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Visiting Senior Fellowships

Visiting senior fellowships provide scholars with two-month appointments to conduct full-time research in residence at the Center. Fellows receive an office in the National Gallery’s East Building as well as housing, subject to availability. They have access to the notable resources of the National Gallery, including its library and art collection, as well as those of greater Washington. Fellows participate in lectures, colloquia, and discussions with the Center’s vibrant community of scholars.

The Center will award up to two Leonard A. Lauder Visiting Senior Fellowships and up to five Paul Mellon and Beinecke Visiting Senior Fellowships for the current award period.

We will open our application portal in early January 2025. Please check back for updates.

Fields of study

Paul Mellon Visiting Senior Fellowships, Beinecke Visiting Senior Fellowships, and Leonard A. Lauder Visiting Senior Fellowships support research in the history, theory, and criticism of the visual arts of any period or geographical area.

For the Leonard A. Lauder Visiting Senior Fellowship, we especially encourage applications that contribute to scholarship in historically marginalized fields.

We welcome applications from scholars in any discipline whose work examines art or artifacts or has implications for the analysis, interpretation, and criticism of visual art or visual culture.

Qualifications
  • Visiting senior fellowships are intended for those who have held a PhD for five years or more at the time of application, or who possess an equivalent record of professional accomplishment.
  • Individuals may not apply for other Center fellowships while an application is pending or once a fellowship has been awarded.
  • Individuals currently affiliated with the National Gallery are not eligible for visiting senior fellowships.
  • Visiting senior fellows may reapply three years after the completion of their fellowship. 

Selection
  • Visiting senior fellowships are awarded without regard to age or nationality.
  • 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.
  • Visiting senior fellowships may not be postponed or renewed.

Stipends and housing
  • Paul Mellon and Beinecke Visiting Senior Fellows receive $7,000 or $8,000, depending upon relocation requirements.
  • Leonard A. Lauder Visiting Senior Fellows receive up to $12,500, which includes a supplement of $2,500 to support future research and publication expenses.
  • Visiting senior fellows will receive an office in the National Gallery’s East Building as well as housing, as available.

Applications

A complete application includes:

  • a proposal
  • a copy of one publication, either an article or book chapter
  • two letters of recommendation

Applications are due on March 21, 2025, by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.

Contact

If you have questions about our fellowship program that aren’t included in our FAQs, please email [email protected].

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