Fellowship Programme Japanese Arts

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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.