Fellowships at The New York Public Library
Welcome to the NYPL Fellowship Portal, where you can view and apply to open fellowships at The New York Public Library. Before beginning an application, please be sure to visit the Fellowships and Institutes page on our website for a full list of the Library's fellowship opportunities and important information on individual programs, including relevant dates, eligibility requirements, and application instructions.
Questions regarding fellowship programs may be directed to fellowships@nypl.org. Requests for technical help with the portal, including logging in, may be directed to help@submittable.com or resolved through Submittable's Submitter Resource Center.
This opportunity is open to teams who have previously written a musical as part of the Across A Crowded Room series at New York Public Library for the Performing Arts. A team of fellows, at least 2 of whom that have previously worked together in the program, will be awarded a total of $15,000 to develop a 90 minute musical either from the 20 minute piece they previously presented, or an entirely new work in some way inspired by the Special Collections of the New York Public Library. In the case of an entirely new work, the collections serving as the inspiration can be located in any Library research center (The Library for the Performing Arts, the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building).
The New York Public Library's Educator Summer Residency is a week-long program that connects teachers with key Library resources to strengthen and support more creative, engaging, and intellectually curious classrooms. Participants will have access to exclusive research materials, curated talks with experts, and a behind-the-scenes look at the Library’s extensive collections, which contain more than 56 million items. This year’s summer residency is exclusively open to high school educators.
Participation includes lunch and lodging for the duration of the one-week residency, round-trip travel to New York City, and a $1,000 program stipend. The residency will be held in-person from July 27–31, 2026, and is supported with funding from the Whiting Foundation.
A complete application consists of the items below. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Application Form
Fill out the application form by 11:59 PM PST on April 26, 2026. Late applications will not be considered.
Personal Statement
Provide an essay explaining the professional benefits of participating in this program (in 1,000 words or less). Please include information about the following:
- What interests you about this year’s theme? Why does it resonate with you at this moment in your career?
- Who do you teach? Describe your school and classroom context, including grade level(s), subject area(s), and the community in which you work.
- How does this theme relate to your students and school community? Why is it particularly relevant or urgent in your setting?
- What are the strengths of your current teaching practice, and where are you seeking growth?
- How do you hope participation in this residency will deepen or transform your work in the classroom?
Resume or CV
Include a resume or curriculum vitae (no longer than five pages). Please make sure your last name is in the file name (ex. “FirstName_LastName_resume.pdf”).
Teaching Artifact
Provide a photograph, document, or short video of an artifact that represents your creative approach to teaching and reflects the values of this residency program, along with a brief description (200 words maximum). An artifact may include sample student work, a visual aid or primary source, materials from a project-based or interdisciplinary unit, or another example that captures your teaching in action.
Before you begin to complete an application, please review this web page, which contains information about the areas of study, eligibility criteria, and more. Applications are due by 11:59 PM PST on April 26, 2026. Late applications will not be considered.