Smithsonian American Art Museum Fellowship Program
The Smithsonian American Art Museum Fellowship Program funds full-time research on American art, craft, and visual culture using Smithsonian Institution collections.
Funder: Smithsonian Institution
Due Dates: October 15, 2026 (SIFP & Named Fellowships) | October 15, 2026 (Betsy James Wyeth Fellowship in Native American Art) | February 1, 2027 (Audrey Flack Short-Term Fellowship)
Funding Amounts: $10,000 (10-week graduate student) | $45,000/year (predoctoral) | $53,000 (Betsy James Wyeth Fellowship) | $57,000/year (postdoctoral/senior) | $5,000 (Flack Short-Term); most include research/travel allowances
Summary: Supports full-time, residential research on American art, craft, and visual culture using Smithsonian collections.
Key Information: Application via SOLAA; some named fellowships require separate applications.
Description
The Smithsonian American Art Museum Fellowship Program is the oldest and largest fellowship initiative dedicated to the study of American art, offered in partnership with the Renwick Gallery. It welcomes scholars from any discipline whose research engages with the art, craft, and visual culture of the United States, encouraging innovative approaches and methodologies. Fellows conduct full-time, residential research using the Smithsonian’s extensive collections, archives, and resources in Washington, DC. The program includes a variety of named fellowships supporting research in areas such as American modern art, sculpture, craft, and Native American art, as well as opportunities for both independent and collaborative projects. The program aims to foster excellence in art history scholarship and support new voices in the field.
