What's Happening?
The New York Public Library (NYPL) and the Random House Publishing Group have launched the Kate Medina Fellowship for Literary Narrative Nonfiction. This initiative aims to support writers working on projects
that utilize the extensive collections of NYPL’s Stephen A. Schwarzman Building. The fellowship is named after Kate Medina, a former executive at Random House, who retired last year. It offers fellows access to NYPL’s collections, a workspace at the Vartan Gregorian Center for Research in the Humanities, and opportunities to present their work. The fellowship is designed to foster a deeper understanding of the world through creative literary narrative nonfiction. Applications are open until June 15, with a $30,000 stipend provided for four months of research from September 2026 to March 2027.
Why It's Important?
This fellowship represents a significant investment in the future of narrative nonfiction, a genre that plays a crucial role in expanding public understanding of complex issues. By providing resources and access to NYPL’s vast collections, the fellowship supports writers in producing work that can influence public discourse and cultural understanding. The initiative also highlights the importance of preserving and utilizing historical archives in contemporary storytelling. For the literary community, this fellowship offers a unique opportunity to engage with primary sources, potentially leading to groundbreaking works that could shape future narratives in nonfiction literature.
What's Next?
The fellowship is expected to attract a diverse range of applicants, with projects that require access to original materials being prioritized. As the application deadline approaches, potential fellows will prepare proposals that demonstrate how they will utilize the NYPL’s resources. The selected fellow will begin their research in September 2026, contributing to the scholarly community at the Vartan Gregorian Center. The outcomes of this fellowship could lead to published works that enrich the literary landscape and provide new insights into historical and contemporary issues.
