Student Arts Fellowships

The Notre Dame Arts Initiative offers Student Arts Fellowships for students interested in building the creative and professional skills necessary to contribute to a vibrant arts network. With opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students, the program cultivates a community of arts thinkers and makers, supports emerging arts leaders, and seeds creative projects grounded in research. Fellows have special opportunities to engage with world-class artists and scholars, receive mentorship from Arts Initiative staff, and gain hands-on experience working in the arts.

For the 2026-27 academic year, fellows will also experience the Notre Dame Arts Biennial from a unique perspective. Student Arts Fellows will have opportunities to support biennial programming, foster campus and community engagement, and present creative work in connetion with the inaugural arts festival.

Students from all majors, colleges, and schools at Notre Dame may apply through two tracks that engage artistic curiosity, foster personal inquiry and critical dialogue, and develop expertise essential to arts leadership and administration:

Creative Practice

Open to undergraduate and graduate students interested in completing an independent project in the visual, spatial, performing, and/or literary arts. Creative Practice fellowships encourage interdisciplinary artistic practice and support the creative expression of students across campus. Fellows receive a $2,000 stipend to support an arts practice project that results in a public output such as an installation or exhibition, recording, screening, reading, artist talk, or other live performance. Students are responsible for ideating, planning, and executing their project and should demonstrate an ability to advance work independently. All projects must be completed within one academic year. 2026-27 Creative Practice fellows will have the opportunity to feature their work in an end-of-year symposium that will be included as programming in the 2027 Notre Dame Arts Biennial.

Arts Management

Open to undergraduate and graduate students interested in gaining arts administration and curatorial experience. Arts Management fellowships introduce students to the field of arts administration through project-based assignments within the Arts Initiative that may include activities such as art preparation, installation, interpretation, graphic design, photography/videography, event planning, and communications. Fellows receive an annual stipend of $2,000 to contribute to a variety of special projects both independently and as a collaborative team, such as supporting visiting artist programs, developing marketing and communications materials, engaging their peers in campus arts opportunities, and assisting with an end-of-year symposium as part of the 2027 Notre Dame Arts Biennial.

Fellowship Details

The fellowship period for both tracks runs September 23, 2026-April 28, 2027. Arts Management fellowship responsibilities average 6 hours per week, variable depending on events, programs, and assignments. With support from Arts Initiative staff, Creative Practice fellows determine their own schedules in order to achieve the goals of their projects. All fellows will share their work in a public end-of-year symposium, followed by a celebration and reception, in connection with the 2027 Notre Dame Arts Biennial.

Application Process and Timeline

Applications for all Student Arts Fellowships are reviewed once per year. Students may apply for both tracks by selecting a first and second choice, but students may only hold one fellowship at a time. Students are limited to one Arts Fellowship every two years and may not hold the fellowship while studying abroad.

Applications open: Monday, August 17, 2026
Applications due: Sunday, September 6, 2026
Fellowship awards announced: Friday, September 18, 2026
Mandatory Fellows Welcome Orientation: Wednesday, September 23, 2026, 12:30-1:30 p.m.
End-of-Year Symposium: Wednesday, April, 14, 2026, 5:30-7:30 p.m.