Fellowship Opportunities in American Art

Deadline: 15 January 2011
Open to: scholars from abroad or U.S. scholars
Starting date: 1 June 2011
Scholarship: predoctoral $30,000, senior or postdoctoral $45,000
The Smithsonian American Art Museum and its Renwick Gallery invite applications for research fellowships in art and visual culture of the United States. Fellowships are residential and support full-time independent and dissertation research.
The collection of the Smithsonian American Art Museum spans the nation’s artistic heritage, representing outstanding visual accomplishments from the seventeenth century to the present day.
Each scholar is provided a carrel in the Fellowship Office located across the street from the Museum.
During their stay at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, scholars will be part of one of the nation’s oldest and most distinguished fellowship programs in American art, and will have the opportunity to attend a wide variety of lectures, symposiums, and professional workshops. Short research trips are also possible.

Qualifications and Selection

Predoctoral applicants must have completed coursework and preliminary examinations for the doctoral degree, and must be engaged in dissertation research.
Postdoctoral fellowships are available to support specific research projects by scholars who hold the doctoral degree or equivalent.
Senior fellowships are intended for scholars with a distinguished publication record who have held the doctoral degree for more than seven years or who possess an equivalent record of professional accomplishment at the time of application.

Applicants will be evaluated based on the quality of the proposed research project, academic standing, scholarly qualifications, and experience. The project’s compatibility with the Museum’s collections, facilities, staff, and programs will also be considered. A committee of curators and historians will review the applications.

Application Procedures

The stipend for a one-year predoctoral fellowship is $30,000, plus research and travel allowances. The stipend for a senior or postdoctoral fellowship is $45,000, plus research and travel allowances. The standard term of residency is twelve months, but shorter terms will be considered; stipends are prorated for periods of less than twelve months.

Only one application is necessary; applicants will automatically be considered in all relevant award categories. Applicants interested in a specific named fellowship are encouraged to provide a statement that indicates how their research topic is particularly suited to that award.

For applications or general information:
Amelia Goerlitz, Fellowship Program Coordinator
Smithsonian American Art Museum fellowship Office
Telephone: (202) 633-8353
Email: americanartfellowships@si.edu

Awards are based on merit. Fellowships are open to all qualified persons without reference to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, or condition of handicap.

Official website

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