Fellowships in American Art, Smithsonian American Art Museum & Renwick Gallery, Washington, D.C., USA
Deadline: 15 October 2025 (for SIFP and Betsy James Wyeth Fellowship)
Location: Washington, D.C., USA
Stipend: $10,000 – $57,000, depending on fellowship level and duration
Duration: 1 month – 12 months (depending on fellowship level)
Level: Graduate student, predoctoral, postdoctoral, or senior
The Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM) and its Renwick Gallery invite applications to their premier fellowship program, the oldest and largest in the world for the study of American art. Residential fellowships support full-time research in the Smithsonian collections, engaging with American art, craft, and visual culture. Candidates from all disciplines and backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
Fellowship Opportunities
- Smithsonian Institution Fellowship Program (SIFP): 10 weeks for graduate students; 3–12 months for predoctoral, postdoctoral, and senior fellows.
- Named SAAM Fellowships: Will Barnet Foundation, Joe and Wanda Corn, Douglass Foundation, Helen Frankenthaler Foundation, Patricia and Phillip Frost, George Gurney, Joshua C. Taylor, William H. Truettner, Windgate Foundation, Wyeth Foundation Predoctoral Fellowship.
- Betsy James Wyeth Fellowship in Native American Art: 12 months predoctoral; 9 months postdoctoral/senior.
- Audrey Flack Short-Term Fellowship: 1 month for predoctoral, postdoctoral, or senior scholars.
Eligibility Criteria
- Graduate students (MA/PhD), predoctoral, postdoctoral, or senior scholars
- Scholars from any discipline whose research engages with American art, craft, and visual culture
- Ability to write and converse fluently in English
- Must identify a SAAM research staff member as primary fellowship advisor for residential appointments
Stipends and Allowances
- Graduate student: $10,000 (10-week fellowship)
- Predoctoral: $45,000/year
- Postdoctoral and senior: $57,000/year (prorated if less than 12 months)
- Research allowance up to $5,000 for short trips (for predoctoral/postdoctoral/senior)
- Travel allowance: $100–$1,000 for relocation
- Health insurance allowance: $100/month for residencies longer than 3 months
Research Resources
- Access to over 46,500 works in SAAM and Renwick Gallery collections
- Research and Scholars Center with 180,000-volume library and archives
- Joseph Cornell Study Center, Nam June Paik Archive, and multiple image collections
- Seminars, gallery talks, lectures, and symposia for scholarly exchange
- Publishing guidance and professional development resources
