Call for Applications: Mandel Cultural Leadership Program 2026-2028

A Community of Artists Shaping Jewish Futures

Actor Andrey Burkovskiy in The Dybbuk, directed by Igor Golyak. Image: Irina Danilova.

Call for Artists: Two-Year Fellowship

Submission Deadline: February 13, 2026, 11:59pm PT

The Cultural Leadership Program supports artists who are advancing the boundaries of culture and galvanizing action on a range of social issues through their work.

The two-year program fosters a rigorous learning community of artists who instigate work that is courageous, boundary-breaking, intellectually-curious, and rooted in the richness of Jewish history and culture. The fellowship includes:

• An intensive curriculum comprised of five in-person seminars, bi-monthly virtual meetings, and an individualized course plan to develop skills and knowledge.
• Dedicated work with an advisor to advance creative work or research.
• A $40,000 stipend over 2 years, which will support time in the fellowship’s educational program and independent work on a creative project.

Project Requirements

You do not need to have an existing project to develop in the fellowship. We expect that some fellows will have relevant, existing projects they want to advance through the fellowship. Others will have a clear idea for a new project they want to undertake or questions they believe can lead to the development of a new work. The application includes prompts that speak to these different starting points.

We understand that creative work has a long time horizon and that not all fellows will produce finished work by the end of the program. At the outset of the program, fellows will meet with the director to discuss goals for their project or a plan for developing new work, and how the fellowship can best support their progress.

Eligibility

Eligible candidates include, but are not limited to: musicians, visual artists, dancers, actors, writers, filmmakers, and multidisciplinary artists, as well as a range of cultural producers, such as designers, podcasters, and programmers. Candidates must currently live in the United States or Canada.

We are seeking fellows who have a body of artistic or cultural work that demonstrates a sustained level of commitment and accomplishment (e.g., it has been published, recorded, presented, distributed, or developed through public engagement). Depending on your discipline and professional path, this may mean that you are at a late-emerging or mid-career stage. Candidates should have 8+ years of generative practice.

We will seek fellows who value collaboration and boundary crossing, and whose personal experiences and creative voices represent the diversity of the Jewish people. We especially encourage candidates from underrepresented groups to apply, such as BIPOC, Mizrahi, Sephardi, LGBTQ+, individuals with disabilities, and others.

Netta Yerushalmy, Like Lithos, 2019. Image: Eryc Perez de Tagle & Jeremy Jacob.

Compensation

Fellows will receive a stipend of $20,000 per year of the fellowship ($40,000 total), which will be paid in semi-annual installments over the course of the two years.

Selection Process

The admissions process will unfold in two phases. Phase one will entail completing an application that includes short written/video responses, a resume, and two work samples. Applications are due February 13, 2026 and will be reviewed by members of a committee comprised of Mandel Institute faculty and accomplished professionals in the cultural sector.

The committee will then select a group of finalists who will be invited to continue to phase two of the process. We will aim to notify finalists, as well as those who do not advance to phase two, by the beginning of May 2026. Phase two will include an in-person interview, brief presentation, and submission of a reference form from a peer collaborator. Interviews will take place in Brookline, MA in June 2026.

Cara Levine, CARVE: THE MYSTIC IS NOURISHED FROM THIS SPHERE, Bass wood, plywood, mixed media, 2023. Image: Impart Photography, Max Gavrich.

Submission Requirements

Applicants must submit their application via Submittable. Incomplete or late submissions will not be considered. All materials should be clearly labeled and organized.

The application includes the following:

• Details about your creative practice and aspirations to help us understand the questions and strategies which animate your work
• CV/resume
• 2 work samples

Start your application for a complete list of submission requirements.

How to Submit

Please submit your application via our website.

Submission Deadline: February 13, 2026, 11:59pm PT

For additional information or questions, please contact:
Andrew Barnwell, Program Associate
abarnwell@mandelfoundation.org | 216.503.9431

Mandel Institute for Nonprofit Leadership
1 Harvard Street, Suite 301
Brookline, MA 02445
www.mandelinstitute.org
www.mandelfoundation.org

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Accessibility:
The Mandel Institute building is wheelchair accessible. The Institute strives to create a welcoming and inclusive environment for participants in all programs. Additional accessibility resources will be made available to applicants and fellows as needed. Please contact mandelinstitute@mandelfoundation.org for more information.