Mycelia Fellowship 2026: An Opportunity for Ethical Storytelling Practitioners

The Social Resonance Lab (SRL) Mycelia Fellowship 2026 is an exciting new opportunity designed to support practitioners working at the intersection of storytelling, arts, humanities, civic participation, technology, community engagement, and intersectional practice.

The inaugural fellowship cohort will select two fellows whose existing projects demonstrate innovative approaches to ethical storytelling. Rather than supporting entirely new ideas that have not yet begun, the Mycelia Fellowship focuses on strengthening, documenting, refining, extending, or scaling projects that are already underway.

Selected fellows will receive a $2,000 stipend alongside direct advisory support from the Social Resonance Lab team. Participants will also gain opportunities to increase the visibility of their work, share their knowledge with wider audiences, contribute to discussions on ethical storytelling, and engage with other practitioners working across creative, civic, technological, and community-centered spaces.

The fellowship is built around an important idea: stories do not exist in isolation. Stories travel between people, communities, generations, technologies, and institutions. As they move, they can change shape, acquire new meanings, and influence how individuals and communities are understood.

Through the Mycelia Fellowship, participants will be encouraged to explore important questions surrounding storytelling, including who has the power to tell stories, who receives recognition when stories are adapted, what responsibilities storytellers have toward communities, and how ethical practices can be maintained when narratives continuously evolve.

The application deadline for the inaugural Mycelia Fellowship cohort is September 13, 2026, at 11:59 PM.

About the Social Resonance Lab

The Mycelia Fellowship is organized by the Social Resonance Lab, a collaborative research studio focused on understanding how ethical storytelling can contribute to stronger human connection.

Through creative inquiry, partnerships, research, experimentation, and collaboration, Social Resonance Lab explores how stories can be developed and shared in ways that promote:

• Human connection
• Empathy
• Trust
• Community understanding
• Ethical representation
• Shared learning
• Creative collaboration
• Responsible narrative practices

The organization’s work recognizes that storytelling is not simply about producing compelling narratives. Stories influence public understanding, shape collective memory, affect political and social perceptions, and determine whose experiences become visible or invisible.

For this reason, ethical storytelling requires practitioners to think critically about issues such as:

• Power
• Representation
• Attribution
• Ownership
• Consent
• Community relationships
• Narrative responsibility
• Technology
• Digital platforms
• Algorithmic influence

The Mycelia Fellowship provides a structured environment for practitioners to investigate these issues while advancing their existing projects.

Understanding the Concept Behind the Mycelia Fellowship

The fellowship takes inspiration from mycelium, the complex underground network of fungal structures that connects and supports ecosystems.

Mycelium operates largely beneath the surface, creating interconnected networks that allow nutrients and information to move throughout an ecosystem. Social Resonance Lab uses this concept as a metaphor for storytelling.

Stories, like mycelial networks, rarely exist independently.

A story may:

• Originate from an individual experience
• Be shared within a family or community
• Be documented by researchers
• Be adapted by artists
• Spread through digital platforms
• Be transformed by audiences
• Influence political conversations
• Become part of collective memory

As stories move between people and contexts, important ethical questions emerge.

For example:

• Who should receive credit for a story?
• What happens when someone else’s story is retold?
• How should storytellers acknowledge the communities from which narratives originate?
• What responsibilities exist when adapting historical or community narratives?
• How can storytelling avoid exploitation?
• How do digital technologies influence ownership and attribution?
• What happens when algorithms amplify some stories while suppressing others?

The Mycelia Fellowship encourages fellows to examine storytelling as a living and interconnected ecosystem.

Participants are expected to understand that individual creative work can have broader consequences. A story can influence communities far beyond its original context. Therefore, practitioners must consider both the opportunities and responsibilities associated with storytelling.

The fellowship emphasizes the idea that practitioners are simultaneously:

1. Influenced by broader storytelling ecosystems.
2. Contributors to those ecosystems.
3. Responsible for the impacts their storytelling practices may create.

Through this framework, the fellowship seeks to transform individual artistic, archival, civic, and technological initiatives into work capable of generating sustained collective impact.

What Is the Purpose of the Mycelia Fellowship?

The primary goal of the Mycelia Fellowship is to support innovative practitioners advancing ethical storytelling interventions.

The fellowship provides several forms of support designed to help participants deepen and strengthen their work.

These include:

1. Financial Support

Each selected fellow will receive a stipend of $2,000.

The financial support is intended to help practitioners continue advancing work that is already underway.

Unlike programs that require participants to create completely new projects, the Mycelia Fellowship recognizes that meaningful projects often require additional support to:

• Expand their reach
• Improve documentation
• Develop stronger strategies
• Refine methodologies
• Increase visibility
• Strengthen community engagement
• Explore new applications
• Build sustainable approaches

2. Professional Advising and Consultancy

Selected fellows will receive direct support from the Social Resonance Lab team.

Areas of expertise available to fellows include:

• Project management
• Evaluation
• Communications
• Design
• Community storytelling

This advisory support can help fellows think strategically about the development and future direction of their projects.

For practitioners working independently or within small organizations, access to specialized expertise can be particularly valuable.

The consultancy component of the fellowship may help participants better understand how to:

• Organize and manage projects
• Evaluate impact
• Communicate complex ideas
• Present work to different audiences
• Strengthen storytelling strategies
• Improve public engagement
• Document learning
• Build sustainable practices

3. Visibility and Knowledge-Sharing Opportunities

The Mycelia Fellowship also provides fellows with opportunities to share their work publicly.

This is an important component because the program is not only focused on supporting individual projects. It also aims to contribute to broader conversations surrounding ethical storytelling.

Fellows will have opportunities to share their experiences, methodologies, insights, and learning with:

• Other practitioners
• Researchers
• Creative professionals
• Community members
• Storytelling organizations
• Public audiences

By creating spaces for knowledge exchange, the fellowship seeks to advance broader field practice.

Mycelia Fellowship 2026 Duration and Structure

The inaugural Mycelia Fellowship will run for eight weeks.

Fellowship Period

November 1 – December 31, 2026

Cohort Size

Only two fellows will be selected.

The small cohort structure may provide participants with opportunities for more direct engagement and personalized support.

Fellowship Format

The fellowship will be conducted remotely.

Activities will include:

• A lightweight virtual kickoff
• Semi-regular check-ins
• Advisory support
• Collaborative discussions
• Presentations
• Knowledge-sharing activities

Because the program is remote, fellows will not need to relocate for the fellowship. However, applicants must meet the residency and payment requirements outlined by the organizers.

Mycelia Fellowship Stipend and Benefits

Each selected fellow will receive a $2,000 stipend.

In addition to the financial award, fellows will benefit from professional support and opportunities for public engagement.

Key benefits include:

Financial Support

• $2,000 stipend per fellow

Professional Advising

Support from the Social Resonance Lab team in areas such as:

• Project management
• Evaluation
• Communications
• Design
• Community storytelling

Increased Visibility

Fellows will have opportunities to share their work and insights through SRL platforms and public-facing activities.

Professional Development

Participants can further develop their thinking and practice around:

• Ethical storytelling
• Community engagement
• Narrative responsibility
• Power dynamics
• Intersectional practice
• Digital storytelling
• Civic participation
• Technology and storytelling

Knowledge Exchange

Fellows will engage with other practitioners and audiences interested in ethical storytelling and related fields.

Platform for Public Engagement

Selected participants will have opportunities to present their work and participate in conversations with the public.

Required Deliverables for Mycelia Fellows

Selected fellows will be expected to complete a short set of shared deliverables during the fellowship period.

These deliverables are designed to help participants document their work, share insights, and contribute to broader discussions about ethical storytelling.

1. Written Contribution to the SRL Substack

Each fellow will produce one written piece for the Social Resonance Lab Substack.

This contribution may provide fellows with an opportunity to:

• Document their project
• Share research insights
• Reflect on ethical storytelling practices
• Introduce audiences to their work
• Discuss challenges and lessons
• Contribute to public conversations

Strong writing skills will therefore be particularly valuable for applicants.

2. Podcast Participation

Fellows will participate as guests in an episode of Social Resonance Lab’s upcoming podcast series focused on ethical storytelling.

The podcast opportunity will allow fellows to discuss their projects and perspectives with wider audiences.

Participants may have an opportunity to share:

• Their professional journey
• Their project methodology
• Key challenges
• Ethical questions
• Community experiences
• Lessons learned
• Future directions

3. Co-Leading a Workshop

Each fellow will participate in a workshop activity.

The workshop will involve:

• Co-leading a session
• Delivering a 30-minute presentation
• Presenting their work
• Engaging in dialogue with practitioners
• Participating in discussions with SRL
• Interacting with public audiences

This component means successful applicants should be comfortable communicating their ideas and engaging with diverse audiences.

Thematic Tracks of the Mycelia Fellowship

Applicants must identify which thematic track best aligns with their project.

The fellowship contains two major thematic tracks:

1. Arts as a Civic Tool
2. AI and the Digital Landscape

Both tracks share an interest in ethical storytelling, intersectional practice, and power dynamics.

Importantly, the fellowship considers not only how stories are produced but also how they are experienced by audiences and communities directly affected by the narratives.

Track A: Arts as a Civic Tool

The first thematic track focuses on the use of art and narrative as forms of civic participation.

Projects under this track explore how artistic and storytelling practices can contribute to public engagement and responses to social issues.

The fellowship is particularly interested in work that represents ongoing and complex forms of:

• Injustice
• Resistance
• Identity
• Social transformation
• Civic participation
• Community engagement

Rather than reducing complex issues to simplified narratives with clear resolutions, Track A encourages projects that recognize the ongoing nature of social and political experiences.

This is especially relevant to issues sometimes described as “slow” forms of injustice.

These may involve challenges that develop gradually or persist over long periods, making them difficult to communicate through traditional storytelling formats.

Projects can explore how art and storytelling help communities understand and engage with such issues.

Examples of Projects Suitable for Track A

Potential projects may include:

Phygital Civic Activities

Projects that connect physical and digital participation while linking democratic engagement with artistic practice.

Examples could include initiatives involving:

• Community art
• Digital storytelling
• Local democracy projects
• Interactive public engagement
• Hyperlocal creative participation

Artistic Responses to Local Issues

Projects that engage with specific local challenges through creative and humanities-based approaches.

These may include:

• Community storytelling initiatives
• Public art projects
• Participatory cultural activities
• Creative research
• Narrative-based advocacy

Creative Placemaking

Digital campaigns or creative initiatives centered around clearly defined geographic communities within the United States.

These projects may explore how storytelling and creativity contribute to:

• Community identity
• Local engagement
• Public participation
• Cultural preservation
• Civic dialogue

Track B: AI and the Digital Landscape

The second thematic track focuses on the relationship between technology, storytelling, power, collective memory, and political agency.

This track is particularly interested in projects that critically examine how:

• Digital infrastructures
• Artificial intelligence
• Algorithms
• Social media
• Data systems
• Platform governance
• Digital surveillance

shape human narratives and social experiences.

The fellowship does not treat technology as neutral.

Instead, Track B encourages applicants to examine the real-world consequences of data-driven systems.

Technology increasingly influences:

• Which stories become visible
• Which voices are amplified
• Which narratives are suppressed
• How historical information is preserved
• How misinformation spreads
• How communities communicate
• How personal data is collected
• How digital surveillance affects communities

Projects under this track should critically investigate these dynamics.

Examples of Projects Suitable for Track B

Eligible or relevant projects may include the following.

Digital Archives and Oral History Projects

Projects documenting community histories while addressing challenges associated with automated moderation or content suppression.

Such initiatives may explore how digital platforms influence historical preservation.

Counter-Surveillance Documentation Tools

Projects documenting how communities navigate surveillance and information control.

Examples could include research or tools examining:

• Encrypted communication
• Informal information networks
• Digital security practices
• Community communication strategies

Community-Led Data Preservation

Projects that protect local knowledge and narratives from algorithmic erasure.

These initiatives may focus on preserving:

• Community histories
• Cultural knowledge
• Oral traditions
• Local archives
• Marginalized narratives

Creative Storytelling Platforms

Projects that help communities maintain control over their narratives in environments shaped by digital oversight and platform power.

These projects may investigate how communities can preserve narrative autonomy when interacting with large technology platforms and algorithmic systems.

Research Questions Driving the Fellowship

The Mycelia Fellowship is grounded in a broader research agenda focused on ethical storytelling.

The central research question is:

How do power dynamics shape who gets to tell stories and how those stories are received?

This question recognizes that storytelling is influenced by unequal access to:

• Media platforms
• Financial resources
• Technology
• Institutional recognition
• Cultural authority
• Publishing opportunities
• Political influence

The fellowship encourages practitioners to investigate these dynamics through their existing work.

Arts as a Civic Tool Research Question

Applicants under Track A are encouraged to consider:

What methods can organizations and creators use to practice ethics in their storytelling?

This question invites practitioners to explore practical approaches to responsible storytelling.

Potential areas of exploration include:

• Community participation
• Consent
• Attribution
• Collaborative authorship
• Representation
• Long-term community relationships
• Responsible documentation
• Participatory creative processes

AI and the Digital Landscape Research Question

Applicants under Track B are encouraged to investigate:

How does the digital landscape, including social media, AI-generated content, and virality, complicate or enable ethical storytelling?

This research question is increasingly relevant as artificial intelligence and algorithmic platforms influence the production and distribution of information.

Potential areas for exploration include:

• AI-generated narratives
• Algorithmic bias
• Digital misinformation
• Viral storytelling
• Platform moderation
• Content suppression
• Digital memory
• Automated representation
• Narrative manipulation

Who Should Apply for the Mycelia Fellowship?

The fellowship is intended for individuals who are already actively engaged in storytelling or arts and humanities work.

The organizers are not seeking applicants who simply have an idea for a completely new initiative.

Instead, they want to support projects that are already in progress and have the potential to be:

• Scaled
• Documented
• Extended
• Strengthened
• Refined

Ideal applicants are likely to have experience in fields such as:

• Storytelling
• Arts
• Humanities
• Creative practice
• Research
• Community organizing
• Movement building
• Civic engagement
• Digital culture
• Archives
• Oral history
• Technology and society
• Ethical communications

Mycelia Fellowship 2026 Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must meet several important eligibility criteria.

1. Applicants Must Have Existing Work in Progress

The fellowship supports practitioners who are already advancing storytelling or arts-humanities projects.

Applicants should therefore demonstrate evidence that they have already begun meaningful work.

The fellowship is suitable for projects seeking:

• Expansion
• Documentation
• Scaling
• Extension
• Refinement

Completely new projects developed from scratch are not the primary focus of this opportunity.

2. Applicants Must Demonstrate Intersectional Practice

The fellowship is specifically interested in storytelling and arts-humanities work grounded in intersectional practice.

Applicants should demonstrate awareness of how multiple social identities and systems of power influence human experiences and storytelling.

3. Strong Writing Skills Are Important

Selected fellows will be required to produce a written piece for the SRL Substack.

Applicants should therefore demonstrate strong abilities in:

• Writing
• Research
• Analysis
• Communication
• Critical thinking

4. Applicants Should Be Skilled Researchers or Practitioners

The fellowship seeks people capable of exploring complex questions with nuance.

Strong applicants may demonstrate experience in:

• Research
• Creative inquiry
• Documentation
• Community engagement
• Storytelling practice
• Arts and humanities work

5. Applicants Should Demonstrate Leadership

The fellowship seeks practitioners capable of independently advancing projects.

Applicants should demonstrate the ability to:

• Lead initiatives
• Manage responsibilities
• Work independently
• Develop ideas
• Complete projects
• Engage communities

6. Applicants Must Be United States Residents

The fellowship is currently only open to residents of the United States.

Applicants must be based within:

• The United States
• US Territories

The application specifically states that fellowship activities must be based domestically.

7. Applicants Must Meet Payment Requirements

Successful fellows must be able to:

• File a W-9 form
• Receive stipend payments
• Access a domestic United States bank account

Applicants who cannot meet these requirements may not be eligible for the fellowship.

How Applications Will Be Evaluated

Applications will be assessed according to several criteria.

Understanding these criteria can help prospective applicants prepare stronger submissions.

Creativity

Applicants will be evaluated based on the originality of their approach and voice.

Strong applications should demonstrate:

• Innovative thinking
• Original approaches
• Creative methodologies
• Distinct perspectives

Leadership

Applicants should demonstrate their ability to independently lead and advance their projects.

The selection committee will likely consider:

• Previous leadership experience
• Initiative
• Project ownership
• Ability to execute ideas

Evidence of Prior Execution

Because the fellowship focuses on existing work, applicants must demonstrate evidence of previous or ongoing execution.

Strong evidence may include:

• Completed projects
• Ongoing initiatives
• Research
• Publications
• Community programs
• Digital platforms
• Archives
• Creative works
• Campaigns

Understanding of the SRL Research Agenda

Applicants should demonstrate familiarity with the fellowship’s central themes.

This includes understanding questions related to:

• Ethical storytelling
• Power
• Narrative responsibility
• Intersectionality
• Technology
• Community engagement
• Attribution
• Digital storytelling

Fit With a Thematic Track

Applicants must demonstrate a strong connection between their project and either:

• Arts as a Civic Tool, or
• AI and the Digital Landscape

Applicants should clearly explain why their work fits within their selected track.

Mycelia Fellowship 2026 Timeline and Key Dates

Applicants should pay close attention to the fellowship timeline.

Application Window Opens

August 31, 2026

Application Deadline

September 13, 2026, at 11:59 PM

Review Period

September 14 – September 27, 2026

Interviews

Late September to Early October 2026

Final Selections Announced

October 23, 2026

Fellow Onboarding

October 27, 2026

Fellowship Period

November – December 2026

More specifically, the fellowship will run from:

November 1 – December 31, 2026

Because only two fellows will be selected, interested applicants should ensure that their applications clearly demonstrate the strength, progress, and relevance of their existing projects.

How to Prepare a Strong Mycelia Fellowship Application

Given the highly selective nature of the fellowship and the small cohort size, applicants should carefully prepare their submissions.

Here are several strategies that may strengthen an application.

1. Clearly Explain Your Existing Project

Since the fellowship does not primarily fund brand-new ideas, applicants should provide clear evidence that their work is already underway.

Explain:

• What your project is
• When it began
• What you have accomplished
• Who the project serves
• What challenges exist
• What the next stage of development involves

2. Demonstrate Ethical Storytelling Practice

Applicants should go beyond simply describing their project.

They should explain how their work engages with ethical questions.

Consider discussing:

• Community relationships
• Consent
• Representation
• Attribution
• Ownership
• Power dynamics
• Accountability

3. Select the Most Appropriate Track

Applicants should carefully determine whether their project fits better under:

• Arts as a Civic Tool, or
• AI and the Digital Landscape

Avoid forcing a project into a track.

Instead, clearly explain the relationship between your existing work and the fellowship’s thematic focus.

4. Provide Evidence of Execution

Selection criteria emphasize evidence of prior execution.

Applicants should highlight tangible examples of their work.

Depending on the project, this could include:

• Publications
• Research findings
• Websites
• Digital archives
• Community events
• Artistic work
• Campaigns
• Workshops
• Documentation

5. Demonstrate Independent Leadership

Explain your specific role in the project.

The fellowship seeks practitioners capable of independently advancing their work.

Applicants should demonstrate:

• Initiative
• Decision-making
• Project ownership
• Leadership
• Problem-solving

6. Connect Your Work to the Research Questions

A strong application should demonstrate that the applicant understands the fellowship’s intellectual focus.

Consider how your work addresses:

• Who gets to tell stories
• Who controls narratives
• How stories are received
• How technology influences storytelling
• How ethical practices can be strengthened

7. Highlight Your Writing and Communication Skills

Since fellows must write for the SRL Substack and participate in public discussions, applicants should demonstrate strong communication abilities.

Experience in the following areas may be relevant:

• Writing
• Public speaking
• Research communication
• Workshop facilitation
• Community engagement

Important Privacy Considerations for Applicants

Applicants submitting information to Social Resonance Lab should understand how personal information may be handled.

According to the organization’s privacy policy, information collected may include:

Information Provided Directly

Such as:

• Names
• Email addresses
• Contact details
• Fellowship application information

Usage Information

Website-related information may include:

• IP addresses
• Browser information
• Website interaction data

Voluntary Submissions

This may include:

• Survey responses
• Research participation
• Stories voluntarily shared with the organization

The organization states that personal information is not sold, rented, or traded.

Information may be used for purposes such as:

• Communicating about programs
• Processing applications
• Improving websites and content
• Conducting research
• Analysis and reporting

Applicants may also have rights to access, correct, or request deletion of personal information depending on applicable laws and circumstances.

How to Apply for the Mycelia Fellowship 2026

Interested and eligible applicants should complete the official Mycelia Fellowship application form before the deadline.

Applicants should carefully review the full program overview before submitting their responses.

The application will ask candidates to provide information including their:

• Email address
• City or town of residence
• US State or Territory of residence
• Professional background
• Existing project
• Thematic track alignment
• Experience and qualifications

Before submitting an application, candidates should ensure that they:

1. Meet all residency requirements.
2. Have an existing project already in progress.
3. Select the appropriate thematic track.
4. Demonstrate evidence of prior execution.
5. Explain their approach to ethical storytelling.
6. Highlight leadership and research abilities.
7. Confirm their ability to meet the W-9 and US bank account payment requirements.
8. Submit before the September 13, 2026 deadline.

APPLY HERE

Why the Mycelia Fellowship Is an Important Opportunity

The Mycelia Fellowship stands out because it addresses a growing need for ethical approaches to storytelling.

In an era shaped by artificial intelligence, social media, digital surveillance, misinformation, and rapidly changing communication technologies, storytelling has become increasingly complex.

Stories can now travel globally within seconds.

However, rapid distribution creates important challenges.

For example:

• Narratives can be removed from their original context.
• Community stories can be appropriated.
• Algorithms can determine which voices receive visibility.
• AI systems can generate narratives without meaningful accountability.
• Viral content can spread misinformation.
• Historical information can disappear from digital platforms.

The fellowship creates space for practitioners to investigate these challenges while continuing their own work.

Its interdisciplinary structure also creates opportunities for collaboration between people working across:

• Arts
• Humanities
• Research
• Civic engagement
• Technology
• Community organizing
• Storytelling

Visit HERE to learn more about the Mycelia Fellowship 2026.

Conclusion

The Mycelia Fellowship 2026 represents a unique opportunity for practitioners working at the intersection of storytelling, arts, humanities, civic engagement, and technology to deepen and expand projects that are already making an impact.

With only two fellows selected, the inaugural cohort will be small and highly selective. Successful applicants will receive a $2,000 stipend, direct advisory support from the Social Resonance Lab team, opportunities for increased visibility, and platforms to share their knowledge through writing, podcast participation, workshops, and public dialogue.

The fellowship is particularly valuable for practitioners interested in examining how stories shape communities and how power influences who has the ability to create, control, distribute, and interpret narratives.

Whether working through art as a form of civic participation or critically examining the effects of artificial intelligence and digital systems on collective memory and narrative autonomy, fellows will have an opportunity to contribute to important conversations surrounding the future of ethical storytelling.

Eligible United States-based practitioners with existing projects in storytelling, arts, humanities, civic engagement, or critical technology work should consider applying before the September 13, 2026 deadline.