The 2027 Processing Foundation Fellowship is an eight-month creative technology fellowship offering a $10,000 stipend, mentorship, professional development, and opportunities to develop open-source tools for the arts. Organized by the Processing Foundation, the 2027 fellowship invites artists, educators, engineers, game makers, and creative technologists to develop innovative projects that make technology more accessible through community participation.
Nominations for the 2027 Processing Foundation Fellowship open on October 7, 2026, and close on November 1, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Standard Time (PST). Interested individuals can nominate themselves or nominate someone whose work aligns with one of the fellowship’s three tracks: Collective Intelligence, Gaming the System, and DIY Computing.
The fellowship is designed for early- and mid-career creatives and technologists interested in developing open-source software, educational resources, gaming tools, and hardware projects that respond to real community needs. Each selected fellow will receive financial support throughout the eight-month program, work with mentors and community partners, collaborate with a cohort of fellows, and share their work through public presentations, workshops, and published documentation.
About the Processing Foundation Fellowship
The Processing Foundation Fellowship has supported artists and creative technologists since 2013. Its central purpose is to help people imagine and develop more equitable relationships with technology by making creative computing tools and knowledge more accessible.
The fellowship operates at the intersection of art, technology, education, software development, and community participation. Rather than focusing exclusively on technical research or commercial product development, it supports projects that address artistic and social needs while contributing to a shared ecosystem of open-source creative tools.
Through financial assistance, mentorship, and collaborative learning, the program gives fellows the time and guidance needed to develop ideas into practical resources. These may include software applications, creative coding environments, educational materials, experimental hardware, and other systems that support artistic expression and technological learning.
A defining feature of the fellowship is its commitment to the cultural commons. This approach recognizes that creative tools and knowledge can become more valuable when they are accessible to the public and available for others to build upon.
Consequently, fellows are encouraged to develop projects that extend beyond their individual practices. Their work should contribute to a broader community of artists, educators, students, developers, and creative technology enthusiasts.
A history of supporting open-source creative technology
The Processing Foundation Fellowship has contributed to the development of projects that have influenced the creative coding ecosystem. Two notable examples are p5.js and the p5.js Editor, both of which began with fellowship support.
These projects demonstrate how investments in artists, educators, and creative technologists can produce tools that serve communities far beyond the original project team.
By supporting people who develop open-source technology and share their knowledge, the foundation helps lower barriers to participation in creative computing. This is particularly important for people who may not have access to expensive software, specialized training, or established technical networks.
The 2027 fellowship continues this tradition while placing greater emphasis on community participation in the design and development of technological innovations.
What Does the 2027 Processing Foundation Fellowship Offer?
Selected fellows will receive a combination of financial support, technical guidance, professional development, and opportunities to contribute to the wider creative coding community.
1. A $10,000 fellowship stipend
Each fellow will receive a $10,000 stipend throughout the eight-month fellowship period.
The stipend provides financial support while fellows work on their approved projects. It is intended to help them dedicate time and resources to developing open-source tools, educational materials, creative systems, and other project outputs aligned with the foundation’s mission.
The supplied fellowship information does not specify a monthly payment amount, payment schedule, or whether additional project expenses will be reimbursed. Applicants should therefore consult the official fellowship information for any further financial terms.
2. Mentorship in open-source software development
Fellows will receive mentorship from the Processing Foundation team and its collaborators.
This mentorship is particularly valuable for individuals developing creative technology projects that require both technical knowledge and an understanding of the needs of the communities they serve.
Through guidance and collaboration, fellows can strengthen their project concepts, explore appropriate development approaches, and create tools that are useful beyond their immediate working environments.
3. Collaboration with a cohort of fellows
The fellowship brings selected participants together as a cohort. Fellows will have opportunities to work collaboratively, share knowledge, discuss challenges, and check in with one another throughout the program.
This collaborative structure supports peer learning and encourages participants to exchange ideas across different creative and technical disciplines.
For example, an artist developing experimental hardware may benefit from conversations with an educator creating AI learning resources, while a game designer may gain fresh perspectives from colleagues working in creative coding.
4. Professional development
The program includes professional development opportunities intended to help fellows strengthen their capabilities as creative practitioners and technology contributors.
Working on a sustained project, collaborating with mentors, and sharing work publicly can help fellows develop their project management, communication, technical development, and community engagement skills.
5. Public presentations, workshops, and documentation
Fellows will have opportunities to share their work through talks, workshops, public programs, and published documentation.
These activities help make their projects visible to the wider creative coding community and enable others to learn from their approaches.
Documentation is particularly important for open-source projects because it allows other developers, educators, artists, and community members to understand how a tool works and how they might adapt it for their own needs.
6. Access to the wider Processing community
Participants will connect with a broader community of artists, educators, programmers, and contributors associated with the Processing Foundation.
This network can support the exchange of ideas, collaboration, and continued engagement with open-source creative technology after the fellowship concludes.
7. Access to the Processing Foundation Fellowship Alumni Network
Upon participating in the program, fellows will have the opportunity to join the Processing Foundation Fellowship Alumni Network.
The alumni network offers a connection to a wider group of people who have participated in the fellowship and contributed to creative technology projects.
The official information does not specify additional financial awards, employment guarantees, or other benefits associated with alumni membership.
What’s New About the 2027 Processing Foundation Fellowship?
The 2027 fellowship marks a new phase in the program’s development.
For more than a decade, the Processing Foundation Fellowship operated as a fully remote, international program. Beginning in 2027, the fellowship will concentrate more specifically on building open-source tools and resources for the arts.
This shift is accompanied by a stronger emphasis on community participation. Technological innovation under the new approach should not be developed in isolation from the people expected to use it. Instead, fellows will work with community members to understand their needs, gather feedback, and create tools that respond to real-world contexts.
The foundation is also bringing its team and fellows closer together through hybrid fellowship tracks rooted in New York City and Los Angeles. These arrangements provide opportunities for in-person collaboration alongside other forms of engagement.
The three tracks reflect different aspects of the foundation’s mission: making artificial intelligence education more participatory, expanding access to game design, and supporting communities interested in building and reimagining computer hardware and software.
Is the 2027 fellowship open to international applicants?
The 2027 program has a United States-based eligibility requirement. According to the official information, nominees must be based in the United States and satisfy the requirements of their selected track.
This is an important change for prospective applicants familiar with the fellowship’s previous international format.
Artists and creative technologists based outside the United States should not assume that they are eligible for the 2027 fellowship. The foundation recommends that people outside the United States explore its Microgrants and Processing Community Day initiatives as alternative ways to engage with the wider Processing community.
The Three Tracks of the 2027 Processing Foundation Fellowship
The 2027 fellowship features three distinct tracks. Each has its own focus, working arrangement, target participants, and community engagement requirements.
Applicants and nominators should carefully review the tracks before selecting one because the proposed project must align with the objectives and eligibility requirements of the chosen track.
1. Collective Intelligence: AI Education and Community-Led Innovation
Location: Remote, anywhere in the United States
The Collective Intelligence track explores how young people can participate in designing the tools and learning experiences used to understand artificial intelligence.
AI tools are increasingly appearing in educational settings, but many of these technologies are developed without sufficient input from the young people who will use them. This track seeks to change that relationship by encouraging young people to participate in shaping how AI is taught and understood.
Fellows will spend eight months working with the Mark Cuban Foundation’s youth community to co-design creative AI education tools.
The work will be informed by the foundation’s Creative Software for Teaching AI initiative and supported by mentorship from people with expertise in AI and creative technology.
The goal is to create open-source tools that educators and other communities can teach with, adapt, and extend.
Depending on the interests and needs identified by the participating youth community, projects could include:
- A tool that allows users to train an AI model manually and explore how training decisions affect its behaviour.
- A visual learning environment that helps students understand how AI systems make decisions.
- A creative coding environment for experimenting with AI through artistic and technical activities.
- Classroom-ready experiments that educators can incorporate into lessons about artificial intelligence.
- Other open-source learning resources that make AI concepts easier to explore and understand.
The emphasis is not simply on creating another AI application. Instead, fellows will investigate how creative technology can help young people develop a deeper understanding of AI and participate more actively in decisions about the tools they use.
Who can apply for the Collective Intelligence track?
The track is intended for people who:
- Are based anywhere in the United States.
- Have a strong interest in education.
- Have experience in software development, machine learning, or artificial intelligence.
- Are interested in developing creative AI education tools through collaboration with young people.
- Can contribute to an open-source project designed to be useful to educators and other communities.
The official description does not specify a particular degree requirement or a minimum number of years of professional experience for this track.
People with relevant technical experience and a strong interest in participatory education may therefore wish to explore whether their background aligns with the project’s needs.
2. Gaming the System: Open-Source Video Game Design Tools
Location: Hybrid, Los Angeles, California
The Gaming the System track focuses on expanding access to video game design.
Games are important forms of artistic expression. They allow creators to develop stories, construct imaginative worlds, explore ideas, and build interactive experiences. However, the tools used to create games can present barriers for young people who lack access to resources, technical training, or supportive learning environments.
This track responds to those challenges by asking how game design tools can become more accessible to beginners and underserved communities in Los Angeles.
The selected fellow will spend eight months developing an open-source toolkit for video game design in collaboration with local communities.
Students will participate in the design process by providing feedback on the tools and helping identify ways to make game development easier to approach.
The fellow will work with the Processing Foundation team and gaming professionals to develop resources that support creative learning and experimentation.
Expected activities include:
- Developing an open-source toolkit for video game design.
- Working with underserved communities in Los Angeles to understand their needs.
- Gathering feedback from students and incorporating it into the design process.
- Creating open-access tutorials that introduce game design concepts.
- Developing reusable templates to help beginners start creating games.
- Supporting students through online workshops.
- Participating in an in-person summer intensive in Los Angeles.
The toolkit and supporting resources should help make game design more approachable for people who may not have extensive experience with programming or access to professional development environments.
The track also offers an opportunity to explore the relationship between games, art, education, and community participation.
Who can apply for the Gaming the System track?
This track is intended for:
- Game makers based in Los Angeles.
- Creative coders based in Los Angeles.
- Educators based in Los Angeles.
- Individuals interested in making video game design more accessible to underserved communities.
- People who can contribute to the development of open-source tools, tutorials, and learning resources.
The official track description identifies the relevant professional backgrounds and geographic requirement but does not specify a mandatory academic degree.
Applicants should be prepared to demonstrate how their experience and proposed project could contribute to accessible game design education.
Because this is a hybrid track, candidates should also carefully consider the in-person component of the program in Los Angeles.
3. DIY Computing: Open-Source Hardware and Experimental Creative Tools
Location: Hybrid, New York City, New York
The DIY Computing track explores how artists and communities can reclaim, rebuild, and reimagine personal computing.
The track draws attention to growing interest in custom-built portable computers, often known as cyberdecks, alongside a broader movement toward opening up personal computers, experimenting with hardware, and moving beyond mass-produced technology.
Rather than treating computers as fixed products that users can only operate as designed, the track encourages people to explore how hardware and software can be adapted to suit their creative needs.
The selected fellow will spend eight months working with an in-person community in New York City to develop open-source hardware and software environments.
Community participation will guide the project’s direction. The fellow will work with community members to identify their interests and translate those ideas into a toolkit that other people can build, remix, repair, and extend.
Depending on the community’s priorities, the resulting project could take several forms, including:
- An open-source cyberdeck or portable computer.
- A new electronic or digital instrument.
- A collection of experimental hardware and software projects.
- A personal computer designed for drawing or generative art.
- A creative computing environment for sound and performance.
- Handmade interfaces that provide alternative ways of interacting with computers.
- Portable creative studios and tools for physically engaging with code.
The track is particularly interested in the relationship between technology, artistic practice, experimentation, and the ability of communities to modify the tools they use.
It encourages fellows to explore what computing might look like when people have greater control over the design, construction, repair, and creative use of their devices.
Who can apply for the DIY Computing track?
The track is intended for early-career artists who:
- Are based in New York City.
- Have experience in hardware prototyping.
- Are interested in open-source hardware and software development.
- Can work with a local community to identify needs and develop a practical toolkit.
- Are interested in experimental computing and creative technology.
This track has an additional restriction concerning academic enrolment and faculty status.
Artists are not eligible if they are:
- Full-time students in a degree-granting program.
- Part-time students in a degree-granting program.
- Students enrolled in a low-residency degree-granting program.
- Tenured faculty members.
Prospective nominees should review these restrictions carefully before pursuing the DIY Computing track.
The official information identifies early-career status and hardware prototyping experience as important characteristics but does not provide a numerical definition of early-career or a required number of years of experience.
Mandatory Project Requirement: Build on an Existing Processing Foundation Project
Every project proposed for the 2027 Processing Foundation Fellowship must build on one of the foundation’s designated open-source projects.
This requirement is central to the program because the fellowship aims to strengthen and expand the existing creative coding ecosystem rather than fund unrelated projects without a connection to the foundation’s work.
The designated projects are:
1. p5.js
p5.js is an open-source creative coding library that supports artistic and interactive programming projects. Fellows may explore how it can be extended to support creative expression, education, or other community needs.
2. p5.js Editor
The p5.js Editor provides an environment for creating and working with p5.js projects. A fellowship project may build on this environment to improve creative workflows, accessibility, learning, or experimentation.
3. Processing 4.x
Processing 4.x is part of the Processing creative coding ecosystem. Projects building on it should demonstrate a meaningful connection to the development of creative software and the needs of its users.
4. Processing Development Environment
The Processing Development Environment is another designated project that fellows can use as a foundation for extending creative coding tools and workflows.
5. Processing 5.0 Rust R&D
This project represents the foundation’s Processing 5.0 research and development work using Rust. It is among the approved starting points for projects that fit the fellowship’s creative and technical objectives.
6. Experimental Python Package
The Experimental Python Package is built on Processing 5.0 Rust R&D. It provides another potential foundation for projects that explore creative coding and programming-based artistic experimentation.
Prospective fellows should investigate these projects before developing their proposals. Understanding the existing tools will help them identify opportunities to extend current capabilities, address limitations, or create resources that meet specific community needs.
The project requirement also means that applicants should be able to explain how their proposal relates to at least one designated open-source project and why the proposed extension would be valuable.
General Eligibility Criteria for the 2027 Processing Foundation Fellowship
Eligibility depends on the selected track, but several general requirements apply across the program.
Geographic eligibility
Nominees must be based in the United States.
The three tracks have additional location requirements:
- Collective Intelligence: Anywhere in the United States, with remote participation.
- Gaming the System: Los Angeles, California, with a hybrid working arrangement.
- DIY Computing: New York City, New York, with a hybrid working arrangement.
Applicants should not assume that eligibility for one track automatically makes them eligible for another.
Professional background
The fellowship is designed for artists, educators, engineers, coders, game makers, and creative technologists whose experience aligns with the chosen track.
The specific backgrounds sought include:
- Software development, machine learning, or artificial intelligence for Collective Intelligence.
- Game making, creative coding, or education for Gaming the System.
- Hardware prototyping and artistic practice for DIY Computing.
The program description presents the fellowship as an opportunity for early- and mid-career creative practitioners, although the DIY Computing track specifically targets early-career artists.
Academic qualifications
The call for applicants does not establish a general minimum academic qualification, such as a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, or doctorate, for the fellowship as a whole.
Applicants should therefore avoid assuming that a particular degree is mandatory unless the official application materials specify otherwise.
For DIY Computing, however, the restriction on students enrolled in degree-granting programs and on tenured faculty is explicit.
Nationality and residency
The published criteria state that nominees must be based in the United States. They do not separately specify a citizenship requirement in the supplied information.
Being based in the United States should not automatically be interpreted as confirmation that every immigration or residency status is accepted. Anyone uncertain about their circumstances should verify the official eligibility conditions before applying.
Project alignment
Every proposal must build on one of the designated Processing Foundation open-source projects.
Projects should also align with the foundation’s mission and the objectives of the selected track.
Community participation
The 2027 fellowship places strong emphasis on participatory design. Fellows should be prepared to work with relevant communities, incorporate feedback, and create tools that respond to real artistic, educational, or social needs.
International applicants
Although the fellowship previously operated as an international program, the 2027 edition requires nominees to be based in the United States.
International professionals who live outside the United States should therefore explore the Processing Foundation’s Microgrants and Processing Community Day initiatives instead of assuming that they qualify for this fellowship.
How to Apply for the 2027 Processing Foundation Fellowship
The application process begins with a nomination and proceeds through two rounds of review. The foundation does not describe the initial stage as an unrestricted direct project-proposal submission for every interested applicant.
Anyone can nominate a suitable candidate, including themselves. However, the nominee must meet the eligibility requirements of the selected track.
The process involves four main stages.
Step 1: Submit a nomination
The first step is to complete the official nomination form between October 7 and November 1, 2026.
The person making the nomination must select one of the three fellowship tracks:
- Collective Intelligence.
- Gaming the System.
- DIY Computing.
Nominators can submit a nomination for another person or nominate themselves.
Before submitting, it is advisable to review the track descriptions, location requirements, professional background expectations, and project requirements.
Choosing the appropriate track is important because the foundation evaluates proposals according to their alignment with the fellowship’s mission and the specific objectives of each track.
Step 2: Wait for the proposal invitation
After nominations close, a review panel will assess the nominations.
The panel includes members of the Processing Foundation team and external reviewers. Selected nominees will be invited to submit a more detailed project proposal.
According to the published schedule, invitations to submit proposals will be sent on November 2, 2026.
This means that nomination does not automatically guarantee an invitation to the next stage.
Candidates should be prepared to explain their project ideas in greater detail if selected.
Step 3: Submit a project proposal
Invited nominees will be required to submit their proposals by November 23, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. PST.
The proposal should demonstrate how the intended project fits the selected track and contributes to the foundation’s mission.
Although the supplied information does not list every required proposal component, a strong proposal would logically need to communicate:
- The problem, opportunity, or community need the project addresses.
- The proposed open-source tool, resource, or creative system.
- The Processing Foundation project on which the work will build.
- The relevance of the project to the selected track.
- The intended community participants and their role in the design process.
- The anticipated value of the resulting tool or resource.
- How the project could be documented and shared with others.
These points are preparation guidance rather than a confirmed list of mandatory application-form questions. Invited nominees should follow the foundation’s official proposal instructions.
An information session is scheduled for November 7, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. PST for invited nominees.
Step 4: Participate in a finalist interview
Following the proposal review, finalists will meet the panel for a video interview.
These interviews are scheduled for the week of December 7, 2026.
The interview provides another stage in the selection process before the foundation makes its final decisions.
Candidates should be ready to discuss their proposed work, its technical or artistic direction, its community relevance, and its potential contribution to the open-source creative coding ecosystem.
Step 5: Receive the fellowship decision
The foundation plans to notify selected fellows during the week of December 14, 2026.
Successful candidates will then prepare to begin the eight-month fellowship on January 25, 2027.
The program is scheduled to end on September 26, 2027, followed by final presentations and documentation on October 2, 2027.
Important Dates and Deadlines
Prospective applicants should keep track of every stage of the 2027 Processing Foundation Fellowship selection process.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Nominations open | October 7, 2026 |
| Nomination deadline | November 1, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. PST |
| Selected nominees invited to submit proposals | November 2, 2026 |
| Information session for invited nominees | November 7, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. PST |
| Project proposal deadline | November 23, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. PST |
| Finalist video interviews | Week of December 7, 2026 |
| Fellowship decisions announced | Week of December 14, 2026 |
| Fellowship begins | January 25, 2027 |
| Fellowship ends | September 26, 2027 |
| Final presentations and documentation | October 2, 2027 |
Application deadline: November 1, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Standard Time (PST).
Applicants should pay particular attention to the time zone when submitting nominations. Candidates invited to submit proposals will also need to meet the separate November 23 deadline.
The published schedule indicates that the proposal stage is available to selected nominees rather than automatically open to everyone who submits a nomination.
How Will Applications Be Evaluated?
The Processing Foundation states that proposals will be reviewed according to three broad considerations.
1. Strength of the project
The panel will consider the quality and potential of the proposed project.
Candidates should be able to explain what they intend to build, why the project matters, and how it could develop into a useful open-source tool or resource.
2. Alignment with the foundation’s mission
Proposals must fit the Processing Foundation’s commitment to accessible creative technology, open-source tools, and more equitable relationships with technology.
A project that focuses exclusively on developing a private or closed tool without a meaningful connection to the foundation’s open-source mission may not align with the stated priorities.
3. Potential impact on the creative coding community
The panel will also consider the project’s potential contribution to the wider creative coding ecosystem.
Projects that respond to clearly identified community needs and create resources that others can use, adapt, or extend are consistent with the fellowship’s stated direction.
The foundation has not published numerical scoring weights for these considerations in the supplied information. Applicants should therefore focus on presenting a clear, well-aligned project rather than assuming that one evaluation criterion carries a particular percentage of the total score.
What Should Prospective Nominees Do Before the Deadline?
Preparing early can help prospective nominees make informed decisions about their projects and chosen tracks.
The following steps provide a practical starting point:
- Choose the appropriate track. Review the three tracks and identify the one that best matches your background, location, and project interests.
- Check your eligibility. Confirm that you meet the United States location requirement and any additional track-specific conditions. DIY Computing nominees should pay particular attention to the restrictions concerning degree-program enrolment and tenured faculty status.
- Explore the existing open-source projects. Review p5.js, the p5.js Editor, Processing 4.x, the Processing Development Environment, Processing 5.0 Rust R&D, and the Experimental Python Package.
- Identify a genuine community need. Consider the challenges faced by the people who would use your proposed tool. The 2027 program emphasizes community participation, so the project should be grounded in real needs rather than technical novelty alone.
- Develop a clear project concept. Think about the tool or resource you want to create, how it would build on an existing Processing Foundation project, and what contribution it could make.
- Consider the working arrangement. Collective Intelligence is remote within the United States, while Gaming the System and DIY Computing include hybrid, location-based participation.
- Prepare for the proposal stage. Since selected nominees will be invited to submit proposals shortly after nominations close, it is sensible to begin thinking about the project’s scope and intended outcomes in advance.
- Submit the nomination before the deadline. Ensure that the nomination form is completed by November 1, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. PST.
These preparation steps can help candidates understand the fellowship’s expectations and assess whether their interests align with the opportunity.
Why Consider the Processing Foundation Fellowship?
The 2027 Processing Foundation Fellowship offers more than financial assistance. It provides a structured opportunity to develop creative technology projects while working with mentors, collaborators, and communities.
For artists, it offers a way to explore how software and hardware can expand artistic practice. For educators, it creates opportunities to develop resources that make complex technical subjects more accessible. For programmers and engineers, it provides a context in which technical expertise can be applied to open-source tools and community-driven innovation.
The fellowship’s emphasis on public documentation and reusable resources also gives projects the potential to continue influencing the creative coding community after the program ends.
However, the fellowship is not suitable for every applicant. The United States location requirement, distinct track criteria, hybrid participation requirements, and mandatory connection to an existing Processing Foundation project mean that prospective nominees should carefully evaluate their fit before proceeding.
For individuals whose experience aligns with the program, the combination of a $10,000 stipend, eight months of support, mentorship, and public engagement opportunities makes the fellowship a significant opportunity to develop and share creative technology.
The 2027 Processing Foundation Fellowship is an eight-month opportunity for eligible artists, educators, engineers, game makers, and creative technologists to receive a $10,000 stipend while developing open-source tools and resources for the arts. Through its three tracks—Collective Intelligence, Gaming the System, and DIY Computing—the fellowship supports community-driven innovation in artificial intelligence education, accessible game design, and experimental computing.
Selected fellows will benefit from mentorship, professional development, cohort collaboration, public presentations, workshops, documentation opportunities, and connections to the wider Processing community.
The fellowship requires nominees to be based in the United States, and each proposed project must build on one of the foundation’s designated open-source projects. The nomination deadline is November 1, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. PST.
Artists and creative technologists who meet the eligibility requirements and want to make creative technology more accessible should review the official fellowship tracks and prepare their nominations before the deadline.
For more global fellowships, scholarships, internships, and other opportunities, visit Opportunities for Youth.
