2026–2027 Fellowship at the Smithsonian American Art Museum (Due Oct. 15)
2026–2027 Fellowship at the Smithsonian American Art Museum
Deadline: October 15th, 2025
The Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM) and its Renwick Gallery invite applications to its premier fellowship program, the oldest and largest in the world for the study of American art. Scholars from any discipline whose research engages the art, craft, and visual culture of the United States are encouraged to apply, as are those who foreground new perspectives, materials, and methodologies. Fellowships are residential and support full-time research in the Smithsonian collections. SAAM is devoted to advancing excellence in art history and encourages candidates from all backgrounds to apply.
The museum hosts a number of fellows each year through Smithsonian-sponsored fellowship programs and awards its own named fellowships.
Smithsonian Institution Fellowship Program (SIFP)
The Betsy James Wyeth Fellowship in Native American Art
The Audrey Flack Short-Term Fellowship
Applicants must identify a member of SAAM’s research staff to serve as primary fellowship advisor in order to hold a residency at this museum. They are encouraged to notify the potential advisor in advance of their application. To find a potential advisor whose research interests match yours, browse the museum’s staff listings in the Smithsonian Opportunities for Research and Study guide or search our Staff Bios.
Applicants whose native language is not English are expected to have the ability to write and converse fluently in English. All application materials must be presented in English (foreign transcripts may be translated).
Duration: 10 weeks for graduate student fellows; 3-12 months for predoctoral, postdoctoral, and senior fellows. Tenures must take place between June 1, 2026, and August 31, 2027.
Stipend: $10,000/for 10-week graduate student fellows; $45,000/year for predoctoral fellows and $57,000/year for postdoctoral and senior fellows (prorated if less than 12 months)
Allowances: Predoctoral, postdoctoral, and senior fellows may apply for a research allowance of up to $5,000 for short research trips. A travel allowance of $100-$1,000 supports relocation. Fellows in residence longer than three months are eligible for an allowance of $100/month if enrolling in a Smithsonian health insurance plan.