The National Gallery of Art hosts a postdoctoral curatorial fellowship funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. This is a two-year fellowship with the possibility of renewal for a third year. The fellowship provides curatorial training and supports scholarly research related to the collection of the National Gallery of Art. The fellow is fully integrated into a specific curatorial department with duties, privileges, and status equivalent to those of an assistant curator. Time is divided between specific projects and general curatorial work within the department, including research on the collection and new acquisitions, work on the presentation of the collection, participation in aspects of special exhibition projects, and opportunities to give public lectures. The fellow will plan and complete a project in consultation with the supervising curator.

Through weekly gatherings and discussions, the fellow takes part in research-sharing and sessions that explore the inner workings of the Gallery.

Fellowship Period

The fellow must be in residence at the National Gallery of Art during the fellowship period, which lasts for two years, starting as early as the January after the fellow is selected.

Eligibility

Consideration is given to candidates working in fields represented by the Gallery’s permanent collection of European and American art, as well as candidates with special research focuses on African American art or art of the African diaspora, Latinx art and art history, and Native American art history. The doctoral degree in art history (or the equivalent in countries outside the United States) must be or have been officially conferred within five years (preferably three years) of the start date of the fellowship. Applicants from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply. This is an international program. If you have questions about your eligibility, please contact the program administrator at intern@nga.gov or (202) 842-6257.

Funding

The fellow will receive an annual salary of $59,000, plus research and travel expenses up to $5,000 per year.

The Andrew W. Mellon Postdoctoral Curatorial Fellow is a full-time term employee of the National Gallery of Art and is eligible for coverage under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program and the Federal Employees Group Life Insurance Program. The fellow, using an authorized public transportation method, will receive an employer-provided fare subsidy to apply toward monthly transit costs.