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The C. Eric Lincoln Theology and Arts Fellowship provides funding for a Duke student to complete a sacred art project exhibited in Duke Chapel's sanctuary. One fellow is selected each cycle.
The fellowship honors C. Eric Lincoln, a scholar, poet, minister, and social activist who taught Religion and Culture at Duke from 1976 to 1993. His work chronicled the Black American religious experience in Christianity and Islam, and his life embodied the integration of intellectual rigor and living faith.
Past fellows have worked in woodblock prints, photography, painting, and mixed media. We welcome artists from all traditions and lifestances whose work engages the intersection of art and the sacred.
Fall 2026 Theme: A Feast with the Absent
Every culture knows what it means to set a place for those who are gone. From Día de los Muertos ofrendas to the empty chair at Passover. From soul food after funerals to bread broken in remembrance.
This fall's exhibition will be displayed alongside the Chapel's Día de los Muertos ofrenda. We invite student artists to propose projects that engage the spirit of gathering with those who are gone while reflecting their own artistic and spiritual perspective.
What You Receive
- Up to $2,000 to bring your project to life
- A solo exhibition in Duke Chapel's sanctuary
- A public reception celebrating your work
- An artist talk to share your vision with the Duke community
Eligibility
Enrolled as of Fall 2026 Duke students in good standing from any religious or spiritual background with a clearly articulated theological or spiritual foundation for their work.