drama, design, interdisciplinary performance). Advanced formal academic degrees (MFA/PhD) are not required.
• Preferred Disciplines: Visual Arts, Film/Media, Dance (Choreography/Performance), Theater & Playwriting, Music Composition/Performance, Creative Writing, and Multi-disciplinary Practice.
• Interdisciplinary Acceptance Rules: Multi-disciplinary and non-traditional artistic backgrounds are explicitly supported. Applicants select one primary discipline stream for committee review.
• Portfolio Relevance: Essential. Fellowship applications depend heavily on creative work samples submitted via PDF/online links.

General Eligibility

• Who Can Apply?: Open globally to domestic (U.S.) and international applicants.
• Age Restrictions: None.
• Professional vs Academic Eligibility: Targeted at early-career artists (Princeton Arts Fellowship) and artists demonstrating extraordinary promise (Hodder Fellowship). Ph.D. holders from Princeton or prior Hodder/Princeton Arts Fellows are ineligible.
• Portfolio-Based Eligibility Conditions: Submission of digital work samples (e.g., up to 20 still images, 10 minutes of video, manuscript pages, or musical scores) accompanied by a 150-word portfolio statement.

Educational Background

• Required Minimum Degree:
  • Fellowships: No minimum degree required (MFA or PhD is not required).
  • Undergraduate Minors: High school diploma / secondary school completion for Princeton University undergraduate admission.
• Accepted Fields of Study: All fields and self-taught artistic backgrounds.
• Equivalent Professional Experience Acceptance: Professional artistic practice and accomplishments serve as the primary evaluation criteria.
• Excluded or Non-Eligible Backgrounds: Fellowships cannot be used to fund work leading to an MFA, PhD, or any advanced academic degree.

Language Proficiency Requirement

• Required Language(s): English (fellows are expected to teach or engage actively with undergraduate students).
• Minimum Test Scores: Formal TOEFL/IELTS test scores are not required for Fellowship applicants. Standard Princeton undergraduate admissions language requirements apply for minor-seeking undergraduates.
• Waiver Conditions: Evaluated via portfolio essay, 750-word proposal, and professional background.

Additional Eligibility Conditions

• Nationality Restrictions: None (Global applicants welcome; non-U.S. citizens are fully eligible).
• Work or Research Experience Requirements: Demonstration of active creative output and potential to contribute to the Princeton community.
• Portfolio / Research Proposal Expectations: Requires a 750-word proposal covering: (1) how the candidate will use the 2-year fellowship (250 words), (2) proposed undergraduate course/engagement (250 words), and (3) approach to building community across diverse backgrounds (250 words).
• Visa or Institutional Constraints: Fellows must reside in the United States and hold a U.S. address/bank account during the fellowship period. Fellows may not hold concurrent teaching positions at other institutions.

Tuition

Funding & Financial Support

• Scholarships / Fellowships:
  • Princeton Arts Fellowship: $93,000 USD annual stipend for two consecutive academic years, health benefits eligibility, plus access to research and production funds.
  • Hodder Fellowship: $93,000 USD stipend for one academic year to pursue an independent artistic project (no formal teaching required).
• Grants / Stipends: Dedicated research and project funds available through the Lewis Center for the Arts.
• Teaching Assistantships: Princeton Arts Fellows teach one course per semester or lead alternative artistic projects with undergraduates.
• Studio / Production Funding: Access to campus performance venues, rehearsal rooms, media suites, and fabrication facilities included.

University Services & Academic Support

• Studio / Lab Access: Shared and dedicated studio spaces in the Lewis Arts Complex, media editing suites, dance studios, black-box theaters, and fabrication workshops.
• Research Supervision: Collaborative engagement with distinguished Princeton faculty, visiting guest artists, and academic departments across campus.
• Mentorship Programs: Peer mentorship within the Princeton Society of Fellows in the Arts and active integration into university intellectual life.
• Career Services: Guidance via Princeton’s Center for Career Development and institutional arts networks.
• Exhibition / Residency Opportunities: Public performances, exhibitions, film screenings, and staged readings presented through Lewis Center venues.
• Library / Archive Access: Complete access to Princeton University Library network, Firestone Library, Marquand Library of Art and Archaeology, and digital databases.
• International Student Support Services: Visa administration and onboarding support provided by Princeton's Davis International Center.

Application Requirements

• Online Fellowship Application: Submitted via Princeton's Interfolio portal.
• Curriculum Vitae (CV): Comprehensive record detailing artistic achievements, exhibitions, publications, screenings, or performances.
• 750-Word Fellowship Proposal:
  • Part 1: Proposed use of the 2-year fellowship period (250 words)
  • Part 2: Teaching proposal / undergraduate engagement (250 words)
  • Part 3: Approach to building community across diverse perspectives (250 words)
• Creative Work Samples (PDF):
  • Visual Arts: Up to 20 still images or 10 minutes of video.
  • Dance: 1–3 video links (cue points up to 10 minutes total).
  • Theater: Up to 15 pages writing sample, 10 design images, or 10-minute reel.
  • Music: 1–2 scores and/or 10 minutes of performance/composition audio/video.
  • Creative Writing: Sample manuscript (uploaded per program criteria).
• References: Contact details for 1 professional reference.

How to Apply?

Fellowship applicants must submit all required materials, proposals, CV, and work sample links online through the Princeton Arts Fellowships Interfolio Portal

. Undergraduate students apply for admission to Princeton University directly through the Common Application or Coalition Application, with the option to submit an Arts Supplement.

Deadline & Timeline

• Application Period: Opens July 1
• Fellowships Application Deadline: Early September (e.g., September 8 at 11:59 PM EDT)
• Second Phase Remote Interviews Date: N/A (Internal committee evaluation)
• Announcement of Results Date: Mid-to-Late December
• Start of Fellowship / Studies: September 1

Location

In-Person: Lewis Center for the Arts, Princeton University, 122 Alexander Street / Lewis Arts Complex, Princeton, NJ 08544, United States.

Additional Details

Princeton Arts Fellowships provide early-career artists with an extraordinary platform to develop new work while teaching bright undergraduate students in a world-class liberal arts environment. Applicants may apply for the Princeton Arts Fellowship a maximum of two times in a lifetime.

Website Link

Princeton University Lewis Center for the Arts Official Page