Greece-Iceland Joint Award for Arts and Design
Multi-Country
Greece
Iceland
Multi-country
Number of recipients
In addition to being a prestigious academic exchange program, the Fulbright Program is designed to expand and strengthen relationships between the people of the United States and citizens of other nations and to promote international understanding and cooperation. To support this mission, Fulbright Scholars may be asked to give public talks, mentor students, and otherwise engage with the host community, in addition to their primary activities.
This is an opportunity for creative individuals to gain inspiration from both the Arctic and the Mediterranean, creating and showcasing their art in both Greece and Iceland. The grant is open to all fields of art and design. Applications are welcome from visual artists, writers, poets, dancers, filmmakers, photographers, designers, musicians and other artists. Grantees will be expected to show their work or publish, depending on the field.
This award calls for established artists who have produced a substantial body of work that has achieved local and/or international recognition. Project proposals will be judged on recognized professional standing, portfolios (if applicable) and professional accomplishments. A Ph.D. or MFA are not required for this award. However, candidates with a terminal degree and considerable teaching experience are strongly encouraged to apply, as grantees will need to teach and/or mentor university level students in some capacity during the grant period.
Affiliation with any university, research organization, or other appropriate partners in Iceland and Greece.
The grant is for a total of six months. It is offered jointly by Iceland and Greece, with 3 months to be spent in each country. The grant can start either in Greece or Iceland.
Grants should begin no earlier than September 1, 2025. Grants must be completed by end of June 2026. The grantee may go directly from one country to the other or return to the U.S. for a brief period in between visits to the two countries, as long as the grant is completed within the grant period.
Grantees will be invited to Fulbright activities in each host country during the grant period.
Local hosts help the scholar to settle in, provide introductions and provide general assistance to ensure a productive and enjoyable Fulbright experience.
All applicants must meet the Program eligibility requirements (click to review the requirements).
Information on possible hosts in Iceland can be found in the links below. If applicants require assistance in finding appropriate affiliation in Iceland, they are welcome to contact the Fulbright Commission in Iceland.
Applicants are encouraged to arrange affiliation(s) in Greece and submit letters of invitation indicating the name/position of host and details on collaborating organization/institution. Information about Greek universities can be found on the Fulbright Foundation in Greece website.
Information about universities and the arts in Iceland:
Iceland University of the Arts
Icelandic Design and Architecture
Information about Greece:
In Iceland: $4,000 per month or $4,500 per month for grantees with a dependent or dependents, payable monthly. A dependent must stay in Iceland for at least 80% of the grant period to be eligible for a dependent supplement. The grant is denominated in U.S. dollars but paid in Icelandic krona (ISK), according to the current exchange rate. The grant is intended to cover living costs in Iceland.
No separate housing allowance provided. Grantees are responsible for arranging their own housing, but the host institution is expected to assist the grantee in finding housing and settling in. Some hosts institutions may in some instances be able to offer on-campus housing.
In Greece: $2,500 per month. The base stipend amount will be increased by 150 US Dollars per accomanying dependent (up to two dependents). Dependents must remain in Greece for at least 80% of the grant period to be eligible for a dependent supplement. A one-time settling-in allowance at $1,200 and allowances for extra luggage up to $200 (grantee only), for Greek lessons up to $450 (grantee only) and books and research materials up to $350 (grantee only).
Iceland: Travel allowance is $1,500 for the grantee only, payable with the first grant payment. Baggage allowance is $400, payable at the end of the grant period. All allowances are denominated in U.S. dollars but paid in ISK, according to the current exchange rate.
Greece: A one-time airfare allowance for travel between the USA, Iceland, Greece and return flight to the USA: up to $1,500 for the scholar plus up to $1,000 for one dependent. Travel details must first be approved by Fulbright Greece before flights are finalized. Airfare must be round-trip originating and ending in the USA with a connecting flight between Iceland and Greece or Greece and Iceland (depending on first receiving country). Airfare must be booked in time to span the entire grant period in both countries. Penalty fee coverage for flight rescheduling is not possible.
In Iceland, a $500 travel allowance per dependent. Children can attend primary and lower-secondary public schools at little or no cost, which is a great way to integrate into Icelandic society. The Commission can assist grantees in finding an appropriate local public school.
Greece: Up to $3,000 for primary and/or secondary private school.
Dependents must accompany the grantee for at least 80% of the period abroad and a minimum of one semester in order to qualify for additional dependent benefits. Dependent benefits are not provided to Flex grantees.
Iceland is considered a high-cost country. Housing is comparable to smaller US cities, with housing most expensive in the capital area and less expensive outside the capital area. Food is relatively expensive compared to the US, but of high quality. Utilities are much less expensive than in the US. Many grantees live centrally and can walk to most destinations, but public transport in the form of buses is widely available.
Greece is not as expensive as other Western European countries but overall costs have increased in recent years. Housing expenses range from 600-1000 USD (studio apartment) to 800-1,500 USD for 2-3 bedroom apartments per month depending on location. These rates are for furnished apartments and include basic utilities. Quality fresh produce, groceries and other types of food can be found at reasonable prices. Eating out can be fairly inexpensive. Public transportation in major cities is not expensive and widely available (Metro, tram, buses and cabs).
In Iceland the scholar will be invited to monthly grantee enrichment events provided by the Fulbright Commission during the academic year. Also, the scholar will be taken out to lunch at the beginning and end of the grant period in Iceland for briefing, debriefing.
Special funding for disabled grantees
Funding is available for US Fulbright scholars to Iceland with a disability, be it a structural or functional impairment or activity/participation limitation, that entails additional costs that are not covered specifically through the Fulbright Program. Some funding may be available for a wide range of disabilities, including, for example, hearing, vision or movement impairment. The funding could, for example, be used to assist with specialized housing needs, in-country transport or specialized assistance. The extra funding amount will depend on need and will be decided by the Commission after consultation with the scholar. Funding is provided through the Bruce A. Fowler Mobility Fund.
Final grant amounts will be determined prior to the start of the academic year and are subject to the availability of funds. The United States Department of State and the Fulbright Commission in the host country reserve the right to alter, without notice, participating countries, number of awards and allowances.
Iceland is a small Nordic country, an island republic in the North Atlantic, between the U.S. and the European mainland. Iceland is technologically advanced, English is widely spoken and Americans find Icelandic society and culture relatively easy to navigate. Iceland provides very interesting opportunities in many fields and as a small, highly technologically advanced country, Iceland is ideal for many types of research, collaboration and creative endeavors. English is widely spoken and much used in academia and the arts. Scholars and artists can generally expect good access to people, institutions and information. Usually, U.S. Fulbright grantees so inclined can easily find Icelandic colleagues eager to collaborate.
Iceland has spectacular nature and offers artists and scholars an opportunity for unique outdoor experiences, in addition to a vibrant cultural scene and a cuisine that has been gaining international recognition. There is a good public school system, and Fulbright grantees with children have generally had positive experiences. Since the Fulbright Program in Iceland is relatively small, the Commission is able to maintain close ties with grantees during their stay and provide a sense of community among Fulbright grantees. There are monthly grantee activities sponsored by the Commission, in addition to access to Fulbright alumni events and other social activities.
Greece is considered the cradle of Western Civilization and evidence of its rich history can be found throughout the country. Situated at the crossroads of Europe and Asia and within reach from the northern coasts of Africa and the Middle East, the country’s history has been strongly influenced by its interaction with a variety of civilizations. The old and the new blend in as does the traditional and modern in this small country. Greece is part of the west and the European Union and has evolved into a key player of the region and the Balkan Peninsula. It is developing fast in a number of industries such as communications and services and is one of the most sought out destinations for travel worldwide. A brief overview of the country can be found at Study in Greece.
In Greece, the U.S. Fulbright Scholar Program is an important component of the Fulbright Foundation's mission to bring outstanding scholars from a wide variety of disciplines to Greek institutions of higher learning and state or private organizations in order to promote cultural and educational ties between the two countries through scholarly interaction and collaboration. Applicants are encouraged to arrange affiliation(s) in Greece and submit letters of invitation indicating the name/position of host and details on collaborating organization/institution. Facts about Greece, the Greek educational system, and information on Greek universities can be found at the Fulbright Foundation in Greece website. English is sufficient for teaching/lecturing; however, knowledge of Greek is useful. There are occasional grantee activities sponsored by the Foundation, in addition to access to Fulbright alumni events and other social activities.
Visit our Scholar Directory to view and search all Fulbright alumni. You can also learn more about Fulbright Alumni Ambassadors.
Contact at the Fulbright Commission in Reykjavik, Iceland: fulbright@fulbright.is
Contact at the Fulbright Foundation in Greece: advisor@fulbright.gr