Most fellowships target a narrow group. A specific discipline. A specific career stage. A specific type of output.
The Jack and Doris Shadbolt Fellowship in the Humanities at Simon Fraser University takes a wider approach. Artists qualify. Writers qualify. Knowledge keepers qualify. Academic researchers qualify. Creative practitioners and public humanities scholars also qualify. People working across disciplines that do not fit a single category can apply as well.
The funding reaches up to C$75000 for a full academic year. Applications are open now. The deadline is 23 October 2026.
An online information session takes place on 21 September 2026.
At a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Fellowship | Jack and Doris Shadbolt Fellowship in the Humanities |
| University | Simon Fraser University SFU Canada |
| Location | Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada |
| Duration | 1 to 3 academic terms up to 1 full year |
| Stipend | C$25000 per term |
| Maximum funding | C$75000 for full academic year |
| Appointments | September to August for full year |
| Renewable | No, normally non renewable |
| Info session | 21 September 2026 |
| Application deadline | 23 October 2026 |
| Contact | shadbolt_fellows@sfu.ca |
What This Fellowship Is
Simon Fraser University’s Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences launched the Shadbolt Fellowship in 2019. Each year the program supports up to five fellows across humanities and arts disciplines.
The fellowship honors Jack and Doris Shadbolt. They saw artistic and scholarly work as connected to the social and cultural environments people live in. That view shapes eligibility and expectations.
This is not a traditional research grant tied only to journal articles. The program supports research, artistic creation, performance, writing, knowledge sharing, community engagement and public outreach. Fellows work within an SFU academic unit. They may also hold a secondary affiliation with another faculty the university library or a non academic unit.
The fellowship sits at the meeting point of scholarship, creativity and public life. For practitioners whose work does not fit conventional academic categories, this is the point.
The Funding Structure
Stipend payments arrive in two week instalments throughout the appointment.
The structure is simple:
- One term four months: C$25000
- Two terms eight months: C$50000
- Three terms full academic year: C$75000
The stipend does not include benefits. Full year appointments run from September through August.
Shadbolt Fellow positions are normally non renewable. This is a one time opportunity. Scope your project with that in mind.
Who Should Apply
The fellowship encourages applications from a wide range of practitioners. Eligible applicants include:
- Academic scholars at any career stage
- Artists and creative practitioners
- Writers
- Knowledge keepers
- Researchers working across disciplines
- Public humanities practitioners
- Individuals combining creative practice with critical inquiry
What connects these profiles is orientation. The program suits people whose work engages with social, cultural and contemporary concerns and reaches beyond a single academic audience.
Projects built around reconciliation, equity, diversity, inclusion, collaboration and public communication align well with the fellowship values. Applicants who show how their work connects with communities, institutions or public conversations find the strongest match.
Emerging practitioners are as eligible as established ones. The fellowship does not require a specific degree, number of publications or years of experience.
The 21 September Information Session
Attend the online Q and A session before you spend hours on an application.
Date: 21 September 2026
Time: 3:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Format: Online via Zoom
This session helps clarify eligibility. Coordinators explain what selection panels look for and cover practical details. Attending also shows engagement with the program.
If you cannot attend than contact the fellowship team at shadbolt_fellows@sfu.ca with questions before you submit.
Life as a Shadbolt Fellow at SFU
Fellows are hosted by an academic unit within the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. The residency creates interaction between fellows students and faculty.
During the appointment, fellows contribute through teaching, research, artistic creation and community engagement depending on their project and background.
Two commitments apply to every fellow:
- At least one public lecture performance or community outreach event connected to their fellowship project
- Availability for occasional informal consultations with students and faculty
The public engagement requirement reflects the belief that humanities and arts work should reach beyond academic walls. Applicants whose practice already involves public facing work will find this natural. SFU provides support for those less experienced with public programming.
Burnaby, British Columbia, is the host location. SFU’s main campus sits on Burnaby Mountain near Vancouver and its cultural institutions arts communities and public spaces.
Building a Strong Application
- Broad eligibility can make the application harder. When many people in the humanities and arts can apply the pressure falls on the proposal.
- A strong Shadbolt application does three things clearly:
- First it states what the project is. Describe concretely what will be researched, created, written or performed during the residency.
- Second it explains why the project matters. The panel looks for work that connects with social, cultural and contemporary concerns.
- Third, it shows how the fellow will engage with students, faculty and the wider SFU and public community. Make the collaboration and outreach plans specific.
- Proposals that read as generic grant applications from other competitions rarely perform well. Speak to the fellowship’s character, including SFU’s commitments to reconciliation and equity.
- Start preparing now. 23 October is closer than it feels. A proposal worth C$75000 deserves careful attention.
Official Link
Key Takeaways
- The SFU Shadbolt Fellowship offers up to C$75000 for a full academic year three terms at C$25000 each paid in two week instalments
- Applications are open now. Deadline is 23 October 2026
- An online information session runs on 21 September 2026 from 3 to 4 p.m. via Zoom. Attend before applying
- Eligible applicants include artists writers knowledge keepers academic researchers creative practitioners and public humanities practitioners. No specific degree or publication record is required
- Fellows are hosted by SFU’s Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences in Burnaby British Columbia with possible secondary affiliation across other university units
- Every fellow must deliver at least one public lecture performance or community outreach event during their residency
- Appointments are normally non renewable
- Projects aligned with reconciliation equity diversity inclusion collaboration and public engagement are a strong match
- Contact: shadbolt_fellows@sfu.ca