Open call: Bob Dylan Center Songwriter Fellowship

The initiative, rolled out in partnership with Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG), was announced today by BDC director Steven Jenkins and UMPG chief operating officer Marc Cimino.

The fellowship, to be awarded to two recipients annually, encompasses a $40 000 project stipend, public engagement and presentation opportunities, dedicated time in BDC’s Bob Dylan Archive to study Dylan’s creative process, roundtrip airfare to Tulsa, Oklahoma, and accommodations in the city, mentorship from UMPG songwriters and executives, and recording time in Tulsa’s historic The Church Studio.

In addition to being reviewed by BDC and UMPG executives, annual fellowship recipients will be selected by a global panel of renowned and esteemed artists, including French singer and songwriter Juliette Armanet, American acts Patty Griffin, John Mellencamp and Nas, as well as Mexican singer Carla Morrison.

“The Bob Dylan Center Songwriter Fellowship is core to our mission of educating, motivating and inspiring visitors to engage their own capacity as creators, and we cannot wait to hear the entries from undiscovered talent around the world,” Jenkins said. “We are grateful to continue our partnership with UMPG  – the world’s leading music publisher is already such a great supporter of the BDC  – and we know that this panel of extraordinary songwriters will select deserving fellows for our inaugural year.”

Cimino said: “This is an unprecedented opportunity to connect developing talent with the works of one of the greatest songwriters of all time. Beyond access to meaningful mentorship and special resources, the archives at the Bob Dylan Center are indescribable and I can only imagine how much creative inspiration they will draw. With the support of the fantastic BDC team and panel of world-class artists, we look forward to developing a new group of songwriters in this unique environment.”

To be eligible, entrants must be 18 years or older and unsigned to a publishing agreement of any kind at the time of the fellowship start date of 1 May 2024.

Interested creatives may apply here before 18 October. 

Further details on applying as well as complete rules and restrictions are available here.

View the original call here.