Postdoctoral Fellowships at the Center for Advanced Study in the Visual Arts, National Gallery of Art

Location: Washington, DC, US
Format: Residential
Fellowship period: September 2027–August 2029
Duration: Two years
Stipend: $55,000 per academic year
Additional support: Medical insurance, relocation and travel allowances
Accommodation: Housing provided subject to availability
Application deadline: 15 October 2026, 17:00 EST

The Center for Advanced Study in the Visual Arts at the National Gallery of Art offers two-year postdoctoral fellowships supporting sustained research and writing for publication.

The A. W. Mellon Postdoctoral Fellowship and Beinecke Postdoctoral Fellowship are offered in alternating years. They support research into the history, theory and criticism of the visual arts across any historical period or geographical region.

Applications contributing to scholarship in understudied areas are particularly encouraged.

About the Fellowships

Postdoctoral Fellows will spend two years in residence at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC.

During their first year, Fellows will design and lead an intensive week-long seminar for the Center’s resident predoctoral Fellows. The seminar should address a subject connected to the Postdoctoral Fellow’s research interests, with particular emphasis on methodological questions.

In their second year, Fellows will teach a course at a neighbouring university.

Fellows will receive an office in the National Gallery’s East Building and access to the Gallery’s library, art collection and research resources, as well as other academic and cultural resources across Washington.

They will also participate in lectures, colloquia and scholarly discussions organised by the Center.

Fields of Study

The fellowships support research in:

• Art history;
• The theory of visual art;
• Art criticism; and
• Related areas of visual-arts scholarship.

Projects may address any period or geographical area. The Center particularly welcomes proposals expanding research into subjects that remain underrepresented within existing scholarship.

Fellowship Activities

The successful Fellow will:

• Undertake sustained research and writing for publication;
• Participate in the Center’s community of resident scholars;
• Attend and contribute to lectures, colloquia and discussions;
• Design and lead a week-long seminar for predoctoral Fellows during the first year;
• Address methodological questions relevant to their research field;
• Develop and teach a university course during the second year; and
• Make use of the National Gallery’s collections, library and research facilities.

Eligibility

Applicants must:

• Have received their PhD between 15 October 2021 and 15 October 2026;
• Not be currently affiliated with the National Gallery of Art; and
• Not have another application pending for a Center fellowship.

Candidates are considered regardless of age or nationality.

Individuals may not apply for another Center fellowship while their application is pending or after being awarded a Postdoctoral Fellowship.

Former Postdoctoral Fellows become eligible to apply for a Senior or Visiting Senior Fellowship five years after completing their appointment.

The fellowships cannot be postponed or renewed.

Funding and Accommodation

A. W. Mellon and Beinecke Postdoctoral Fellows receive:

• A stipend of $55,000 per academic year;
• An allowance towards medical insurance premiums;
• Relocation support;
• A travel allowance;
• An office in the National Gallery’s East Building; and
• Housing, subject to availability.

Application Requirements

A complete application must include:

• A research proposal of two to four double-spaced pages;
• A proposed topic for the predoctoral seminar;
• A proposed topic for the university course;
• A published or unpublished article or book chapter; and
• Three letters of recommendation.

Following an initial selection process, several candidates will be invited to Washington for interviews in January 2027.

Applications will be assessed by an external committee of scholars working in art history and related disciplines. External readers may also contribute to the evaluation of individual proposals.

About the Center

The Center for Advanced Study in the Visual Arts is the National Gallery of Art’s research institute.

It supports advanced scholarship in the history, theory and criticism of art through residential fellowships, publications, seminars, lectures, colloquia and other opportunities for intellectual exchange.