Call for Applications: 2025 JIAS Global Blackness Writing Fellowship (funded)
The Johannesburg Institute for Advanced Study (JIAS) has announced an open call for applications to its ninth Writing Fellowship program, scheduled to run from April 1 to June 30, 2025. This fellowship will focus on the theme of Global Blackness, a concept that encompasses the diversity of Black experiences, intellectual traditions, and theoretical frameworks across various geographies and timeframes.
The fellowship seeks applications from established scholars, creative practitioners, and thought leaders, with a preference for those based in or aligned with Global South contexts. Applicants are required to present a clear motivation and outline a specific writing or creative project to pursue during the residency. JIAS welcomes interdisciplinary, exploratory, and collective projects and encourages proposals that highlight the significance of Johannesburg and JIAS as the ideal location for nurturing these endeavors.
Program Highlights
JIAS offers Writing Fellows the following support:
- Economy class round-trip airfare to Johannesburg.
- Private accommodation at JIAS.
- Weekday breakfasts and lunches.
- A taxable monthly stipend totaling ZAR 90,000 over three months.
- Monthly enrichment activities.
- Access to University of Johannesburg facilities.
This program provides an immersive environment for experimental research and creative production, free from the usual constraints of academic life, such as teaching and administrative duties. Fellows are encouraged to limit external commitments to maximize focus on their projects.
Eligibility
- Applicants with a PhD must demonstrate engagement through publications or research projects.
- Creative practitioners without a PhD must have a strong record of exhibitions, projects, or interdisciplinary research.
- Preference may be given to candidates from Global South contexts and women or gender-diverse individuals of color.
Application Process
Applicants should submit the following documents as PDFs to [email protected] with the subject line: “2025 Writing Fellowship Application [Your Full Name].”
- CV, bio, and headshot (optional inclusion of links to relevant resources).
- A 250-word motivation outlining the relevance of Johannesburg and JIAS to the project.
- A 1,000-word project outline, including synopsis, abstract, or artist’s statement as applicable, with optional images or links.
Application Deadline: January 4, 2025 (Midnight SAST).
Long-listed applicants will be interviewed virtually in early February 2025.
Additional Opportunities at JIAS
- Postdoctoral Fellowships: Available for recently graduated doctoral scholars, with applications for 2026 to be announced.
- Upcoming Programs: In 2025, JIAS will introduce Global Blackness Research Fellows and the Digital Justice Invention Lab, furthering the Institute’s mission to foster innovation in research and creative work.
JIAS remains committed to enhancing opportunities for experimental scholarship in the Global South through a wide range of fellowship programs and interdisciplinary initiatives.
