Curatorial Fellowships

Andrew W. Mellon Postdoctoral Curatorial Fellowship

Call for Applications     

Send PDF application components to this email by March 30, 2025, by 11:59 p.m. EDT. 

The National Gallery of Art hosts a postdoctoral curatorial fellowship endowed by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and is accepting applications now through March 30, 2025, for fall 2025. This is a two-year fellowship with the possibility of renewal for a third year. The fellowship provides curatorial training and supports scholarly research related to the collection of the National Gallery of Art. The fellow is fully integrated in a curatorial department with duties, privileges, and status equivalent to those of an assistant curator. Time is divided between assigned projects and general curatorial work within the department, including research on the collection and new acquisitions, work on the presentation and interpretation of the collection, participation in aspects of special exhibition and publishing projects, and opportunities to give public lectures.

Through weekly gatherings and discussions, the fellow takes part in research sharing and sessions that explore the inner workings of the National Gallery. The fellow takes part in departmental and curatorial-wide meetings and has opportunities to work with departments across the National Gallery.

As the Andrew W. Mellon Postdoctoral Curatorial Fellow, the incumbent will play a crucial administrative and research role in a forthcoming major traveling exhibition of American art to be staged at the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne, Australia in the summer of 2027. The exhibition will feature significant modern and contemporary artworks from the National Gallery of Art’s collection, sharing with Australian audiences a history of key moments in the development of modern and contemporary art of the United States. While the postdoctoral fellow will be based in the Modern and Contemporary Department, the exhibition project is a cross departmental effort that encompasses other curatorial departments, including American Paintings, Modern Prints and Drawings and the Department of Photographs.
 

Duties

As the Andrew W. Mellon Postdoctoral Curatorial Fellow, you will:

• Under the supervision of the Curator of Modern Art, assist with, handles independently, or otherwise participates in every type of activity performed by the curatorial department(s) to which you are assigned, such as exhibition preparation, scholarly research and writing, collection development and care, and educational programs.

• Assist with organizing special exhibitions from NGA collections and/or multiple lenders, including concept development and presentation, research, selection of works, loan letters and tracking, organization, installation, press, and related scholarly and public educational programming. Work with other Gallery departments and collaborating institutions to coordinate all exhibition details, including registrar, conservation, exhibitions, design and installation, development and the press office. As assigned, may represent the department in discussions with collaborators, lenders, officials, foundations, corporate and private sponsors, and the press concerning exhibitions or other programs s/he has helped to develop.

• Conduct curatorial research and writes interpretive texts for brochures, catalogues, gallery wall labels, and the website, targeted to diverse audiences. Work with supervisor and relevant staff in offices that manage exhibitions, publishing, design, photography, permissions, the website, education programs, and scholarly and public symposia, to ensure timely and effective completion of all such collaborative undertakings.

• Perform scholarly research on objects in the permanent collection, potential acquisitions, loans, and exhibition topics. Contribute current scholarly information for electronic database records, The Museum System (TMS), and supporting material for hard copy curatorial records and object files.
  

• Participate in Gallery-wide curatorial activities, including gallery checks and periodic weekend duty, which may involve handling an emergency to protect works of art, and writing and circulating interoffice memoranda of observations and recommendations of measures to be taken to correct conditions in the galleries or repairs to a damaged work of art. As assigned, work with the offices of the Registrar, Conservation, and Visual Services on safe handling, storage, loan review, transport, maintenance, condition checks, and photography of works of art; serve as official courier to oversee handling and accompany transports of National Gallery works of art to and from other borrowing institutions.

• Answer general inquiries and technical questions from the public concerning departmental collections and programs. Assist visiting scholars researching the Gallery's collections and general visitors with particular interests. Coordinate appointments for visitors to storage rooms and supervises visitors while they are examining works of art. Conduct lectures, tours, and other public programs for audiences of all levels. Conduct Gallery business and research in English and in foreign languages.

• As assigned, assist in the selection, management, and training of research assistants and interns. Review work for quality, timeliness, accuracy, and thoroughness.

• Take part in departmental staff meetings, monthly all-curatorial meetings, and interdepartmental meetings regarding special projects.

• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Fellowship Period

The fellow must be in residence at the National Gallery of Art during the fellowship period, which lasts for two years, with the possibility of a third year, starting in the fall, 2025. 

Eligibility
The National Gallery of Art seeks a specialist in US American Art 1900-present to become the next recipient of the Andrew W. Mellon Postdoctoral Curatorial Fellowship to join the Department of Modern and Contemporary. The doctoral degree in art history (or the equivalent in countries outside the United States) must be or have been officially conferred within five years (preferably three years) of the start date of the fellowship. Applicants from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply. This is an international program. With questions, please write to this email address and title the subject of your email: Last Name, First Name. AWM Fellowship [YOUR QUESTION].

Funding
The fellow will receive an annual salary of $65,000, plus research and travel expenses up to $6,500 per year.

Nature of the Position and Benefits
The Andrew W. Mellon Postdoctoral Curatorial Fellow is a full-time, non-federal, term employee of the National Gallery of Art and is eligible for coverage under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program and the Federal Employees Group Life Insurance Program. The fellow is entitled to annual leave and medical leave, 104 hours of each per year, earned on a biweekly basis, paid federal holidays, and a public transportation subsidy. Benefits for non-U.S. citizens vary according to treaty requirements.

Equal Opportunity
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for the Andrew W. Mellon Postdoctoral Curatorial Fellowship without regard to race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, marital status, citizenship, or any other protected status. 

Application Timeline and Procedures
Deadline: March 30, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. (EDT)
By the date above, all application materials must be submitted as PDF attachments, by email, in English, to [email protected]. We do not accept applications or related materials via postal mail or in person. There is no fee to apply for this fellowship.
The application requires you to provide the following in PDF format:

• Cover letter
• Full curriculum vitae of education, professional experience, honors, awards, and publications
• A statement, not to exceed 1,000 words, that explains your reasons for applying and specify your areas of research and their relationship to the Gallery’s collection and proposed fellowship focus areas.
• Copy of a published paper or recent writing sample
• Transcripts from the university that granted the PhD degree
• Three references, their names, titles, and email addresses. Include at least one academic reference and one professional reference from recommenders who know your work well.
  

Submit all application materials in PDF to the following National Gallery of Art email address: [email protected] by the March 30 deadline, at 11:59 p.m. (EDT). Please title the subject of your email: Last Name, First name. AWM Fellowship Application.

Review Process

Applications will be reviewed by a selection committee composed of National Gallery of Art staff. Please do not contact National Gallery curators or other officials directly regarding possible placement or projects. With questions, please write to this email address and title the subject of your email: Last Name, First Name. AWM Fellowship [YOUR QUESTION].

Virtual Interviews 

Finalists for the Andrew W. Mellon Postdoctoral Curatorial Fellowship will be contacted for virtual interviews which will take place in April or early May. On campus interviews will take place in June and July.

Fellowship Position Requirements

• PhD in Art History received within the past 5 years (after 2020)
• Demonstrated interest in pursuing a museum career
• Security background check for finalist

Professional Knowledge and Experience Requirements

• Professional knowledge of this history of American and European art through the early twentieth century and more specialized knowledge in American art from 1900 until the present are required.
  
• Knowledge of research tools and methodology 
• Specialization in the areas of focus described in this fellowship description is strongly preferred.
• Understanding of professional museum principles, practices, and procedures
• Curatorial experience in a museum, including curatorial fellowships and internships and/or as a curatorial assistant or associate 
• Experience in building relationships with museum colleagues, audiences, living artists, collectors, museum donors, and galleries is preferred. 

Skills and Abilities Requirements

• Ability to communicate clearly and professionally
• Exemplary writing, speaking, and listening skills in English
• Public speaking skills; commitment to audience accessibility and diversity awareness 
• Collegiality, diplomacy, interpersonal effectiveness, and flexibility
• Demonstrated ability to complete projects within deadlines
• Diligence in maintaining high ethical standards, confidentiality, and discretion 
• Proficiency in Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, Teams, and PowerPoint
• Experience with The Museum System (TMS) collection database software (preferred)
• Proficiency in foreign language(s) relevant to National Gallery projects of focus for this fellowship (preferred)