Curatorial Fellowship

Application deadline: March 15, 2017 
Andrew W. Mellon Curatorial Fellowship

The Museum seeks outstanding scholars for a post-doctoral fellowship funded by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. This two-year fellowship, with a possible third-year renewal, provides training to scholars interested in curatorial careers in art museums while also supporting scholarly research related to the collections of the Museum. The Philadelphia Museum of Art is one of the premier art institutions of the world with more than 225,000 objects representing diverse cultures. The collections are divided among eight curatorial departments: American Art; Costume and Textiles; East Asian Art; European Decorative Arts and Sculpture; European Painting before 1900, the John G. Johnson Collection, and the Rodin Museum; Indian and Himalayan Art; Modern and Contemporary Art; and Prints, Drawings, and Photographs.

Mellon Fellows join the appropriate curatorial department, collaborating closely with an individual curator as well as with other curatorial, conservation, education, information services and registrarial staff. Each Fellow will have access to the collections and to the Museum’s library, and will partake of all the professional privileges extended to Museum staff.

Working in consultation with the supervising curator, Mellon Fellows will develop individual projects that complement their research interests and the priorities of the department. Research projects that contribute to the museum’s scholarly publications or exhibitions drawn from the permanent collections are encouraged. In addition, as part of their general training, Fellows will also have the opportunity to participate in a wide range of museum activities, such as exhibition and program planning, volunteer training, art history lectures and gallery tours.

Applicants must have completed a Ph.D. or have a proven record of equivalent accomplishment. Candidates must demonstrate scholarly excellence and promise as well as a strong interest in a museum career. Mellon Fellows will receive a competitive starting salary. Benefits and a travel allowance will also be provided.

Applications must be recieved by March 15th and include the following material:

• A cover letter outlining the candidate’s interest in the fellowship.
• A statement, not to exceed four double-spaced pages, describing the applicant’s area of research and potential relationship to the Museum’s collections.
• A copy of a published paper or a writing sample.
• Curriculum vitae of education, employment, honors, awards, and publications.
• Three letters of recommendation sent directly to the address below.

Please submit applications to:
Human Resources Department
Philadelphia Museum of Art
P.O. Box 7646
Philadelphia, PA 19101-7646
Ref: Mellon Fellowship

All applications will be reviewed by the Director’s Office of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and a fellowship search team including the relevant curatorial department. The fellowships will begin pending candidate availability.