Organizer Information
The Columbia Institute for Ideas and Imagination is a prestigious interdisciplinary fellowship program hosted in Paris by Columbia University. The Institute is dedicated to fostering advanced research, artistic experimentation, and intellectual exchange across the humanities, social sciences, and creative disciplines.
Each year, it brings together a highly selective cohort of up to 15 Fellows, including Columbia University faculty, postdoctoral researchers, and international practitioners in the creative arts. The program is designed as a residential fellowship hosted at Reid Hall in Paris, providing fellows with a dedicated workspace, institutional support, and access to Columbia University’s extensive academic and research resources across Paris and Europe.
Supported by major philanthropic foundations such as the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF), the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and other international cultural partners, the Institute is recognized as a leading global platform for interdisciplinary exchange. Its mission is to encourage cross-pollination between academic research and artistic practice, fostering new modes of thinking and creation in a collaborative environment.
Title & Description
Columbia Institute for Ideas and Imagination 2027–2028 Fellowship | Open Call for Fellows
The Columbia Institute for Ideas and Imagination invites applications for its 2027–2028 Fellowship program in Paris. This highly competitive Fellowship supports artists, writers, scholars, and researchers to develop independent projects within a collaborative intellectual environment.
The program will take place from September 2027 to May 2028 at Reid Hall in Paris, hosting up to 15 fellows from around the world. Fellows engage in a year-long residency focused on research, writing, artistic production, and interdisciplinary dialogue.
Applicants may apply under one of three categories:
- Columbia University faculty
- Columbia University postdoctoral researchers
- International creative practitioners in fields including Visual Arts, film, composition, sound, and writing
The fellowship encourages projects that bridge academic inquiry and creative practice, supporting experimental, conceptual, and research-driven approaches. Fellows participate in workshops, seminars, and public programming while maintaining a strong presence within the Institute’s residential community.
The program emphasizes intellectual exchange, sustained research and development, and cross-disciplinary collaboration in a structured academic environment.
Categories
- Visual Arts
- Writing / Literature
- Film / Video
- Sound / Music Composition
- Interdisciplinary Arts
- Research / Scholarship
- Creative Writing
- Conceptual Art Practices
Eligibility
- International applicants (non-US-based for the creative arts category)
- Artists, writers, composers, filmmakers, and interdisciplinary practitioners
- Columbia University faculty and postdoctoral researchers (specific eligibility conditions apply)
- PhD holders (postdoctoral category restricted to Columbia graduates within a defined timeframe)
- Applicants must apply individually (group applications are not accepted)
- Creative arts applicants must not be permanently residing in the United States
- Applications must be submitted in English
- Full academic-year residency commitment required (limited semester options for faculty only)
Program Benefits & Awards
- $75,000 stipend for the full academic year (September 2027 – May 2028)
- Dedicated private office space at Reid Hall in Paris
- Access to Columbia University libraries and research facilities in Paris and Europe
- Participation in a highly selective cohort of up to 15 international fellows
- Institutional research support and administrative assistance
- Opportunities to host workshops, seminars, and public events
- Immersive interdisciplinary academic environment
- Residential fellowship experience in Paris
The program also provides a structured intellectual community designed to support long-term artistic and scholarly development.
Application Fee
None
Application Requirements
- Personal information (biography, citizenship, education, affiliations)
- Updated CV
- Project description (up to 1500 words)
- Sample of creative or scholarly work
- Three letters of recommendation (mandatory, new letters required)
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 30 September 2026
- Fellowship Period: September 2027 – May 2028
Location
Paris, France
Additional Details
- The program is strictly residential; fellows must be based in Paris during the fellowship period
- Groups are not eligible; only individual applicants are accepted
- Fellows are expected to minimize external professional commitments during the fellowship year
- Stipend may be prorated for extended absences
- Faculty applicants may request a single-semester fellowship (preferably full-year participation encouraged)
- The working language of the Institute is English
- Strong emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration and sustained intellectual engagement
- Hosted and supported by major international foundations and cultural institutions