2027 Guggenheim Fellowships in USA and Canada | Funding for Mid-Career Professionals

The John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation has released new, user-friendly resources to help prospective applicants determine whether the Guggenheim Fellowship is the right opportunity for them at this stage of their careers.

The Guggenheim Fellowship supports exceptional mid-career professionals across a wide range of fields, including individuals working with or without university affiliations. The Foundation has also published a detailed application guide and video explaining the application process, selection procedure, and materials required.

About the Guggenheim Fellowship

The Guggenheim Fellowship is designed for established professionals who have demonstrated significant achievement in their fields and have a strong project they are ready to pursue.

The Foundation emphasizes that “mid-career” is determined by a candidate’s professional record and output rather than age or institutional affiliation. Recent Fellows have ranged from their late twenties to their late seventies.

Applicants should have:

• A significant and recognized record of achievement in their field.
• A clear and well-defined project they are ready to undertake.
• The professional experience and record necessary to complete the proposed project at a high level of excellence.

Students and individuals who have not yet established a significant record of achievement are generally not considered strong candidates.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the 2027 Guggenheim Fellowship, applicants must:

• Be citizens or permanent residents of the United States or Canada.
• Be mid-career professionals, with or without university affiliations.
• Not have previously received a Guggenheim Fellowship.

Applicants do not need to hold a university position. Independent professionals without institutional affiliations are considered on an equal footing.

The Foundation states that what matters most is the strength of the applicant’s record, the merits of the proposed project, and their readiness to complete it to the highest degree of excellence.

How the Selection Process Works

Every application is reviewed by hand.

The selection process takes more than six months and is conducted by experts selected by the Foundation from among former Guggenheim Fellowship recipients. Each application is assessed in full by two to five reviewers.

The strongest applicants are recommended to the interdisciplinary Committee of Selection, which must reach consensus before an applicant advances. Final awards are confirmed by the Foundation’s Board of Trustees. The identities of reviewers and jurors remain confidential.

Application Requirements

Applicants must complete several sections through the online application portal.

Applicant Information

Applicants will provide information including:

• Contact information
• Project information
• Addresses
• Employment history
• Languages
• Professional memberships
• Education

Supporting Documents

Three major documents are required:

1. Career Narrative – maximum 1,000 words or approximately four pages.
2. Most Significant Works – up to seven works.
3. Statement of Plans – maximum 1,000 words or approximately four pages.

Applicants must also provide three references, with a fourth reference permitted.

Career Narrative

The Career Narrative should explain why the applicant is the right person to complete the proposed project.

It should tell the story of the applicant’s career, including what led them to the proposed project, how the project fits into their professional development, and how it connects to their broader goals.

The Career Narrative should not simply be a CV or list of accomplishments.

Statement of Plans

The Statement of Plans should present a clear proposal for a single project that the applicant is prepared to pursue.

Applicants should explain:

• What they want to accomplish and why the project matters.
• The current stage of the project.
• What they can realistically accomplish during the six- to twelve-month Fellowship period.
• Why they are capable of undertaking the proposed work.

The statement should be persuasive to both specialists in the applicant’s field and non-specialists serving on the Committee of Selection.

Applicants should not include a budget or financial details in the Statement of Plans.

References

Applicants must provide three references and may provide a fourth.

References should be individuals who know the applicant and their work well enough to speak persuasively about their abilities, particularly in relation to the proposed project.

References do not have to be Guggenheim Fellows. Applicants are advised to obtain permission from their references before listing them and ensure that they understand the submission timeline.

Work Examples

Depending on the proposed field, applicants may also need to submit work examples.

Requirements vary significantly by field. For example, Fine Arts and Photography applicants may submit up to 20 digital images and/or up to three links to time-based media, while Film-Video applicants can submit links to up to three full-length works.

Applicants should carefully review the requirements for their particular field before submitting work examples.

Application Document Requirements

Supporting documents must:

• Be in 12-point standard fonts.
• Be double-spaced.
• Be submitted as PDFs.
• Be unsecured and not password protected.
• Use portrait orientation.
• Be no larger than 5 MB per document.

Deadline

September 29, 2026

All required work examples must be submitted or postmarked by September 29, 2026.

Applicants should also make sure they complete the final submission process. Simply completing the application is not enough; applicants must select “Final Submit Application” before the deadline for their application to be considered.

Important Warning for Applicants

The John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation specifically advises applicants to be cautious about external consultants who claim to have special access to the Fellowship selection process.

The Foundation does not endorse external consultants and states that individuals who charge a fee do not have inside information about or influence over Fellowship selection.

The best way to understand the Fellowship is to use the Foundation’s own application materials, video resources, and official guidance. Applicants with questions are encouraged to contact the Foundation directly.

How to Apply

The 2027 Guggenheim Fellowship application is available through the official application portal.

Application Portal: https://competition.gf.org/signin

Applicants can create a new account or use an existing account from the previous competition.

Conclusion

The Guggenheim Fellowship offers established professionals an opportunity to pursue ambitious work with the support and recognition of one of the most respected fellowship programs in the United States and Canada.

If you believe your professional record, proposed project, and achievements make you a strong candidate, take time to study the Foundation’s official materials and prepare your application carefully before the deadline.

Discover more fellowship opportunities like this on the OFY Webpage.