
What are the HumanitiesDC Fellowships?
From the curious to the established, in an effort to engage those inspired to support and further the work of the humanities, we offer two diverse fellowship opportunities that allow participants to explore their area of interests or expertise.
The District Fellowship is a program that allows recent graduates and young professionals to work within HumanitiesDC to support the organizational operations and contribute to our programming. Each year, different types of fellowships are offered based on past interest level and internal need.
The Independent Practitioner Fellowship supports practitioners in their individual work with the goal of strengthening and enriching the humanities community in our city. Additionally, this program provides resources to individuals who do not always have the opportunity to engage in the humanities as a career or passion.
District Fellowship
HumanitiesDC created the District Fellowship to support early-career humanists, historians and non-profit professionals who currently reside in the DC area. This program is meant to provide fellows with hands-on experience, professional development, and opportunities to lead their own projects or initiatives within program areas. Fellows work side-by-side with HumanitiesDC staff, receive coaching and get increased exposure to the DC humanities community. Selected annually, fellows take on 9-month roles where they work closely with the HumanitiesDC team, supporting the organization’s work as well as focusing on a related individual project that is completed by the conclusion of the fellowship.

Independent Practitioner Fellowship

HumanitiesDC is pleased to announce the inaugural year of the Independent Practitioner Fellowship. This fellowship will provide $10,000 awards to public humanities practitioners whose voices and perspectives strengthen the humanities landscape in Washington, DC. We expect to select a cohort of 8 to 12 Fellows and the fellowship will last for six months, starting on June 1.
Independent Practitioner Fellows will be part of a cohort that occasionally gather to share ideas and provide peer to peer support. Additionally, Fellows will have the opportunity to contribute to HumanitiesDC programs that are relevant to their areas of interest; and their work will be promoted and celebrated at the conclusion of the Fellowship.
The overall purpose of this fellowship is to support the individual’s ability to pursue work in the humanities, which might include a specific project, or professional development related to their area of focus.
More Details
- Applications are due April 27th, 2023.
- Target Audience: DC residents working in the humanities, with an emphasis on those in the ideation and research phase of their project.
- For each fellowship cycle, between 8-12 fellows will be selected for participation.
- All practitioners are eligible to receive up to $10,000 in funding.
- This year, the fellowship will be June 1 to November 30, 2023.
Overview Sessions
This online information session will provide an overview of this fellowship opportunity.
April 4, 2023 @ 12pm
Click here to register.
MEET WITH HUMANITIESDC GRANTS STAFF –
SIGN UP FOR OFFICE HOURS
Prospective applicants can use the link below to sign up for office hours with a member of HumanitiesDC’s fellowship team. These 20-minute sessions are a great opportunity to learn more about the fellowship requirements, discuss the fit of a particular project idea, or get assistance with the application.
Click here to register to schedule an appointment to discuss this grant opportunity.
Applicants who currently are directly receiving grants from HumanitesDC as individuals are not eligible for this fellowship. However, applicants who work at an organization that currently has a humanitiesdc grant may apply.
How To apply
To be considered for a fellowship, applicants must provide a resume, a basic budget and answer the following questions.
- Describe your interest and experience in the humanities.
- What is your current humanities-based work and why have you chosen to pursue that subject matter?
- What are your goals for the next 2-3 years in regard to
your work?
Applications and other resources can be found under the Program Resources section at the top of this page.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
HumanitiesDC has a strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and strongly encourages applications from candidates who identify as Black, Latino/a/x, or other people of color. Employment decisions are based upon one’s qualifications and capabilities to perform essential functions of a particular job. All opportunities are provided without regard to race, religion, gender, sexual identity, family status, pregnancy-related medical conditions, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.