Aspen Institute Unveils $4M Arts Fellowship to Empower Creative Leaders

In November 2025, the Aspen Institute, a renowned non-profit organization, announced the launch of a new arts and culture fellowship program. Backed by a $4 million donation from the foundation of former Disney CEO Michael Eisner, the fellowship aims to empower a diverse group of 20 creative leaders over the course of two years.

The program is modeled after Aspen's prestigious Henry Crown Fellowship, which has been running for over two decades. The Eisner fellowship will bring together individuals from various creative disciplines, including artists, performers, museum directors, studio executives, cultural financiers, and more. These fellows will convene four times in Colorado and other locations for week-long seminars to tackle complex societal challenges.

According to Eisner, the fellowship is designed to provide creative leaders with the "space and community to think deeply about what they're building and why." Aspen Institute executive Dar Vanderbeck emphasized the crucial role of the arts in shaping and challenging society, stating that the fellowship will cultivate the kind of "humanistic, values-driven leadership" needed to navigate today's most pressing issues.

The application process for the Eisner fellowship is now open and will close on December 12th, 2025. The Aspen Institute's latest initiative aims to harness the power of the arts to drive positive change and build a stronger society.