What is the Visiting Fellowship?

The American Library in Paris Visiting Fellowship was created in 2013 to nurture and sustain a heritage as old as the Library itself: deepening French-American understanding. The Visiting Fellowship is made possible by the generous support of The de Groot Foundation.

The Fellowship offers writers, researchers, and creators the unique opportunity to spend a month in Paris working independently on their own creative project while contributing to the cultural life of the Library. 

In addition to working on their own project, Fellows present a public program during their residency that engages our audience and members around a central theme. The theme for 2025-2026 is **Ways of Seeing**.

  
What is Ways of Seeing?

_Ways of Seeing_ is a theme that invites exploration of how we perceive and interpret the world through art, literature, media, and culture. Inspired by John Berger’s influential work and the broader concept of understanding perspectives, this theme encourages Fellows to delve into new ways of thinking, creating, and connecting. Programs could explore topics such as visual storytelling, cultural perception, cross-cultural exchange, or innovative approaches to creativity and representation. 

  
**Residency Period:** One month, between September 2025 and June 2026\. Fellowships are not available in July or August due to the Library’s programming hiatus.

The Fellowship Includes:

* $5,000 USD paid prior to the Fellowship period to cover travel, accommodation, and expenses in Paris.
* An **orientation day** that includes meeting Library staff, a guided tour of the collections and archives, and lunch.
* A **Library membership** with full access to the Library’s collections, archives, and e-resources.
* A commitment to spend at least **three half-days per week** in the Library during the residency working on your personal creative project.
* **Dedicated time and space** to work independently on a self-guided creative project.
* The opportunity to **develop and deliver a one-hour public program** tied to the theme of _Ways of Seeing._ This program could be a talk, workshop, panel, performance, or other creative format.
* Opportunities to **attend fundraising dinners, cocktail gatherings, or exclusive events** as a representative of the Fellowship.
* Participation in **filming promotional material** for the Library and your Fellowship experience.
* A **final exit interview** to share feedback and insights about the Fellowship experience.
* An expectation to **acknowledge the Library and Fellowship** in any publications or media resulting from the project.

  

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