Applications are open for the Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center Fellowship 2027–2028, a prestigious international residential programme offered by The New York Public Library for outstanding scholars, journalists, translators, creative writers and selected visual artists.
Each year, the Cullman Center appoints 15 Fellows for a nine-month term running from September through May. The programme is intended for applicants whose proposed work will benefit directly from access to the extensive research collections housed at the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building in New York City.
Selected Fellows receive a $90,000 stipend, a private office equipped with a computer and full access to the Library’s physical and electronic resources. Fellows are also welcomed into an interdisciplinary community where scholarly research and creative work meet across the long oak tables of one of the world’s great libraries.
The application deadline for the 2027–2028 fellowship cycle is Friday, September 25, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. EDT.
About the Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center
The Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center for Scholars and Writers is located at The New York Public Library’s landmark Stephen A. Schwarzman Building at Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street in Manhattan.
Established in 1999, the Center provides dedicated space for sustained research and writing while giving Fellows enhanced access to the Library’s internationally renowned collections. It brings together outstanding academic and creative thinkers from the United States and other countries and supports the development of new books, scholarship and literary work.
The programme is designed around two complementary forms of work:
- The concentrated, often solitary process of research and writing
- The collaborative exchange of ideas among Fellows and through public Library programmes
The Cullman Center therefore offers both privacy and intellectual community. Fellows pursue their individual projects while regularly discussing their work with scholars and writers from different disciplines and creative traditions.
Purpose of the Cullman Center Fellowship
The fellowship provides talented writers and researchers with the time, resources and institutional setting required to complete ambitious projects.
Its central purpose is to support work that depends meaningfully on the collections of the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building.
Applicants should not treat access to the Library as a decorative feature of their proposal. They must be able to explain why specific collections, archives, languages, materials or research divisions are important to the proposed project.
The Library’s research strengths include:
- Anthropology
- Art
- Geography
- History
- Languages and literature
- Philosophy
- Politics
- Popular culture
- Psychology
- Religion
- Sociology
- Sports
- Urban studies
The Schwarzman Building is recognised as a major international research resource across these and related fields.
Fellowship Duration and Location
The Cullman Center Fellowship lasts for nine months, from September through May.
For the 2027–2028 cycle, Fellows will carry out their work primarily at:
The Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center for Scholars and Writers
Stephen A. Schwarzman Building
The New York Public Library
Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street
New York City
Fellows are expected to work at the Cullman Center five days a week, Monday through Friday, for the duration of the fellowship term.
Applicants should therefore be prepared to make the programme their main professional commitment during the fellowship period.
Financial Support and Fellowship Benefits
Each selected Cullman Center Fellow receives the following support.
$90,000 Stipend
The fellowship provides a stipend of $90,000 for the nine-month term.
Applicants should review the official fellowship and appointment documents for any applicable payment schedule, tax or administrative conditions.
Private Office
Every Fellow receives the use of a private office with a computer at the Cullman Center.
This provides a dedicated environment for sustained research, writing and project development.
Full Library Access
Fellows receive full access to the Library’s physical and electronic research resources.
This may include:
- Books and periodicals
- Manuscripts
- Archival collections
- Maps
- Photographs
- Visual materials
- Historical documents
- Electronic databases
- Specialist research collections
- Support from curatorial and reference staff
Interdisciplinary Community
Fellows join a cohort of academics, writers, journalists, translators, independent scholars and artists.
The programme encourages discussion across fields that are often separated within universities or professional institutions.
Intellectual Exchange
Fellows participate in ongoing conversations within the Center and may contribute to public programmes across The New York Public Library.
The Center’s brochure notes that Fellows collaborate through weekly lunches and other opportunities to share their work.
Who Can Apply?
The Cullman Center Fellowship welcomes a broad range of scholarly and creative applicants.
Eligible applicants include:
- Academics
- Independent scholars
- Journalists
- Novelists
- Playwrights
- Poets
- Translators
- Nonfiction writers
- Visual artists working on a book project
The defining requirement is not a particular job title. Instead, applicants must demonstrate that their project requires sustained access to the research collections at the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building.
The programme is international. Foreign nationals who are sufficiently proficient in English to participate in the fellowship community are welcome to apply.
Eligible Projects
Competitive projects are likely to combine high-quality writing, intellectual or creative originality and a clear need for the Library’s collections.
Projects may include:
- Scholarly monographs
- Historical studies
- Literary nonfiction
- Biographies
- Novels
- Poetry collections
- Plays
- Works of translation
- Journalism and long-form reporting
- Artist books
- Visual projects being developed specifically as books
The fellowship is centred on substantial research and writing projects rather than general professional development.
Who Is Not Eligible?
Applicants seeking support for research that leads directly to a degree are not eligible.
This means the fellowship is not intended to fund:
- Doctoral dissertations
- Master’s theses
- Degree-required research
- Other projects whose direct purpose is completion of an academic qualification
Graduate students may therefore be ineligible where the proposed project forms part of their degree requirements.
Applicants who have completed their degrees and are developing independent post-degree projects may be considered if they meet the fellowship’s other requirements.
Selection Criteria
The Selection Committee awards 15 fellowships each year to outstanding scholars and writers.
The programme places strong emphasis on:
Quality of Writing
The Cullman Center seeks applicants who demonstrate writing of the highest quality.
This applies to both scholarly and creative applicants. A strong idea can stumble if presented through foggy prose; the committee is looking for both intellectual substance and command of language.
Strength of the Proposed Project
The project should be original, focused and achievable during the nine-month fellowship period.
Need for NYPL Collections
Applicants must show how the Library’s collections will contribute directly to the work.
A proposal should identify relevant materials or research areas rather than merely stating that the Library is useful.
Potential Contribution
The Center aims to promote dynamic communication about literature, scholarship and creative work through:
- Exchange among Fellows
- Public discussions
- Programmes at the Library
- Published work developed during or after the fellowship
Ability to Participate in the Community
Fellows should be prepared to engage constructively with colleagues working across different fields and forms of writing.
Fellowship Responsibilities
The fellowship provides significant time and resources, but it also comes with clear expectations.
Selected Fellows must:
- Work primarily at the Cullman Center
- Attend regularly from Monday through Friday
- Pursue the project described in their application
- Participate in the Center’s intellectual community
- Present their current work to other Fellows and invited guests
- Potentially participate in additional New York Public Library programmes
Each Fellow gives a lunchtime presentation on their work in progress.
These presentations create opportunities for critique, discussion and connections among researchers and writers who may approach knowledge from very different angles.
Public Programmes and Knowledge Exchange
The Cullman Center supports public conversations featuring current and former Fellows.
These programmes allow Fellows to discuss books and projects developed through the fellowship while connecting their research with wider audiences.
The Center’s public work reflects the Library’s broader mission of advancing knowledge, curiosity and the free exchange of ideas. Its brochure describes the programme as a forum for both individual research and the creation of new knowledge through public and interdisciplinary exchange.
Joint NYPL–ACLS Fellowships
The Cullman Center may award up to five fellowships each year in conjunction with the American Council of Learned Societies.
Applicants seeking a joint NYPL–ACLS Fellowship must submit:
- A separate application to The New York Public Library
- A separate application to the American Council of Learned Societies
Submitting one application does not automatically count as applying to both organisations.
The deadlines are also different:
- ACLS application deadline: September 17, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. EDT
- Cullman Center application deadline: September 25, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. EDT
Applicants interested in the joint opportunity should prepare for the earlier ACLS deadline.
How to Prepare a Strong Application
A strong application should make a convincing connection among the applicant, the proposed project and the Library’s collections.
Applicants should consider the following steps.
1. Define the Project Clearly
Explain the central subject, question or creative objective.
The committee should be able to understand what the applicant intends to produce and why it matters.
2. Identify Relevant Collections
Research the holdings of the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building before applying.
Name the archives, divisions, materials or subject collections that will be essential to the project.
3. Explain Why Residence Is Necessary
Describe why sustained work at the Library is important and what could be accomplished during the nine-month term.
4. Present an Achievable Plan
The proposal should be ambitious but realistic.
Applicants should explain the project’s current stage and the progress they expect to make during the fellowship.
5. Demonstrate Writing Excellence
Application materials and writing samples should be carefully edited, coherent and representative of the applicant’s strongest work.
6. Show Readiness for Interdisciplinary Exchange
Applicants should demonstrate an ability to communicate their work to people outside their immediate field.
How to Apply
Applicants must complete the official 2027–2028 Cullman Center Fellowship application through The New York Public Library.
Before submitting, candidates should review:
- The fellowship scope
- Selection criteria
- Residency expectations
- Application instructions
- Required supporting materials
- Policies concerning foreign applicants
- Joint NYPL–ACLS application procedures, where relevant
APPLY HERE
Application Deadline
The deadline for the 2027–2028 Cullman Center Fellowship is:
Friday, September 25, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. EDT
Applicants pursuing the joint NYPL–ACLS Fellowship must submit the separate ACLS application by:
September 17, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. EDT
Because the deadlines include an exact time and time zone, international applicants should convert them carefully and submit early.
Conclusion
The Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center Fellowship 2027–2028 offers an exceptional opportunity for scholars and writers whose projects depend on sustained engagement with The New York Public Library’s research collections.
Fifteen Fellows will receive a $90,000 stipend, a private office, full access to the Library’s resources and nine months of protected time for research and writing.
The fellowship welcomes academics, independent scholars, journalists, translators, creative writers and visual artists working on book projects. Applicants from outside the United States are welcome, provided they can participate effectively in English and meet the programme requirements.
The strongest applications will combine excellent writing, an ambitious but achievable project and a precise explanation of why the Schwarzman Building’s collections are indispensable.
Applications must be submitted by September 25, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. EDT.
For more information about this opportunity and the application process, CLICK HERE.
To discover more fellowship opportunities, VISIT HERE.
