South Beach's landmark design museum is calling on animators, filmmakers, sound artists, and other digital practitioners to spend two weeks immersed in one of the country's most distinctive cultural collections — and potentially walk away with a commissioned artwork.
The Wolfsonian–FIU, located in the heart of the Art Deco District in Miami Beach, is a museum, library, and research center that uses its collection to illustrate the persuasive power of art and design.
For the 2026–27 cycle of its Creative Fellowship program, the museum has centered its theme on Digital Practice, and the application deadline is May 31, 2026.
The fellowship is designed to bridge the gap between historical artifacts and contemporary creative work.
Boasting more than 200,000 objects, the museum's collection contains artifacts that transformed the world during the pivotal period of 1850 to 1950 — from mundane household objects to groundbreaking designs, game-changing propaganda posters to graphic design and much more.
This year's fellowship specifically invites creatives to explore how digital tools and platforms can activate that collection for contemporary audiences.
During a two-week residency at the Washington Avenue museum, fellows work closely with museum staff and Knight Labs researchers
to develop concepts for new work informed by their time in the collection.
Projects should engage with digital presentation formats such as LED walls, kiosks, or online platforms, and acceptable formats include animation, moving image, generative media, sound-based works, and experimental digital practices.
A notable incentive for applicants: the museum has left the door open to commission an original piece. As part of its broader commitment to supporting contemporary practice, the Wolfsonian may commission a fellow to realize an original digital artwork inspired by their research.
A key feature of the fellowship is the opportunity to propose digital artworks that may be selected for future commissioning. The fellowship is open to a wide range of disciplines.
Eligible applicants include artists, designers, performers, writers, filmmakers, musicians, and technologists who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents and can demonstrate a strong professional track record in creative practice.
All accepted fellows receive a stipend, round-trip travel, and accommodations if they are not local — along with full access to the collection and collections staff.
Past creative fellows offer a sense of the program's range. Recent recipients include Al'Ikens Plancher (Nueva Cubayiti: Design & Visual Culture) and Lauren Shapiro (Crownwork) for the current 2025–26 cycle, as well as L.M. Bogad (Orwell's War) and AdrienneRose Gionta (All Things Pink & Roses) in 2024–25.
The digital focus of this year's fellowship aligns with the museum's significant investment in technology-driven engagement.
With a gift of $2 million from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, The Wolfsonian opened a new chapter in its ongoing digital evolution — furthering its decade-long efforts to improve collection access, awareness, discovery, and storytelling through online and interactive platforms.
Separately, the museum announced a pause in its Research Fellowship program. The Wolfsonian will not be accepting research fellowship applications for the 2026–27 academic year while it assesses its goals and capacities as a research institution.
Since 1997, The Wolfsonian has been a division within Florida International University. Its research fellowship program has been running since 1995.
Prospective creative fellowship applicants are encouraged to email [email protected] before submitting. The application form is available on The Wolfsonian's fellowships page. The museum is located at 1001 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach, at the corner of 10th Street and Washington Avenue.
