Picture Collection Artist Fellowship

Marsyas playing the double flute, with Athena and Apollo.

The New York Public Library’s Picture Collection, part of the Wallach Division of Art, Prints, and Photographs, is pleased to offer the Picture Collection Artist Fellowship to support artists or scholars engaged in the research, development, and/or execution of a new creative or scholarly work based on the Collection’s holdings. Since 1915, the Picture Collection has been an essential resource for artists, designers, illustrators, filmmakers, and many others who have relied on its voluminous holdings for inspiration. The fellowship allows dedicated access to the Collection and guidance from its staff with the goal of highlighting the Collection’s distinctive attributes. The fellowship will also foster community connections with peers and experts allowing for collaborative exchange. 

Fellowship stipends are awarded on a sliding scale from $2,000 to $5,000 and are supported by the generosity of the Anne Levy Charitable Trust.

Key Dates

January 7, 2025 Application opens
March 31, 2025    Application closing date
May 28, 2025  Applicant notification date
July 1, 2025–March 31, 2026 Award period

Eligibility

U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and foreign nationals who have been in residence in the United States for at minimum three years as of the application closing date are eligible to apply. 

Applications are submitted through NYPL's Fellowship Portal. 

A complete application consists of four parts:

  1. Online application form—Applicants will need to create a user profile in the Library’s Fellowship Portal. From the Profile section of the portal, go to the Fellowship List section and select Picture Collection Fellowships to complete the application form.
  2. Project proposal (no more than 1,500 words)—Include a general description or abstract of the research project, its title, and the format/medium. Successful application project proposals will also include an in-depth explanation of how the Picture Collection is essential to the progress and completion of the research project. Please do not record identifiable information such as your name on the proposal.
  3. Up-to-date, abbreviated CV (no more than 2 pages)—Applicants will be prompted to upload their CV while creating a user profile in the Fellowship Portal.
  4. Professional letter of recommendation—Once the completed application is submitted in the Fellowship Portal, the system will then send instructions and a link to the recommender listed in the application to upload their letter. If they have any trouble, they can reach out to us at fellowships@nypl.org for assistance.

Please note that only complete applications, per the four parts listed above, will be reviewed. 

For assistance with the application process, email fellowships@nypl.org.

Selection Criteria

Applications will be evaluated according to the quality and originality of the proposal and the strength of its relationship and engagement with the Picture Collection. The outcome of the fellowship should be a creative or scholarly work that can be referred to in a public workshop, online exhibition, or other outreach initiatives to promote public understanding between library use and the visual arts. 

Fellowship Terms

Fellows are invited to conduct research in specific subject areas and address the Collection itself or its organization system of visual material, utilizing the Library’s reference staff as thought partners. 

Stipends range from $2,000 to $5,000. The amount of the stipend is dependent on the justification and merit of the proposed project. 

Fellowship periods are determined in consultation with NYPL Picture Collection staff and can start as early as July 1, 2025.