Chicago Residency Program

Short-term residencies (2 weeks-3 months) are intended for focused periods of engagement with a proposed project. They are best suited to applicants who have a clearly defined project or phase of work that would benefit from concentrated access to Seldon staff and its intellectual resources—for example, developing or presenting a workshop, exhibition, poetry manuscript, or collaborative project in Chicago.

Long-term residencies (1–2 years) are intended for projects that are piloted for sustained development and deeper engagement with a proposed project. Long-term residents are expected to collaborate actively with Seldon staff and to develop work over time through research, teaching, plotting, experimentation, and public engagement. 

Grants provide financial support for defined projects and do not usually require sustained and concentrated engagement with our staff or our broader programming. Grant-supported projects should result in a tangible outcome or meaningful benefit to a community or intended audience.

A residency is appropriate when the project would be materially strengthened through active engagement with our staff, Resident Scholars, programs, and community.

A grant is more appropriate when you have a clearly defined project that primarily requires financial support rather than ongoing institutional support. Grant-funded projects, however, should result in a tangible outcome—such as a documentary, exhibition, public program, publication, or other public-facing initiative—that aligns with our mission and benefits the broader community.

Residency applicants should be able to explain why their project could not be completed in substantially the same way through independent funding or a conventional grant.

Seldon grants support clearly defined projects that produce a tangible outcome on a practical understanding of Islam, and contribute to our mission, the community, or a broader public audience.

Examples may include educational programs and resources, exhibitions, documentary films, workshops, community-based initiatives, artistic or cultural projects, pilot programs, and other forms of applied research or public engagement that offer a nuanced and human-centered approach to Islamic art and intellectual traditions. 

Grant-funded projects should result in a tangible outcome—such as a documentary, exhibition, public program, publication, or other public-facing initiative—that contributes to our mission or benefits the broader community.

We do not offer dissertation-writing grants, conference or conference-travel grants, tuition support grants, or funding for stand-alone academic research, fieldwork, or research travel. Fieldwork or research may be supported when it is an integral part of a larger project that results in a clearly defined, tangible, and public-facing outcome.

Yes, but research should contribute to a broader project or outcome. Seldon prioritizes work that connects scholarly inquiry to practical application, experiential learning, public engagement, or meaningful dialogue.

A proposal focused exclusively on conducting research, without a clear plan for how that research will be translated into a program, resource, experience, or other tangible outcome, is generally not a strong fit.

Residencies are designed around active presence and piloting in Chicago. Applicants should explain how they will make substantive use of our staff, Resident Scholars, programs, and community during the residency.

We also offer remote residencies when the nature of the proposed work makes remote participation appropriate. Applicants proposing a remote residency should clearly explain how the remote format will support their project and, importantly, how their work will meaningfully contribute to and benefit Seldon and the broader community. The specific structure and expectations of a remote residency will be determined in consultation with our staff.

Residents are expected to contribute to the intellectual life and experience of their audience. Depending on the project and length of the residency, this may include offering seminars, workshops, exhibitions, discussions, collaborative initiatives, public programs, or other forms of engagement. 

Residencies are therefore not intended simply to provide time or funding for independent work.

Applicants should only apply to one category based on the opportunity that best matches the nature of their proposed project.

No. Seldon offers residency opportunities for scholars, entrepreneurs, creative writers, and artists whose work contributes to a more relevant and nuanced understanding of Islam and Muslim lived experiences.

Projects may be scholarly, artistic, educational, entrepreneurial, or interdisciplinary, but should demonstrate a clear connection to Seldon’s mission and intended audiences.

Residencies: Seldon residencies are open to U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and other individuals who are legally authorized to work in the United States for the duration of the residency. The Institute does not provide visa or immigration sponsorship and cannot obtain work authorization on behalf of residents.

No. Residents are engaged as independent contractors or consultants rather than employees of the Institute. As such, Seldon does not provide health insurance, workers’ compensation coverage, or other employee benefits as part of the residency.

Residents are responsible for arranging any health, travel, or other insurance coverage they may require during the residency period.