Leader Fellowship Programme in Japanese Arts 2025–26
Institution: Sainsbury Institute for the Study of Japanese Arts and Cultures
Location: Norwich, UK / Worldwide (online + in-person residency)
Application Deadline: May 30, 2025
Start Date: October 1, 2025
The Sainsbury Institute for the Study of Japanese Arts and Cultures, with the generous support of the Ishibashi Foundation, invites applications for the new **Ishibashi Foundation Network Leader Fellowship Programme in Japanese Arts**. This prestigious programme aims to foster a new generation of global leaders in Japanese art history through a hybrid model of online mentorship, a residential research programme in the UK, and project-based funding.
About the Position
- Open to PhD candidates and early-career scholars (up to 2 years post-PhD)
- Focus on Japanese arts or fields related to Japanese visual culture
- Hybrid format: online mentoring and training (Oct 2025–May 2026) + one-week UK residency (July 2026)
- Includes public symposium, mentorship, and access to the Sainsbury Institute’s global network
- Six fellows will be selected for the 2025–26 cohort
Eligibility
- PhD students and postdoctoral scholars (within 2 years of PhD completion)
- Specialisation in Japanese art or visual culture fields
- Applicants from underrepresented regions (outside Western Europe, North America, and Japan) are especially encouraged
- Strong academic potential, relevant language skills, and clearly defined research goals
Remuneration & Benefits
- £7,500 funding to support an individual research project
- Personalised online mentorship and fortnightly training sessions throughout the academic year
- One-week UK trip including museum visits, academic seminars, and a public symposium
- Opportunity to contribute to Sainsbury Institute research and collaborate on special collections
Examples of Supported Projects
- Pop-up or virtual exhibitions
- Processing and documenting primary sources in public/private collections
- Website or digital outputs focused on Japanese arts
- Academic articles or creative projects grounded in original research
- Collaborative work with the Sainsbury Institute’s library and research initiatives
Application Requirements
- Curriculum Vitae (with language proficiency included)
- One letter of recommendation from the applicant’s home institution (PhD supervisor), sent separately
- Five-page proposal including:
- Academic background and training in Japanese studies
- Motivation and fit for the programme
- Proposed project outline, timeline, and budget
- Requested support from SISJAC
- Relevance of the project to the global field of Japanese art studies
Applications should be submitted in PDF format to sisjac@sainsbury-institute.org. Letters of recommendation should be sent directly by the referee to the same email address.
Programme Timeline
- Application deadline: May 30, 2025
- Online interviews: June 2025
- Online programme begins: October 1, 2025
- UK residency in Norwich and London: July 2026
Diversity & Inclusion
The Sainsbury Institute is committed to supporting scholars from diverse geographic, cultural, and academic backgrounds, with an emphasis on fostering global inclusivity in the field of Japanese art history.
