Postdoctoral Curatorial Fellowships
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to increase the flow of excellent art historians into the museum profession.
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to provide exemplary training opportunities for Fellows at museums with major collections and demonstrated strength in both curatorial and conservation areas.
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to provide additional support for scholarly activities relating to a museum’s permanent collections, as well as special projects (including special exhibitions) and other curatorial activities.
The purpose of the Fellowship is to introduce recent Ph.D.s in art history to the opportunities and challenges of curatorship as a professional career. Mellon Postdoctoral Curatorial Fellows work closely with curators, conservators, scientists, and other museum staff; receive hands-on training with objects and collections; conduct scholarly research intended to lead to publication on museum collections and other curatorial projects; and participate in a wide range of curatorial responsibilities (collection cataloguing, installations, exhibitions, acquisitions, gallery tours, etc.)
As of 2007, 39 Mellon Postdoctoral Curatorial Fellows have been appointed at eight museums in the United States for three-year terms. The collective record of their accomplishment includes close to 100 publications (collection and exhibition catalogues, articles, and reviews) and numerous special exhibitions and gallery installations.
Mellon Postdoctoral Curatorial Fellows are considered comparable in rank and compensation to entry-level assistant curators at their host institutions. They receive an annual stipend/salary and benefits; a travel and research allowance; and funding for one significant independent project during the fellowship period. Mellon Fellows should not expect to secure permanent positions at their host museums following their term appointments, though such promotions are permissible.
For current Fellowship openings, please consult the museum websites listed below:
