Civic Arts & Tech Fellowship 2026 Opens Applications for Emerging Creators, Researchers and Community Leaders
The Civic Arts & Tech Fellowship – Fall 2026 is inviting applications from emerging creators, artists, technologists, organizers, researchers, students and community leaders interested in exploring the intersection of art, technology, civic engagement, policy and social impact.
Organised by Intersectional Innovation and Impact Labs (III Labs), the fellowship offers participants the opportunity to develop an interdisciplinary project while receiving mentorship, professional development and opportunities to connect with professionals across government, technology, arts, education and advocacy.
The fellowship is primarily remote, with applicants able to participate from anywhere in the world.
About the Civic Arts & Tech Fellowship
The programme is designed around a central question: What becomes possible when art, science, technology, policy and community leadership are brought together?
Rather than requiring fellows to follow a traditional academic or professional pathway, III Labs encourages participants to explore ideas that cross disciplines and respond to issues affecting their communities.
Fellows can develop a wide variety of projects, including:
- Interdisciplinary research
- Technology concepts
- Public campaigns
- Performances
- Art and cultural projects
- Community initiatives
- Public experiences
- Social-impact ideas
- Projects involving AI and digital rights
Participants are encouraged to connect their personal experiences, professional interests and community knowledge with broader social challenges.
Fellowship Dates and Deadline
The structured fellowship is scheduled to run from September 7 through November 23, 2026, with some flexibility depending on the fellow and project.
The application deadline is August 23, 2026.
The Idealist listing also identifies September 7, 2026 as the start date and November 30, 2026 as an end date, so applicants should review the programme’s application information carefully for the final schedule.
The fellowship requires approximately 3–4 hours per week for participants following the structured pathway.
Three Participation Pathways
Applicants may be considered for one of three participation options, depending on their goals, availability and interests.
1. Stipended Fellowship
The stipended pathway is designed for participants seeking structured involvement throughout the programme.
Benefits include:
- Approximately 3–4 hours per week
- $500 fellowship stipend
- Structured participation from September 7 through November 23
- Independent or collaborative project development
- Opportunity to contribute to the November 6 City Hall production
- Mentorship and professional development
- Lectures and industry introductions
This option could be particularly useful for emerging professionals who want to build a project while gaining professional experience and connections.
2. Academic-Credit Fellowship
The academic-credit pathway is intended for students completing an internship, independent study, practicum or another activity for academic credit.
Participants generally contribute around 3–4 hours per week, although arrangements may vary according to institutional requirements.
III Labs can work with fellows and their educational institutions where documentation or supervision is required.
Because this pathway is completed for academic credit, a stipend is not available.
Students interested in this option should confirm their institution’s requirements before applying.
3. Flexible Production Fellowship
The flexible production pathway does not have a fixed weekly time commitment.
It is designed for people who specifically want to contribute to the November 6, 2026 City Hall production or support III Labs’ broader mission without undertaking the full structured fellowship.
Participants can contribute according to their interests and availability while receiving opportunities for mentorship, selected lectures, professional development, portfolio building and industry introductions.
Areas Fellows Can Explore
The fellowship welcomes ideas across a broad range of fields.
Potential areas include:
- Arts, culture and storytelling
- Technology and artificial intelligence
- Digital rights
- Civic engagement
- Public policy
- LGBTQ+ and immigrant justice
- Economic and class justice
- Gender justice
- Disability and accessibility
- Community organising
- Public health
- Education
- Research
- Social impact
Applicants do not need to fit into a single category. In fact, the programme specifically encourages interdisciplinary thinking.
Opportunity to Contribute to a City Hall Production
A major component of the fellowship is the opportunity to help shape a public production at Boston City Hall on November 6, 2026.
The production will explore how art, culture, technology and civic imagination can contribute to issues including class and gender justice, belonging and unity across differences.
This provides fellows with an opportunity to connect their individual ideas to a larger public-facing initiative.
For participants building creative, research or social-impact portfolios, contributing to a public production could also provide valuable practical experience.
What Fellows Receive
Depending on the selected pathway, fellows may receive a range of professional and developmental benefits.
These include:
- Mentorship from III Labs
- Guidance in developing an individual or collaborative project
- Professional-development sessions
- Lectures across technology, arts, civic leadership and social impact
- Industry introductions
- Networking opportunities
- Portfolio-building experience
- Public recognition
- A professional reference or recommendation after successful completion
- Support for academic or independent-study credit where applicable
- Primarily remote participation
The programme also aims to connect fellows with experienced professionals whose backgrounds align with their interests and career goals.
Who Should Apply?
The fellowship is aimed at curious and motivated emerging professionals who want to work across disciplines.
Potential applicants include:
- Artists and creators
- Students
- Researchers
- Technologists
- Community organisers
- Emerging civic leaders
- Social-impact professionals
- Individuals developing innovative community ideas
Traditional academic credentials are not required. III Labs states that it values lived experience, imagination, community knowledge, curiosity and demonstrated commitment.
The organisation particularly encourages applications from groups that have historically been underrepresented in civic, technological and cultural decision-making.
How to Apply
Interested applicants should complete the application by August 23, 2026.
The application requires candidates to provide information about themselves, their experience and what they would bring to the fellowship. Applicants are also asked what they would add to the public production at City Hall and which participation pathway or pathways they are interested in.
Applicants may also submit a resume in PDF format, a portfolio link and a cover letter.
For questions about the fellowship, applicants can contact:
The fellowship is listed as remote and open to applicants from anywhere in the world, with Boston, Massachusetts identified as the associated location.
Final Thoughts
The Civic Arts & Tech Fellowship 2026 offers an unusual opportunity for emerging professionals to combine creativity, technology, research and civic engagement.
Its flexible structure means participants can pursue a project that reflects their interests while receiving mentorship and professional-development opportunities. The $500 stipended pathway, academic-credit option and flexible production pathway also give applicants different ways to participate.
For students, artists, researchers, technologists and community leaders interested in AI, civic innovation, social justice, digital rights, arts, policy or community impact, this fellowship could be a valuable opportunity to develop an idea, expand a professional network and gain experience turning interdisciplinary concepts into tangible projects.
Application Deadline: August 23, 2026
Location: Remote – Worldwide
Stipend: $500 for the stipended pathway
Commitment: Approximately 3–4 hours per week
Questions: Burhan@iiiLabs.org
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Disclaimer: Remote Job Opportunities (RJO) is not the organization offering this opportunity. For any inquiries, please contact the responsible organization directly. Please do not send your applications to RJO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.
