Our Residents Are:
- Leaders in their fields with a proven track record of professional accomplishment, who may be either very well-known in their fields or clearly up-and-coming
- Forward-looking, with a history of advancing breakthrough ideas or actions that have had tremendous impact
- Committed to the Foundation’s mission to “make opportunity universal and sustainable” through their work and create positive change at local, national or global scales
- Curious, collegial, and collaborative—open to giving and receiving input and feedback from a diverse group of fellow residents
- Excited to remain active in the Bellagio Center network after the residency
Program Offering:
- Up to four weeks at The Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Center in Bellagio Italy, Lake Como
- Room and board with a private studio for working
- A shared community of up to 15 scholars, artists or practitioners coming from all over the world
- Residents can bring a partner/significant other to join the residency for all or a portion of their stay
- Travel funding is available when there is financial need
- Future participation in an international network of Bellagio Center leaders, united in the shared purpose of creating a better world
Bellagio Center Residencies
The Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Center encourages diversity in both the people welcomed into the community and the range of projects they work on. Examples of previous residents and their projects include leaders of nonprofit organizations rethinking organizational strategy; academics producing scholarly work to advance a body of research; and artists (musicians, filmmakers, visual artists, performance-based artists, etc.) creating new works of art. We believe that creating a diverse community of people and ideas promotes equity and inclusion and fosters opportunities for innovative thinking.
Bellagio residency projects address a wide array of topics, fields, and issues. The commonality across projects is a commitment to social impact aligned with the Foundation’s mission to “make opportunity universal and sustainable.” We look for projects that challenge established norms and approaches and have the potential for breakthrough impact at significant local, national, or global scale.
Bellagio residents are selected through two channels: 1.) a nominations process, and 2.) an annual open call for applications. In both cases, individuals must submit an application and go through a competitive review process.
In 2024, in addition to our General Open Call for applications on any topic, we will be prioritizing three themes: Reinventing Capitalism, Promoting Well-being, and Addressing Climate Change. These themes reflect our commitment to drive action in The Rockefeller Foundation’s priority areas and develop a powerful network of truly groundbreaking people and ideas. Applications for the 2024 residency are now closed but you can learn more about each offering below.
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General Open Call
The General Open Call Residency is for all practitioners, academics and artists working in any discipline or area of study. Projects can be based on any topic but must demonstrate clear social impact and charitable purpose. -
Reinventing Capitalism
Seeking applicants who are reimagining economic systems, improving development finance practices and innovating on the basic tenets of our global economy, to build a more just, equitable and sustainable world. -
Promoting Well-being
Seeking applicants who are working to reorient social, political, and economic systems which seek to balance economic growth and consumption as a means to a diverse set of more important ends such as community, safety, nature, creativity and freedom. -
Addressing Climate Change
Seeking applicants who are forging pathways to mitigate and adapt to the worst effects of climate change.
The Bellagio Fellowship marked a turning point in my thinking and subsequent work. I left Bellagio convinced that a new direction was needed and a sense of where to begin.
Rosanne HaggertyResident Center Fellow, 2008I came to Bellagio to focus on new methods in drug design. The marvelous place, the view, the proficiency of staff and the companionship of other residents was truly inspirational.
Péter CsermelyBellagio Center Resident, 2012My Bellagio project was a book about the school I founded for girls from very poor slums in UP, India. I spent the residency writing out a very rough first draft of the entire book. I had a very productive time at Bellagio and have accomplished more than I had hoped for.
Urvashi SahniBellagio Center Resident, 2015The residency at Bellagio was truly transformative, including the time to write, think and plan for my next productions on global violence against women; and in terms of the people I met while there, including many with whom I am still in contact.
Suzanne LacyBellagio Center Resident, 2016