Fellowships in American Art
Fellowships in American Art support scholars’ residential research on U.S. art, craft, and visual culture using Smithsonian resources to broaden perspectives and advance original scholarship.
Funder: Smithsonian American Art Museum
Due Dates: October 15, 2026 (SIFP and Wyeth) | February 1, 2027 (Audrey Flack)
Funding Amounts: SIFP: $10,000 for 10 weeks or $45,000–$57,000 annually | Wyeth: $53,000 for 9–12 months | Flack: $5,000 for one month
Summary: Residential fellowships support full-time research in Smithsonian collections on U.S. art, craft, and visual culture.
Key Information: Fellows must conduct full-time onsite research in Washington, D.C., with a primary advisor based at SAAM.
Description
The Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM) and its Renwick Gallery offer residential fellowships for research on the art, craft, and visual culture of the United States. Scholars from any discipline, including international scholars, are welcome. The program encourages original, high-quality scholarship that expands perspectives on American art through new materials, methodologies, and interpretations, including interdisciplinary and community-based approaches.
Opportunities include the Smithsonian Institution Fellowship Program (SIFP), the Betsy James Wyeth Fellowship in Native American Art, and the Audrey Flack Short-Term Fellowship. Jointly hosted with the National Museum of the American Indian, the Wyeth fellowship centers Indigenous methodologies, knowledges, and communities. The Flack fellowship supports scholars whose circumstances prevent longer residencies. Fellows use collections, archives, libraries, and research databases while participating in scholarly exchange and professional development.
