Wolfsonian fellowships engage scholars and artists from around the world with the museum's collection and the interpretive possibilities contained in dedicated study of the modern age. Working onsite full-time for the duration of their residency, fellows pursue deeper historical understanding (in research fellowships) or imagine new ways to activate historic ideas and imagery (in creative fellowships).
Fellows expand public access to the collection by sharing their discoveries through new writing, programs, or creative work.
All fellows receive:
- A stipend
- Round-trip travel
- Accommodations (if non-local)
- Access to the collection and collections staff
Creative Fellowships
Wolfsonian creative fellowships invite artists of all kinds—visual artists, designers, performers, writers, filmmakers, and musicians—to immerse themselves in the Wolfsonian collection and draw visual, conceptual, or storytelling inspiration from its wide range of historical materials. Grounded in the museum's exploration of modernity and visual culture from 1850 to 1950, the fellowship encourages creative research that connects historical ideas to contemporary practice.
The fellowship is open to creatives with a demonstrated record of accomplishment working in visual, time-based, performative, or digital media. Applicants from a wide range of disciplines are encouraged to apply, particularly those interested in research-driven practice and interdisciplinary experimentation.
Duration: 2 weeks
Eligibility: U.S. citizen or permanent resident
Creative Fellows to Date
Research Fellowships: Paused
Update: Please note we are pausing our Research Fellowship program for a year while we assess our goals and capacities as a research institution and plan a path forward. For that reason, we will not be accepting applications for the 2026–27 academic year.
Since its inception in 1995, our research fellowship program has supported projects in a variety of fields to promote independent scholarship on subjects and items found in Wolfsonian holdings. The program is open to holders of master's or doctoral degrees, Ph.D. candidates, and others with a significant record of professional achievement in relevant fields.
Duration: 3–4 weeks
Eligibility: U.S. and international