Up To $23,000 Fellowships: American-Scandinavian Foundation

American-Scandinavian Foundation Fellowships support creative-arts and research projects across the Nordic region for periods of 1 to 12 months.

The American-Scandinavian Foundation Fellowships for Americans provide up to $23,000 for long-term projects and up to $5,000 for short-term projects in Denmark, Greenland, the Faroe Islands, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sápmi, and Sweden. The American-Scandinavian Foundation accepts applications from U.S. citizens and permanent residents pursuing research or creative-arts projects in the Nordic region. Awards are made in all fields, and the current application specifically includes creative arts among eligible project areas. Long-term projects run 4 to 12 months, while short-term projects run 1 to 3 months.

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American-Scandinavian Foundation Fellowships Snapshot

What: Fellowships for research or creative-arts projects in the Nordic region.
Who: U.S. citizens or permanent residents who have completed their undergraduate degree by the start of the project.
Where: Denmark, Greenland, Faroe Islands, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sápmi, and Sweden.
Award / Support: Long-term fellowships of up to $23,000 and short-term fellowships of up to $5,000.
Application Fee: FREE
Residency Duration: Long-term projects of 4-12 months or short-term projects of 1-3 months.
Deadline: November 1
Official Link: American-Scandinavian Foundation Fellowships for Americans
Strategy Coach Notes: https://www.patreon.com/pformart/posts/american-for-169053857

Get The Application Strategy

The ASF application requires a defined project, a clear reason for undertaking it in the Nordic region, and evidence that the applicant has established an appropriate local affiliation. The application includes a 150-word Project Abstract, a 1,500-word Project Statement, a project budget, three recommendations, a host-country Letter of Affiliation or Invitation, transcripts, and, when applicable, research ethics documentation. ASF states that a multidisciplinary panel reviews applications and that they should be accessible to non-experts. These requirements make project framing, geographic necessity, host relationships, duration, and budget alignment central components of the application. Join the network to access the Strategy Coach Notes for this opportunity.

About the American-Scandinavian Foundation Fellowships

The American-Scandinavian Foundation supports educational and cultural exchange between the United States and the Nordic countries. Its Fellowships for Americans program supports graduate students, academic professionals, independent scholars, and creative practitioners undertaking research or creative-arts projects in the Nordic region. ASF states that priority is given to candidates at the graduate level conducting dissertation-related research, while awards are made across all fields. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents and must have completed their undergraduate education by the time their proposed project begins.

The current fellowship system contains two project lengths. Long-term projects run 4-12 months and can receive up to $23,000. Short-term projects run 1-3 months and can receive up to $5,000. Projects should begin after April 15. Applicants are expected to devote full time to their proposed work and explain the amount of time required. Each applicant must arrange their own academic or professional affiliation in the Nordic region and submit confirmation from the institution or individuals named in the proposal.

What Is Offered

ASF identifies the following areas of support:

Long-term fellowships of up to $23,000
Short-term fellowships of up to $5,000

ASF states that awards may require supplementation from other sources. Applicants must notify ASF about additional award offers, and ASF funding should not duplicate benefits provided through another award.

Who Should Apply

The fellowship is open to U.S. citizens or permanent residents who will have completed an undergraduate degree before beginning their project. ASF describes the program as supporting graduate students, preferably those conducting dissertation research, and academic professionals pursuing research or creative-arts projects. Awards are made in all fields.

Team projects are eligible. Each team member must submit an individual, fully documented application. First priority is given to applicants who have not previously received an ASF award. Applicants may receive only two ASF awards during a ten-year period, with a third considered only in exceptional cases.

Artists considering an established residency program should examine the guidelines carefully. ASF states that it does not ordinarily support art residency programs. An applicant proposing a residency must explain why that residency is crucial to the work.

American-Scandinavian Foundation Fellowships Timeline

Application Deadline: November 1
Project Start: After April 15
Long-Term Project: 4-12 months
Short-Term Project: 1-3 months

Applicants planning work during July or August should also account for Nordic summer holidays. ASF specifically cautions that many people may be unavailable for consultation during these months.

Why TheAmerican-Scandinavian Foundation Fellowships Matter

Creative-arts projects are explicitly included in the ASF fellowship program, and the Foundation’s 2026-2027 Fellows demonstrate the range of artistic practices that have received support. Recent fellows include independent artists working in film, performing arts, visual arts, music, languages and literatures, and interdisciplinary creative projects. Host affiliations include Helsinki Litho, Artica Svalbard, Gothenburg University, the University of Iceland, and other Nordic institutions.

For contemporary performance artists, the fellowship can support an extended period of project-specific work tied to a Nordic location, institution, archive, artistic organization, or professional relationship. ASF requires applicants to establish that relationship themselves and explain why work in the Nordic region is essential to the proposed project. Recent awards to independent artists working across performing and visual arts confirm that creative practice can fit the program when the project and Nordic affiliation meet the fellowship structure.

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