The Stavros Niarchos Foundation Agora Institute at Johns Hopkins University is now accepting applications for its 2025–26 visiting fellows program. The fellowship provides individuals from diverse backgrounds—including civic leaders, policymakers, technologists, artists, and academics—a chance to collaborate with SNF Agora’s vibrant community of faculty, students, and researchers to develop bold projects that strengthen democracy at a time when it faces significant challenges around the world.
Fellows receive a stipend of up to $25,000 to support their projects and actively engage with the Johns Hopkins and wider Baltimore communities through workshops, communities of practice, and other programs. Past fellows have tackled pressing issues like combating disinformation, fostering civic-minded engineers and technologists, and supporting the diaspora in promoting elections and civil rights in their homeland, turning their visions into real-world impact. Their work demonstrates how collaboration and creativity can fuel meaningful change, providing a strong foundation for future fellows.
For the 2025–26 cycle, SNF Agora will introduce two focus areas alongside its general call for proposals, reflecting its dedication to addressing evolving societal needs:
- AI for the Public Good: Artificial intelligence is reshaping the world, offering both challenges and opportunities. This year, the institute invites proposals that explore how AI can strengthen urban communities, enhance governance, and promote inclusive economic growth. This focus area is for those who want to ensure AI development aligns with principles of equity and accountability. Projects might explore how AI can improve public services and bolster civic engagement.
- Modernizing Civics Education at the University Level: In today’s rapidly changing world, civics education must adapt to prepare students for the complexities of modern democracy. This focus area seeks fellows who will reimagine civics education to better equip university students with the skills and commitment necessary for active citizenship. Civic educators, nonprofit leaders, researchers, and artists are encouraged to propose projects that create innovative curricula, interactive teaching methods, or programs that meaningfully engage students.
While these focus areas highlight specific opportunities, the program remains open to proposals on other critical democracy-related issues. Applicants working on topics outside these themes are encouraged to align their projects with the institute’s existing scholarship, which spans civic education, political polarization, the role of technology, and more.
New to the program this year is the artist in residence to integrate creative expression into SNF Agora’s mission. Working alongside the broader visiting fellows cohort, the artist in residence will bring a unique perspective to democratic challenges, using their craft to foster dialogue and civic engagement. This new initiative underscores the institute’s belief in the transformative power of the arts to inspire and connect.
The application period for the 2025–26 visiting fellows program is open through March 5. To learn more about the fellowship or to apply, visit the SNF Agora visiting fellows webpage.