The Bellagio Center/

The Bellagio Center Residency Program

The 2025 Bellagio Center Residency Program applications are now closed. Explore details about the program below to get ready for the 2026 application cycle.

For more than 60 years, the Bellagio Center Residency Program has brought together the leading academics, artists, and practitioners from across the globe, providing them with a space to unlock their creativity and advance groundbreaking work.

Rather than a retreat for private reflection, the Bellagio Center residency offers an opportunity to advance a specific breakthrough project, and a stimulating environment to forge cross-disciplinary and cross-cultural connections with other residents. Bellagio Center residents form lasting bonds, staying connected to each other and to The Rockefeller Foundation long after their residency ends as members of the Bellagio Network.

Alumni include luminaries like Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Maya Angelou, and Dikgang Moseneke, and trailblazers such as Nikole Hannah-Jones, Akin Omotoso, and Ilwad Elman.

Our Residents Are:

  • Leaders with significant achievement and recognition in their field
  • Forward-looking, with a history of advancing breakthrough ideas or actions that have had tremendous impact
  • Committed to The Rockefeller Foundation’s mission to “make opportunity universal and sustainable”
  • Curious and collaborative—open to giving and receiving feedback from a diverse group of fellow residents
  • Excited to remain active in the Bellagio Network after their residency

Our Program Offers:

  • Up to four weeks at The Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Center in Lake Como, Italy
  • Room and board with a private studio for working
  • A shared community of up to 15 scholars, artists, and practitioners from around the world
  • Travel funding when there is financial need
  • Future participation in an international network of Bellagio Center alumni, united in the shared purpose of creating a better world

PROJECTS AND THEMES

Selection Process

Bellagio residents are selected through an internal referral process and an annual open call for applications. In both cases, individuals must submit an application and go through a competitive review process.

In addition to our General Open Call for applications on any topic, we are currently prioritizing two particular themes (with each containing several sub-themes): 1) Addressing Climate Change, and 2) Building Vibrant, Connected, and Resilient Societies. These themes reflect our commitment to drive action in The Rockefeller Foundation’s priority areas and develop a network of people and ideas in each area.

Application Themes

The 2025 Bellagio Center Residency Program applications are now closed. Explore details about the program below to get ready for the 2026 application cycle.

  • Addressing Climate Change Residency
    Under this theme, we will support leading thinkers and organizations working on breakthrough solutions addressing climate change through the lens of energy systems, health systems, food systems, policy, and financial systems.
  • Building Vibrant, Connected, and Resilient Societies Residency
    Humans thrive when we recognize that all of our futures are inherently intertwined. This theme focuses on how to address the core challenges to building vibrant, connected, and resilient societies.
  • General Open Call Residency
    The General Open Call is for practitioners, academics, and artists working in any discipline or area of study. Projects can be based on any topic but must demonstrate clear social impact and charitable purpose.

Our Bellagio Center Residents

In 2023, we welcomed 103 residents to the Bellagio Center. Coming from all over the world and representing a wide cross-section of expertise, these residents are some of the most ambitious, innovative, and committed leaders of our time.

Meet Our Residents
Back to Top