The Betsy James Wyeth Fellowship in Native American Art
The Betsy James Wyeth Fellowship in Native American Art funds research on Native art using Indigenous methodologies, offering access to Smithsonian collections and emphasizing community engagement.
Funder: Smithsonian Institution
Due Dates: October 15, 2025 | October 15, 2026
Funding Amounts: $53,000 stipend for 12 months (predoctoral) or 9 months (postdoc/senior) plus up to $5,000 for research travel and additional allowances
Summary: One-year fellowship supporting innovative research on Native American art, emphasizing Indigenous methodologies and access to major Smithsonian collections.
Description
The Betsy James Wyeth Fellowship in Native American Art is a prestigious, annual fellowship jointly hosted by the Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM) and the National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI). It is designed to advance innovative scholarship on Native art of the United States, with a particular focus on research that centers Indigenous methodologies, knowledges, and communities. Fellows benefit from unparalleled access to the collections, archives, and research staff of both museums, as well as professional development opportunities such as seminars and symposia.
The fellowship is open to predoctoral, postdoctoral, and senior scholars regardless of citizenship. Projects must focus on historic or contemporary Native American artists, designers, or makers, and demonstrate meaningful engagement with Indigenous communities and perspectives.
