Humanities Action Fellowship

The Humanities Action Fellowship is a supportive fellowship program for cohorts of 4–6 young adults aged 18–25 who are interested in developing or facilitating public humanities programs in their communities. Fellows will receive a $1,500 honorarium as well as support from a mentor to complete a community-focused project that brings people together across differences of background, experience, or belief.

Humanities Action Fellowship projects should help people connect, reflect, and cultivate a stronger sense of agency in their communities. We hope that fellowship projects will contribute to a more cohesive, inclusive, and imaginative democratic culture in Oregon. Oregon Humanities is offering the Humanities Action Fellowship for the first time in 2026, so you could be part of the first cohort!

What are the goals of this fellowship?

• Create opportunities for 4–6 young adults (aged 18–25) from around Oregon to develop and facilitate humanities projects that engage people in their local communities.
• Support fellows through the completion of their projects through mentoring, connection to a statewide network of other fellows (and Oregon Humanities collaborators), project feedback, as well as funding and Oregon Humanities' media exposure.

Who should apply for this fellowship?

• Young adults between the ages of 18 and 25 living Oregon at the time of application and throughout the program period.
• This fellowship is for individuals. (Fellows are welcome to collaborate with others, but the fellowship program is designed for individuals.)
• Applications need to be submitted in English, but programs can be in any language.
• Selection priority will be given to people living in rural places and who belong to other underrepresented groups.
• This fellowship does not fund organizations, teams, academic research, written pieces, work outside of Oregon, or art projects.

How to apply

Applications for the Humanities Action Fellowship will open on February 2, 2026. Applications are due by April 10. Applications will be reviewed and selected between April 10 and 27. Fellows will be notified in early May.

What are some examples of possible projects?

• Public conversations 
• Short-form videos
• Film screenings and discussions
• Events focused on historical sites, events, and figures
• Public pop-ups
• Exhibits
• Podcasts

What is the fellowship timeline?

Fellows will complete their projects between May and September 2026.

May 22: fellowship kick off meeting

June: group check-in 

July: group check-in

August: group check-in

August 31: deadline to complete the program

September 15: final report due

September 30: celebration gathering

Fellows are expected to attend five online gatherings to check in on their progress as well as six mentor meetings. Dates and times for program gatherings and mentor meetings will be finalized once the cohort is selected. We will do our best to accommodate everyone's needs, but scheduling a group of people requires flexibility from everyone involved. All gatherings are online.  f you are unable to commit to attending these gatherings, you should wait to apply for this fellowship until you are able to be available, as they are required for all fellows.

What types of support do fellows receive?

• $1,500 honorarium ($1,000 paid at the start of the fellowship, $500 after submitting final report)
• Connection with other people interested in community-focused work
• Cohort experience with other fellows through virtual meetings to develop networks and understanding across the state on topics such as program planning, partnering, marketing and recruitment, fundraising, etc. 
• Fellows will be matched with mentors who have experience in the types of projects the fellows are proposing. Mentors and fellows will meet throughout the fellowship to support fellows in project implementation, networking, and to serve as a sounding board for their projects.
• Additional possibilities: 
  • Support in finding venue and other logistical support.
  • Opportunity to host a version of the fellowship project in collaboration with Oregon Humanities.
  • Free tickets to Oregon Humanities events and reflective conversation training.
  • Opportunity to be published and/or featured in Oregon Humanities publications.

Questions?

If you have any questions, please contact programs@oregonhumanities.org. We look forward to reading your application!

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