🇺🇸 Fellowship in the USA 🎨 Anne van Biema Fellowship — Up to $45,000 for Japanese Visual Arts Research at the Smithsonian 🏛️

For scholars working in Japanese visual arts, few opportunities carry the weight of this one. The Anne van Biema Fellowship is a prestigious, fully funded research fellowship hosted by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art in Washington, DC — established by bequest to promote excellence in research and publication on the Japanese visual arts. If your work sits in this field and you’re at the postdoctoral or senior level, this is worth every bit of your attention.

🏛️ About the Fellowship

The Anne van Biema Fellowship is administered by the National Museum of Asian Art and supports high-level academic research with generous funding, access to world-class collections, and immersion in one of the most respected scholarly communities in the field. Fellows work full-time on their proposed project, engage with the museum’s academic programmes, and present a research-in-progress seminar during their appointment.

Research proposals are evaluated on merit, originality, methodology, and potential for significant publication that will advance scholarly and public understanding of the Japanese visual arts. Interdisciplinary proposals with a primary focus on Japanese visual arts are also considered.

🎯 Research Focus

This fellowship is for scholars working in:

🖼️ Japanese visual arts — in any period, medium, or approach

📚 Art history and cultural studies with a primary Japanese visual arts focus

🔬 Interdisciplinary research that centres on Japanese visual arts

💶 Financial Support

💰 Stipend: up to $45,000 for the 2026 cycle (3–9 months, approximately $5,000 per month)

🧳 Additional research and travel allowance: up to $5,000

🖥️ Research space, a networked computer, access to art collections, archives, and Smithsonian Institution libraries all provided

📋 What Fellows Do

🔍 Conduct independent, full-time research on their proposed project

🏺 Access exclusive museum collections, archives, and institutional resources

🤝 Engage with scholars, curators, and the broader Smithsonian academic community

🎤 Present a research-in-progress seminar during the fellowship period

✅ Eligibility

🎓 Open to postdoctoral researchers and senior scholars

🌍 Open to all nationalities — visa and residency requirements are the applicant’s responsibility, though the Smithsonian will support eligible candidates in applying for a J-1 Visa through the Exchange Visitor Program

📅 For the 2026 cycle, fellows are not required to reside in Washington, DC for the entire fellowship period

📋 How to Apply

Applications must be submitted in English by email to FreerResearchCenter@si.edu and must include:

📄 Application cover sheet (PDF, 25kb — available on the official page)

📝 Curriculum vitae with contact information and complete list of publications

🔬 Research proposal — a précis of 250 words and a narrative of maximum 2,000 words, addressing previous relevant research, significance to the field, methodology, and projected schedule

💰 Budget for projected research expenses (maximum $5,000)

✉️ Two letters of recommendation emailed directly to FreerResearchCenter@si.edu — reviewers should address proposal merits, feasibility, the candidate’s publication record, and potential for original contribution

📅 Key Dates

🗓️ Application deadline: 4 May 2026

📬 Notification of awards: End of June 2026

🛬 Appointments begin: Between 1 August and 1 December 2026

💡 This fellowship is strictly for advanced researchers and scholars with publication track records. If you are early-career, focus first on building research experience, academic publications, and strong proposal-writing skills before applying.

⏰ Deadline

4 May 2026

🔗 Link

https://asia.si.edu/about/jobs-opportunities/the-anne-van-biema-fellowship

✋Important Notice

Youth Works Hub does not represent or act on behalf of any organization listed on this platform. All project details are sourced directly from official ESC and Erasmus+ databases. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, always refer to the official project page or contact the hosting organization directly. Youth Works Hub is not responsible for any changes made to project details after publication.