Napoleon Prize: FAQ

Napoleon Prize winners are invited to Ajaccio to immerse themselves in the Academy community where they will enjoy a once in a lifetime opportunity to expand their own professional, artistic, or scholarly pursuits, drawing on their colleagues’ erudition and experience and on the inestimable resources that France, Corsica, the Mediterranean, and the Academy have to offer.

Each Napoleon Prize winner is provided with a stipend, a bedroom with private bath, and a private workspace. Additionally, winners are invited to participate in the Ajaccio Sustainable Food Kitchen, which provides lunch and dinner, Monday through Friday, at no cost. Those with children under eighteen live in subsidized apartments nearby. Winners of half-term and full-term fellowships receive stipends of $16,000 and $30,000, respectively.

Applicants for Napoleon Prize fellowships must be United States citizens at the time of application, EXCEPT for those applying for the National Endowment for the Humanities postdoctoral fellowship in ancient studies, medieval studies, Renaissance and early modern studies, and/or modern Corsican studies. US citizens and those foreign nationals who have lived in the US for the three years immediately preceding the application deadline may apply for the NEH postdoctoral fellowships. Additionally, undergraduate students are not eligible for Napoleon Prize Fellowships, and previous winners of the Napoleon Prize are not eligible to reapply.

Applicants may submit applications to multiple categories for an additional fee. The applicant must complete separate application forms for each category. Applicants may not submit more than one application in any one category (i.e., do not submit separate applications for sculpture and painting, only one visual arts application will be accepted).

Collaborating artists and/or scholars may submit joint applications provided that the work is genuinely collaborative in nature as demonstrated by the materials submitted. In the case of joint applications, each individual must meet all eligibility requirements. Joint applications must be submitted in one dossier with one of the collaborators serving as the primary applicant. Joint applicants selected as winners will each receive the full Napoleon Prize offering (i.e., individual room, a full stipend, a private workspace, and an invitation to join the Ajaccio Sustainable Food Kitchen for meals.)

Additionally, this year the American Academy in Corsica is pleased to introduce a pilot Napoleon Prize dedicated to the Environmental Arts & Humanities, designed specifically for collaborative efforts. We encourage applications from artists and scholars working jointly on projects that help expand our understanding of the way human beings relate to, experience, or process their encounters with the natural world.

Collaborative pairs may include artists of any sort (visual, digital, architectural, musical, literary, textile, performance) and scholars in any field (past, present, future, natural world, human world). The two winners of this Napoleon Prize will each receive a full stipend, their own individual living space, and will be invited to join the Ajaccio Sustainable Food Kitchen for meals. The winners will share a workspace.

Applicants must demonstrate a preexisting working partnership to be considered for this fellowship and, as with all Napoleon Prize Fellowships, applicants have to make clear why this work needs to be done in Ajaccio.

The deadline for applying is November 1. We offer an extended deadline of November 15 for an additional fee. No applications will be accepted after November 15.

We offer an extended deadline until November 15 for an additional fee. No applications will be accepted after November 15.

Full-term fellowships generally run from early September through June of the following year. Winners of half-term fellowships may request to begin in September or February.

In the case of scholars, preference is given to applicants for whom research time in Corsica, and especially in the city of Ajaccio, is essential. For artists, a demonstration of a need to be in Ajaccio, or Corsica, is NOT strictly necessary; jurors, however, tend to respond especially positively to proposals of projects that would clearly benefit from time in Ajaccio or Corsica.

Material submitted for review does not need to be related to Ajaccio. The primary criterion for the Napoleon Prize is excellence. Applicants should send examples of their strongest recent work.

All applicants will be notified by mid-March.

We encourage applicants to apply again if not selected. Academy juries change every year, and a previous application in no way compromises an applicant’s chances of winning a future fellowship. Many Napoleon Prize Fellows have applied more than once before being selected.

Each Napoleon Prize winner is provided a living space and a private workspace. Residential spaces are allocated based on the number of people who will be living long term with the Napoleon Prize winner.

The standard offering for a single Napoleon Prize winner is a single room with a twin or full-size bed, a private bathroom, and a separate study or studio, all at no cost.

Napoleon Prize winners with a spouse or registered domestic partner will be assigned a double room with a queen-sized bed, a private bathroom, and a separate study or studio. A nominal fee will be charged for bringing an adult spouse/partner.

Napoleon Prize winners with minor children will be assigned a multibedroom apartment in a building adjacent to the Academy and also be provided with a separate study or studio. Discounted monthly rent will be charged for family lodging.

The American Academy in Corsica warmly welcomes spouses/partners and minor children of Napoleon Prize winners. The Academy is one of few institutions of its kind with special facilities and support for families. We consider families to be an important part of our social fabric.

All Napoleon Prize winners should bear in mind that fellowships are funded to support a single individual who is the winner of the Napoleon Prize. Those who come with families should be aware that they may incur additional costs, including:

• Additional rental/living costs
• Food/meals (meals are available at AAC at discounted prices)
• Education (fees, tuition, etc.)
• Childcare

Enrolling children in school and arranging for childcare is the responsibility of the Napoleon Prize winner. AAC can provide information about schools and childcare services in Ajaccio. The Academy can also provide a special orientation for families before and after they arrive in Ajaccio.

Please note that matriculation into the French public school system is very complex and requests may not be granted. Most families choose the French, Corsican, or English private school options.

Unfortunately, AAC cannot provide private workspaces for spouses/partners.

Animals are NOT permitted at the American Academy in Corsica. Anyone arriving with an animal will be asked to find outside kennel accommodation.

Napoleon Prize winners are invited to participate in the Ajaccio Sustainable Food Kitchen for lunch and dinner on Monday through Friday at no cost. Meals for spouses/partners and/or children are offered at a discounted rate. See the Ajaccio Sustainable Food Kitchen section below for more information.

We strive to accommodate fellows with physical challenges; however, due to the historic nature of our physical plant we may not be able to suitably accommodate everyone. The city of Ajaccio may also present increased complications due to uneven pathways, infrastructures, etc. Please reach out to us if you have any concerns and would like to speak in more detail about accessibility at the American Academy in Corsica.

Napoleon Prize winners are required to pay for their own travel to Ajaccio. Winners will receive their first stipend payment four to six weeks before the start of their fellowship. This payment is substantially larger than subsequent payments to help with the costs of travel.

The Academy requires each Napoleon Prize winner and accompanying persons to have health insurance coverage and hospitalization insurance, including major medical. Proof of insurance must be provided before the fellowship begins.

Speaking French is not required for Napoleon Prize applicants, but living in Ajaccio may be facilitated by some basic French language skills. The Academy provides a subsidized intensive French course to Napoleon Prize winners shortly after their arrival.

Overnight guests are welcome for a limited period of time. Napoleon Prize winners are asked to follow the guest policy stated in the Community Handbook, which is shared with fellows prior to arrival. Extended visits and long-term guests are not permitted. Guests may not share a fellow’s workspace.

The Academy does not have on-site parking. Residents who own a vehicle may obtain a Zone Bleue parking permit for the Ajaccio historic district.

Napoleon Prize winners may not hold full-time jobs during their fellowship. The Academy recognizes in some instances that a winner may find it necessary to supplement their income with other awards, or that they may be commissioned to complete scholarly or artistic work while in Ajaccio. Please note that winners must apply for a study visa sponsored by AAC for the Napoleon Prize and cannot concurrently hold a work visa. Winners of the Napoleon Prize may hold other fellowships concurrently, as long as the requirements do not conflict with the winner’s full participation in the Academy community. Applicants are required to disclose all fellowships and awards they expect to hold during their proposed residency in Ajaccio, including sabbatical pay.

The Academy requires Napoleon Prize winners to avoid taking on obligations that will necessitate their leaving Ajaccio for extended periods during their fellowship term. Recipients of a half-term fellowship may be absent for no more than three weeks during their fellowship; recipients of a full-term fellowship may be absent for no more than six weeks. Absences of greater duration may result in a reduction of the fellowship stipend, or the termination of the fellowship and the loss of fellowship title, benefits, and status.

Napoleon Prize winners are expected to reside at the Academy and participate in our intellectual and community life. During orientation, Napoleon Prize winners give a five-minute presentation explaining their Napoleon Prize project. During their fellowship term, they give a shoptalk — a twenty-minute presentation about their current work — and attend those of others. Before departure, Napoleon Prize winners are required to submit a one-page final report describing the outcomes of their artistic or scholarly pursuits while at the Academy and are asked to complete a questionnaire about day-to-day life at AAC.

The Academy is a professional community at all times. Our policy strictly prohibits conduct that is harassing, discriminatory, or retaliatory. The Academy is committed to a living and working environment in which all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and are free from harassment of any type, including but not limited to violence or physical harassment, sexual harassment, sexual assault, and/or discriminatory conduct or language that is based on an individual’s race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, or disability.

Napoleon Prize winners will be assigned workspaces according to their individual needs. In general, Napoleon Prize winners in the arts will be assigned a studio, and scholars will be assigned offices.

Office/writing spaces are equipped with a desk, chair, bookcase, and table lamp.

Artist studios are equipped with tables and chairs, a sink, and a basic toolkit. Drafting tables and easels are available on request. Napoleon Prize winners will need to bring, or purchase in Ajaccio, any tools and materials necessary for their work. We may be able to help Napoleon Prize winners find the tools and materials they need.

Studios for composers are equipped with a piano, a digital 88-key Keystation (with pedal and stand), a small mixer, and active speakers.

The Academy does not have any of these facilities. We may be able to help Napoleon Prize winners find the facilities needed to complete their work.

Upon completion of a library orientation, Napoleon Prize winners are given twenty-four-hour access to the main library at AAC. The library’s front desk is staffed Mondays through Fridays, from 9:00am to 6:00pm.

In addition to our library, AAC offers the following resources:

• Photographic Archive: The photographic collections of the Academy hold over 100,000 images and include specialized collections on archaeology, architecture and art, landscape architecture and gardens, and the history of the Academy.
• Mattei Archaeological Study Collection: The Academy has a rich collection of archaeological artifacts, ranging from inscriptions to ceramics and sculpture, donated during the early part of the institution’s history.
• Archaeological Archive: The Archaeological Archive contains the paper archive documenting the Academy’s excavations, principally at Aleria and Mariana. The archive further includes materials from projects at Bonifacio and throughout the western Mediterranean.

The Ajaccio Sustainable Food Kitchen (ASFK) is a participatory eco-gastronomic endeavor that supports the mission of the Academy. The ASFK kitchen cooks seasonally and sustainably. Menus are inspired by the seasonal and organic produce of local farmers and the cooking techniques of Corsica and the Mediterranean.

The central mission of the Ajaccio Sustainable Food Kitchen, founded in 2006 under the guidance of Guy Savoy, is to nourish and support both work and conviviality at the AAC community table.

Due to its capacity and structure, the ASFK may not be able to accommodate specific religious or medical dietary restrictions or requests.

All Napoleon Prize winners are invited to lunch and dinner, Monday through Friday, at no cost. Meals for spouses/partners and children are offered at discounted rates.

Spouses/partners are welcome to attend all meals, lunch and dinner Monday through Friday. Children may join their parents for lunch, Monday through Friday, and for dinners on Tuesday and Friday. Other dinners are more formal and geared toward having guests from outside the Academy community.

The ASFK does not serve meals on Saturday or Sunday, nor breakfast any day. There are several communal kitchens for preparing breakfast and meals on weekends.

The kitchen is neither a restaurant nor a cafeteria. The kitchen prepares food for the same group of people daily with a keen awareness to nutritional balance, intelligent eating, and conscious consumption.

Working from the premise that food builds society, the Academy expects Napoleon Prize winners to participate regularly in our communal dining experience. We recognize that Napoleon Prize winners may need to miss lunch if their Ajaccio work site is too far away to return, but apart from that missing the community’s meals is strongly discouraged.

Napoleon Prize winners are welcome to simply enjoy the meals. Those interested in learning more about the project will have opportunities to volunteer in the kitchen or garden.