National Gallery of Art Senior Fellowship Program in Visual Arts Studies

Senior fellowships are for full-time research, and scholars are expected to reside in Washington and to participate in the activities of the Center throughout the fellowship period. Lectures, colloquia, and informal discussions complement the fellowship program. Each senior fellow is provided with a study. In addition, senior fellows who relocate to Washington are provided with housing in apartments near the National Gallery, subject to availability. Senior fellows have access to the notable resources represented by the art collections, the library, and the image collections of the National Gallery of Art, as well as to the Library of Congress and other specialized research libraries and collections in the Washington area. 

One Paul Mellon Fellowship and four to six Ailsa Mellon Bruce, Samuel H. Kress, and William C. Seitz Senior Fellowships will be awarded for the academic year, early fall to spring. Applications for a single academic term are also considered.

Fields of Study

The Paul Mellon and Ailsa Mellon Bruce Senior Fellowships are intended to support research in the history, theory, and criticism of the visual arts (painting, sculpture, architecture, landscape architecture, urbanism, prints and drawings, film, photography, decorative arts, industrial design, and other arts) of any geographical area and of any period. The Samuel H. Kress Senior Fellowships are intended to support research on European art before the early 19th century. The William C. Seitz Senior Fellowship is primarily intended to support research on modern and contemporary art. Senior fellowship applications are also solicited from scholars in other disciplines whose work examines artifacts or has implications for the analysis and criticism of form.

Qualifications and Selection

Senior fellowships are intended for those who have held the PhD for five years or more at the time of application, or who possess an equivalent record of professional accomplishment. Individuals currently affiliated with the National Gallery of Art are not eligible for the senior fellowship program. Senior fellowships are awarded without regard to the age or nationality of applicants. Applications are reviewed by an external selection committee composed of scholars in the history of art and related disciplines. Outside readers may assist in the evaluation of proposals.

Stipend

A senior fellowship award for the academic year is normally limited to one-half of the applicant's salary, up to a maximum of $50,000, depending on individual circumstances. Awards for a single academic term are prorated. Senior fellows also receive allowances for travel to a scholarly conference, in addition to housing, as available.

Associate Appointments

The Center will consider appointment of associates who have obtained outside awards for full-time research and would like to be affiliated with the Center. Appointments to associate status will be considered for periods of one academic year or a single academic term. Qualifications and selection for associate status are the same as those for senior fellows.

Applications

A complete application includes:

• a proposal
• copies of two publications, either articles or book chapters
• three letters of recommendation

Applications are due on October 15, 2024, by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.

If you have questions about our fellowship program that aren’t included in our FAQs, please email TheCenter@nga.gov.