Mycelia Fellowship 2026 is now accepting applications from creative practitioners, writers, researchers and movement builders working on ethical storytelling and arts-humanities projects in the United States.
The inaugural SRL Mycelia Fellowship, hosted by Social Resonance Lab, will select two fellows for an eight-week programme running from November 1 to December 31, 2026. Each selected fellow will receive a $2,000 stipend, direct advising and opportunities to share their work with practitioners and the public.
The fellowship is designed for individuals who already have storytelling, arts, humanities or related projects underway and want support to deepen, document, refine or expand their work.
Mycelia Fellowship 2026 – Overview
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Fellowship | Mycelia Fellowship |
| Organization | Social Resonance Lab |
| Cohort Size | 2 Fellows |
| Location | United States |
| Format | Remote |
| Duration | 8 weeks |
| Fellowship Period | November 1 – December 31, 2026 |
| Stipend | $2,000 per fellow |
| Application Opens | August 31, 2026 |
| Application Deadline | September 13, 2026, at 11:59 PM |
| Interviews | Late September – Early October |
| Final Selection | October 23, 2026 |
| Onboarding | October 27, 2026 |
About the Mycelia Fellowship
The Mycelia Fellowship explores storytelling as a living and interconnected system. Social Resonance Lab uses the idea of mycelium, the underground fungal network that connects and nourishes a forest, as a metaphor for how stories move between people, communities and platforms.
The programme examines questions surrounding ethical storytelling, attribution, power, responsibility and community relationships.
Rather than supporting completely new projects, the fellowship is intended for people who are already advancing projects and need resources, guidance and visibility to take their work further.
What Does the Fellowship Provide?
Selected fellows will receive:
- $2,000 stipend
- Direct advising from the Social Resonance Lab team
- Project management support
- Evaluation and research guidance
- Communications and design support
- Community-storytelling expertise
- Opportunities to share their work publicly
- Participation in a collaborative working group
- Professional learning and increased visibility
The fellowship is conducted remotely through a lightweight virtual kickoff, semi-regular check-ins and online presentations.
Also Read: WFP Fellowship Programme 2026 | Research Opportunities for Master’s, PhD & Postdoctoral Researchers
Thematic Tracks
Applicants should identify which of the two thematic tracks best fits their existing project.
Track A – Arts as a Civic Tool
This track supports projects that use art, storytelling and humanities practices as forms of civic participation.
Projects may address ongoing injustice, resistance, community identity and local civic issues without reducing complex experiences to a single narrative.
Examples may include:
- Community-based artistic initiatives
- Digital campaigns connected to specific U.S. communities
- Creative placemaking projects
- Artistic approaches to local social issues
- Projects connecting democracy and creative practice
Track B – AI & the Digital Landscape
This track focuses on projects examining how AI, digital platforms, algorithms and emerging technologies influence storytelling, collective memory and political agency.
Potential projects may include:
- Digital archives and oral history initiatives
- Community history preservation
- Projects addressing algorithmic erasure
- Counter-surveillance documentation tools
- Creative platforms supporting narrative autonomy
- Projects examining social media, AI-generated content and digital power
Required Fellowship Deliverables
Selected fellows will be expected to complete a short set of shared deliverables during the programme.
These include:
1. Written Article
Each fellow will produce one written piece for the SRL Substack.
2. Podcast Participation
Fellows will participate as guests in one episode of SRL’s upcoming podcast series on ethical storytelling.
3. Workshop and Presentation
Fellows will co-lead a workshop and deliver a 30-minute presentation about their work, followed by dialogue with practitioners and members of the public.
Who Can Apply?
The Mycelia Fellowship is intended for individuals who are already active in storytelling or arts-humanities work grounded in intersectional practice.
Social Resonance Lab is particularly interested in applicants who demonstrate:
- Strong writing abilities
- Research skills
- Creative thinking
- Leadership
- Community engagement
- Experience developing or implementing projects
- Interest in ethical storytelling
- Understanding of power dynamics and narrative
- Commitment to collaborative practice
Applicants should have an existing project that can be scaled, documented, refined or extended through the fellowship.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must:
- Be a resident of the United States
- Have activities based within the United States or its territories
- Be able to file a W-9 form
- Be able to receive fellowship payments through a domestic U.S. bank account
- Have an existing storytelling or arts-humanities project
- Demonstrate alignment with one of the two thematic tracks
- Demonstrate experience or evidence of prior execution
Important: The fellowship is currently open only to United States residents. International applicants who do not meet the U.S. residency and payment requirements are not eligible.
Also Read: Tech Policy Press Fellowship Program 2027 | Elite $10,000 Fellowship for Journalists, Researchers & Policy Professionals
How Applications Will Be Evaluated
Applications will be assessed based on several key areas:
Creativity
Originality of the applicant’s approach, ideas and voice.
Leadership
Evidence that the applicant can independently lead and advance their project.
Prior Execution
A demonstrated record of completed or ongoing work.
Research Agenda Alignment
Understanding of Social Resonance Lab’s research agenda and thematic focus.
Track Fit
How well the project aligns with either Arts as a Civic Tool or AI & the Digital Landscape.
Key Dates
- Application Opens: August 31, 2026
- Application Deadline: September 13, 2026
- Review Period: September 14–27, 2026
- Interviews: Late September – Early October
- Final Selection: October 23, 2026
- Fellow Onboarding: October 27, 2026
- Fellowship: November 1 – December 31, 2026
Why Apply for the Mycelia Fellowship?
The fellowship offers more than financial support. It provides an opportunity for practitioners to strengthen existing work, receive expert guidance, develop their ideas and contribute to conversations about ethical storytelling.
For successful applicants, the programme can provide valuable experience in research, writing, community engagement, project development, communications and public presentation.
The opportunity may be particularly valuable for creatives and researchers working at the intersection of storytelling, social justice, technology, community history, arts, civic participation and human connection.
How to Apply
Interested applicants should review the complete Mycelia Fellowship programme overview and ensure that their existing project meets the eligibility and thematic requirements.
Applicants will need to complete the official Mycelia Fellowship Application Form and submit their application before:
📅 September 13, 2026
⏰ 11:59 PM
Only two fellows will be selected for the inaugural cohort, making this a highly selective opportunity.
Final Thoughts
If you are already working on a meaningful storytelling, arts, humanities, community or digital narrative project and want support to take it further, the Mycelia Fellowship 2026 offers an opportunity to combine funding, mentorship, research and public engagement.
🚀 Already have a project making an impact? This could be your opportunity to deepen the work, expand its reach and contribute to a growing field of ethical storytelling. Apply before September 13, 2026.
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