Ezra Koenig, James Mercer & more to select recipients of Bob Dylan Center songwriter fellowship

Vampire Weekend's Ezra Koenig and The Shins' James Mercer are among those who will select the recipients of the 2026-2027 Bob Dylan Center songwriter fellowship.

According to a press release, the fellowship is "awarded annually to two recipients who demonstrate exceptional promise and artistic vision."

The selection panel also includes Lucy Dacus of boygenius and Dan Wilson of Semisonic.

"I fell into the crevasse that is Bob Dylan’s work on a sleepless winter night in Chicago," Mercer says in a statement. "It would be about thirty years ago now. In a sleeping bag on the filthy floor of the Red Red Meat house. I knew of the man, of course, but I had never really sat and studied the material. That experience led to changes in my writing and my perception of life as a thinking person."

He continues, "The access granted by this fellowship allows a new artist to explore both the finished work and the writing process employed by an American master. It is my honor to be a part of this project!"

The application period is open now through April 27.

The Bob Dylan Center is located in Tulsa, Oklahoma.