Thanks to the continued generosity of the Villavecchia family, the Javier & Marta Villavecchia Fellowships, granted by the Centre for Aesthetics, Religion, and Contemporary Culture (CERCCA), and the Haas Library Association, enter a new phase in 2027. The revised model detailed below improves the fellows' conditions and strengthens the programme’s impact, visibility, and integration within CERCCA at Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF).

Since their inception in 2016 as the "Haas Fellowships", the programme has supported outstanding postdoctoral research and daring creative projects. Initially awarded to a single postdoctoral fellow in its first two editions, the programme expanded to two annual fellowships in 2018. From 2020 onwards, under their current name, they broadened their scope to include not only researchers but also artists and art-researchers.

Over ten years, the fellowships have welcomed 16 fellows from across the globe, including the United Kingdom, Argentina, Belgium, Turkey, Bulgaria, Portugal, Egypt, and Spain. Our fellows work across fields such as philosophy, religious studies, literary criticism, dance and choreography, poetry, visual arts, and musical composition. Their projects have explored diverse traditions and cultural contexts, from Western and Eastern Christianity and Islam to a wide range of global, philosophical and creative practices.

Key Changes for the 2027 Call

Building on this success, the 2027 call introduces a series of strategic changes aimed at enhancing both the management of the fellowships and the experience of fellows:

• From two three-month fellowships to one four-month fellowship: This adjustment is intended to facilitate greater continuity in research and creative practice, as well as the fellow's deeper integration within the UPF community.
• Alignment with the calendar year: The fellowship cycle will now run from January to December, with selected projects taking place at any point of the calendar year. The application and selection calendar will also shift accordingly. The call will be open from April to August, with deliberations taking place between September and October.
• Increased monthly stipend: The monthly grant will rise from €1,600 to €2,150.
• Introduction of a bench fee: A new fund of up to €2,000 will be available to support project-specific needs such as materials or technical infrastructure not provided by UPF. This budget will be proposed by the fellow and subject to approval by the selection committee.

These changes mark a new stage in the evolution of the Javier & Marta Villavecchia Fellowships. By consolidating resources, extending project timelines, and introducing targeted financial support, the programme aims to deepen its commitment to high-quality research and artistic practice, while expanding its reach within and beyond the university.

The 2027 call thus reaffirms the fellowships’ founding mission: to support innovative, interdisciplinary work in close dialogue with the Biblioteca Haas collection, and to share its results with both academic audiences and the broader public.