Currently 12 active writing and translation grants, fellowships and residencies open to applicants in Worldwide. Hand-curated and updated weekly. Almost every entry is funded; a few notable unpaid open calls and festival submissions are included as clearly flagged exceptions. Browse the list below, or use the interactive desk for filtering and shortlisting.
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Annual essay competition from the Berggruen Institute, a companion to the Berggruen Prize for Philosophy & Culture, seeking new thinking and cross-cultural perspectives on fundamental philosophical questions of significance for contemporary life and the future. It looks for essays in the tradition of Rousseau, Montaigne, and Emerson (models cited include Frankfurt, Nagel, Sontag, Fukuyama, and recent Noema pieces), not peer-reviewed academic work: novel ideas, clearly argued in compelling ways for intellectually serious readers. THEME for 2026: 'A New Axial Age?' Referencing Karl Jaspers's Axial Age (c. 800-200 BCE), the prompt asks whether civilisation is again at a 'hinge of history' undergoing a pivotal transformation of consciousness driven by rapid technological change and its social, economic, and political consequences. Suggested (non-exhaustive) angles: the foundational ideas and institutions underpinning present and future societies; the philosophical implications of the current era; the future of human evolution and life amid the ecological crisis; shared conceptual foundations for a common future; global transformation driven by technology and the rise of AI; the end of the global order and its ramifications; and the future of life amid biotechnology and synthetic life. Entrants may choose their own topic; for 2026 creative fiction is accepted. ELIGIBILITY: open to the public; not for academic papers and not governed by academic disciplinary standards or affiliations. Length up to 10,000 words in English or 15,000 characters in Chinese (excluding diagrams, tables, endnotes, bibliography, or authorship declaration). One submission per year per entrant, in either English or Chinese; co-authorship allowed. Submissions must be original and previously unpublished. AI USAGE: generative AI must not be used to create content or substitute original thought, and entrants must engage primary sources rather than AI summaries; AI is permitted only for proofreading/grammar, as quoted supporting material when AI itself is the subject of the research, or for translating an essay into English or Chinese, and all AI use (including AI-assisted translation) must be disclosed on the front page or the entry is disqualified. JUDGING: originality, clarity, and style. Essays are due by 23:59 PT on 17 August 2026; PDF only. Chinese-language submissions use a separate page. Inquiries to essay@berggruen.org.
The Sundance Institute Episodic Program is an entry point for emerging to mid-career writers and creators working across all scripted series platforms, combining a lab experience with customised support to move projects and careers forward. The Episodic Lab lets writers workshop an original pilot and develop their writing and pitching skills: working with showrunners, producers and executives, fellows take part in one-on-one story meetings, pitching sessions, craft workshops and writers rooms. Up to ten applicants are selected, either for the in-person Lab (preceded by virtual workshops) or for a fully virtual Intensive with a creative advisor. ELIGIBILITY: applicants must be 18 or older; the script must be the applicant's original creation or adapted from optioned source material and written in English; the draft must be revised or new, not already produced, not sold to a third party and not distributed online; and applicants cannot have previously had an episodic project (pilot or pitch) produced by a studio or network. Open to international and U.S. participants, subject to travel guidelines. Up to two writers per project may participate, with one named as primary applicant. APPLICATION: submitted via FilmFreeway, including writer bios (250 words each), a series logline (50 words), pilot synopsis (500 words), one-page series overview (500 words), personal statement (250 words), community connection, thematic statement (250 words), characters and core relationships (250 words), episodic vision, optional video samples (up to three links, 10 minutes total), and the full pilot script as a PDF in standard screenplay format. Demographic questions are optional and do not affect consideration. Candidates may submit up to three applications, with a separate application and USD 50 fee for each project. Submissions opened 13 July 2026 and close 25 August 2026 at 6:00 p.m. PT. Finalists are notified by email through FilmFreeway around mid to late March 2027 (FilmFreeway lists 31 March 2027), and the list of selected writers and projects is published at sundance.org/epi after 15 April 2027. Finalists must return a Fellow Agreement, a Participation Agreement and any other required documents within five days. Questions: episodicprogram@sundance.org.
The OIF Support for Artist Mobility and Circulation of Cultural Goods programme provides grants of up to EUR 5,000 for mobility (travel, accommodation, visa fees, logistics) and up to EUR 2,500 for circulation of cultural goods (excess baggage, freight, customs) within the Francophone zone; both can be combined. ELIGIBILITY: professional artists and established artistic collectives with a demonstrated connection to the Francophone space (by nationality, working language, or artistic collaborations), residing in an OIF member state, with minimum 2 years of experience in the cultural or artistic sector; must directly manage the project (not act as intermediaries); one application per individual per call. ELIGIBLE DISCIPLINES: live performance (music, theatre, dance, comedy, storytelling), cinema/audiovisual, literature/publishing, and visual arts. PRIORITY given to projects promoting gender equality, women artists, creators under 35, and South-South mobility. Projects must take place between 25 March and 30 November 2026. Multiple selection sessions throughout the year; call open until 31 August 2026. Information webinars: 11 March, 13 May, and 8 July 2026 at 3 PM Paris time. Contact: culture.dlc@francophonie.org. Apply at https://appelsaprojets.francophonie.org/fr/applications/soutien-a-la-circulation-des-biens-et-mobilite-des-artistes.
Pro Helvetia's international promotion grant (institutions outside Switzerland variant) supports organizations abroad promoting contemporary Swiss literary works and authors at book fairs, festivals, and events (analogue, digital, or hybrid). Open to event organizers, publishing houses, professional associations, or digital platforms based outside Switzerland; no Swiss residency or nationality is required, but projects must feature Swiss books, authors, or translators together with Swiss partner organizations. AMOUNT: maximum CHF 25,000. Deadlines twice a year: 1 March (23:59 CET) and 1 September (23:59 CEST). Apply via the Pro Helvetia portal.
The one Sloan program that funds individuals directly: grants for authors researching and writing nonfiction books that bring science and technology to a general audience. Over 200 authors supported since 1996. Favoured topics include elucidating confusing or controversial scientific subjects, profiles of figures in science and technology, science-technology-art connections, women and science, and the culture and philosophy of science. Start with a letter of inquiry to program director Doron Weber; full proposals are by invitation only. Reviewed three times a year: LOIs by 1 September (decision by 15 February), 1 January (by 31 May) and 1 May (by 31 October). No application fee.
The Paul Mellon Centre funds scholarship and dissemination in British art, visual culture and architectural history, from the medieval period to the present and across the relevant geographical and cultural contexts. This is the Autumn 2026 round, the first under the Centre's restructured funding scheme announced earlier in 2026, and all grants in the round close together on Monday 14 September 2026 at 23:59 BST. ELIGIBILITY: the Centre's funding is open to INTERNATIONAL applicants, not just UK-based ones (the exceptions are the MA/MPhil Studentship and Doctoral Scholarship, which are not part of this round). Every applicant must show how the award advances their research on British art, visual culture and/or architecture. SUPPORT: general application guidance, an updated FAQ and the Our Funding Focus page set out what the Centre looks for, and there are writeups of previously successful projects. The grants team will take specific questions or arrange a call at grants@paul-mellon-centre.ac.uk. No application fee. THIS GRANT: up to GBP 6,000 for INDIVIDUALS disseminating research on British art through publication, covering monographs, edited collections, catalogues and articles. It funds the practical side of publishing, image copyright fees being the example the Centre gives. This is the one grant in the Autumn round aimed at individual authors rather than organisations.
Third annual cycle of Printed Matter's Publisher Work Grant, supported by Wagner Foundation. Three unrestricted grants of $10,000 go to independent artists' book publishers, acknowledging past work and providing capacity-building funds for future book projects and publisher sustainability. ELIGIBILITY: independent imprints with an 'independent spirit,' generally small in scale, with a publishing history of one or more years and one or more titles per year, currently active with future titles in the works; open to publishers based anywhere (international presses encouraged). NOT for individual artists seeking to publish their own work, nor for commercial presses that exclusively publish client work; more established, well-funded, or institutionally supported publishers may be deprioritised. Funds are unrestricted (production, artists' fees, equipment, studio costs, rent, etc.). Applications reviewed by Printed Matter and a guest jury based on the imprint's body of work, upcoming projects, and potential impact. Selected presses also receive a highlighted presence at a 2026 Printed Matter Art Book Fair (travel and accommodation are the grantee's responsibility). Deadline: Sunday 4 October 2026, 11:59PM EST.
Extra Teeth is a Scottish literary magazine with an international outlook, paying for fiction and nonfiction. Submissions are currently open. No theme is set per issue; send your best work on any topic. Pieces should be 800 to 4,000 words, previously unpublished, submitted as a Word document (standard font, size 12, double line spacing) titled with 'F' for fiction or 'NF' for nonfiction followed by your name, plus a title sheet (name, address, word count, bio under 100 words); cover letters are not required. Send one piece only per submission period to submissions@extrateeth.co.uk with 'SHORT STORY: TITLE' or 'ESSAY: TITLE' in the subject line; secondary submissions are deleted. Copyright remains with the author. Work in translation is accepted with the necessary permissions. The magazine does not currently publish poetry, scripts or artwork (aside from its guest illustrator). PAYMENT: GBP 200 per piece for the magazine plus two contributor copies; four pieces are also chosen for the With Bite Substack at GBP 150 each. AI POLICY: no AI-written work is published or considered. ILLUSTRATORS: one guest illustrator is commissioned per issue (paid GBP 943.90); send work to hello@extrateeth.co.uk with 'ILLUSTRATOR' in the subject line; marginalised illustrators especially encouraged. Allow eight weeks after the submission period before querying. Check the submissions page for current open periods.
Online literary magazine paying for original creative nonfiction (essays and flash), open year-round with no submission fee. Useful, low-barrier way for an emerging writer to publish a standalone critical/creative-nonfiction piece and build a publication record toward a book. ELIGIBILITY: open to any emerging or established author; submissions accepted from international writers. Creative categories are open on a rolling basis year-round.
Contemporary art magazine commissioning paid art writing and criticism, with pitches accepted on an ongoing basis (online reviews/pitches continuous; themed print issues have set deadlines, e.g. the Spring issue around 15 September 2026). A direct paid outlet for criticism on digital, new-media and AI art. ELIGIBILITY: writers at all experience levels are invited; not restricted to Canada. Mostly pitch-based, with short online reviews accepted unsolicited.
The Rory Peck Trust's Crisis Fund gives direct financial assistance to freelance news journalists whose work has put them in crisis: physical attack, urgent medical costs, replacement of confiscated or destroyed equipment, forced relocation, or support for the family of a journalist who has been injured, imprisoned, kidnapped or killed. This is one of the few funds built specifically for freelancers working in conflict and high-risk environments, who are usually outside any staff safety net. ELIGIBILITY: professional freelance journalists in news and current affairs whose sole income comes from journalism, who have been working freelance for at least the last 12 months and can provide reference letters from editors, who have no access to other financial or government support and no contractual benefits such as sick pay or social security. The crisis must have happened within the last six months and must be evidenced (invoices, bank statements). Anyone who received Rory Peck Trust support in the last three years is ineligible. The Trust also runs a separate Therapy Fund and a HEFAT safety-training fund. Applications are rolling, in English, French, Arabic, Spanish, Ukrainian or Russian. Contact assistance@rorypecktrust.org or info@rorypecktrust.org.
Rest of World is in the third year of its Labor x Tech program, underwritten by the Ford Foundation, commissioning reported stories on the changing nature of work at a moment of upheaval: AI tools and robotics reshaping professions at every rung of society, from self-driving cars replacing drivers to humanoid robots working alongside nurses; lay-offs across the tech industry; and the gig work model continuing to reshape traditional employment. The programme's premise is that this moment needs documenting now, in stories that help prepare society for what comes next. WHAT THEY COMMISSION: reported stories of 800 to 1,000 words from around the world on this beat, at a fee of USD 1,000 per story. WHAT THEY ARE LOOKING FOR, based on previous years: how new technology is transforming existing industries in unique ways and creating unexpected new pockets of employment; how technology is leading to significant job gain, job loss, and government responses to those trends; whether large demographic shifts are following the adoption of new technology or the arrival of new industries; how workplace technology is changing workplace dynamics; how new industries and tools are changing workers' incomes; and the expansion of the gig work model alongside the threats of automation. EXAMPLES of the kind of story they hope to commission, all previously published by Rest of World: workers in Chinese data factories teaching humanoid robots boring tasks; entry-level tech workers describing the AI-fuelled jobpocalypse; Microsoft and Google claiming their data centres create thousands of jobs while their permit filings say otherwise; AI helping judges close cases quickly and lawyers open them quickly; tech workers fuelling a mini baby boom in Taiwan's Silicon Valley; Dubai's robotaxi ambitions coming for human drivers; and the job brokers who run the lives of the migrant workers staffing Taiwan's chip plants. ELIGIBILITY NOTE: the programme is unable to commission reporting in India or from writers based in India for this series. HOW TO PITCH: send 2 to 3 paragraphs laying out the nutgraf of the proposal and explaining how the pitch fits the editorial mission of the programme. Indicate what sources will be used, whether any pre-reporting has been completed, what reporting has already been done on the topic at other outlets, and what the story contributes to the discourse. Pitches go to laborxtech@restofworld.org. Pitching is open on a rolling basis; no closing date is stated.