Research Fellowships 2026

About the Open Call

Since 2014, The Image Centre (IMC) has offered research fellowships focused on its extensive photography collections. For the 2026-2027 cycle, five distinct fellowships are available: the Nadir Mohamed Postdoctoral Fellowship ($10,000 CAD), the Penny Rubinoff Fellowship ($5,000 CAD), the Elaine Ling Fellowship ($4,000 CAD), the Howard Tanenbaum Fellowship for Artistic Research ($4,000 CAD), and the Wendy Snyder MacNeil Research Fellowship ($2,500 CAD). These opportunities allow scholars and artists to engage with materials like the Black Star Collection and various photographer archives. Fellows are expected to be on-site in Toronto for durations ranging from one to twelve weeks.

What is Offered

Stipends ranging from $2,500 to $10,000 CAD intended to cover travel, research, and living expenses during the residency.

Requirements

Eligibility varies by fellowship: Nadir Mohamed (PhD holders), Penny Rubinoff (Master's holders/PhD students), Elaine Ling (Recent Master's or current students), Howard Tanenbaum (Independent artists/all education levels), and Wendy Snyder MacNeil (Undergraduate students/photo-based artists). Past winners must wait five years to reapply.

How to Apply

Applications must be emailed to imagecentre.research@torontomu.ca as a single PDF containing a 1,000-word project proposal, a CV, and a writing or portfolio sample. One letter of recommendation must be sent directly by a referee to the same email address by the deadline.