Smithsonian American Art Museum Fellows

03/17/2026

Register today for a March 27 event honoring William H. Truettner (1935–2025), whose nearly fifty-year tenure as curator of painting and sculpture at the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the Renwick Gallery left an indelible mark on the field of American art. The talk will be delivered by Dr. Alexander Nemerov, Carl and Marilynn Thoma Provostial Professor in the Arts and Humanities at Stanford University.

In Tribute: Remarks Honoring William H. Truettner
Friday, March 27, 4–5 p.m.
McEvoy Auditorium, SAAM
Free | Registration required

https://events.blackthorn.io/en/5f4ZMUx7/in-tribute-remarks-honoring-william-h-truettner-5a2bVR2O3Rp/overview

10/06/2025

The Smithsonian's museums, research centers, and the National Zoo are open today, and will remain open through Saturday, October 11. If the government shutdown continues past October 11, the Smithsonian will close to the public. Regardless of the institution's status, the SOLAA portal will remain open and the deadline for the SI Fellowship Program and the Betsy James Wyeth Fellowship in Native American Art remain October 15 at midnight EST.

The museum supports pre- and postdoctoral scholars in residence to conduct research on topics in American art and visual culture.

08/19/2025

Applications are now open for the 2026-2027 SAAM Fellowship cycle. The application deadline for both SIFP and the Betsy James Wyeth Fellowship in Native American Art is October 15. Visit https://americanart.si.edu/research/fellowships/apply for more information.

The Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM) and its Renwick Gallery invite applications to its premier fellowship program, the oldest and largest in the world for the study of American art. Scholars from any discipline whose research engages the art, craft, and visual culture of the United States are...

05/28/2025

On May 7–9, 2025, the cohort of 2024–2025 Smithsonian American Art Museum Fellows delivered a thought-provoking series of talks that spanned a range of topics, time periods, media, and messages. You can see the full program at https://americanart.si.edu/research/fellowships/lectures and watch the recorded talks for up to one year on SAAM's YouTube channel:
Day 1: https://youtube.com/live/UjYpK43l-80?feature=share
Day 2: https://youtube.com/live/pS4_GqHK16E?feature=share
Day 3: https://youtube.com/live/XhJFYa86uRg?feature=share

The Smithsonian American Art Museum and its Renwick Gallery cordially invite you to attend lectures delivered by our research fellows.

05/06/2025

Last chance to register! SAAM Fellows Lectures, May 7, 8, 9
Register today to attend the 2024–2025 Smithsonian American Art Museum Fellows Lectures in person or online. This thought-provoking series of talks span a range of topics, time periods, media, and messages. Hear from a new generation of scholars who are delving into the Smithsonian’s collections and archives to uncover fresh perspectives on American art. Whether you’re a student, a scholar, or art enthusiast, this series will reveal new insights into America’s rich artistic and cultural heritage. Talks will take place in SAAM's McEvoy Auditorium and online and are free with registration; see https://americanart.si.edu/research/fellowships/lectures.

Wednesday, May 7, 1–5 p.m.
Thursday, May 8, 1–4:30 p.m.
Friday, May 9, 1–5 p.m.

03/20/2025

An amazing opportunity to lead a stellar team! SAAM seeks an inspiring and collaborative museum leader who can convey a vision of impact for the future, create a clear strategy for the path ahead, and fortify an outstanding team. SAAM serves as a convenor, educator, and voice for American art and culture at local, national, and global levels. The Margaret and Terry Stent Director will demonstrate a compassionate servant leadership style, entrepreneurial drive, and interpersonal composure, diplomacy, and discernment, aligning with SAAM’s core values.

Active Searches Director, Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM) Company: Smithsonian Institution Location: Washington, DC Date Posted: March 19, 2025 Express Interest Download Position Profile (PDF) Make a Nomination Your Name(Required) First Last Your Email(Required) Nomination Information(Require...

02/05/2025

February already? Stay up to date on what's new in the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the Renwick Gallery's Research and Scholars Center with our latest newsletter: go.americanart.si.edu/webmail/980712/814910188/3127cd6d4c87fd2da7005fb1c237007bd3f46ad4445c3ed4e570c86dee890ee1

01/03/2025

Applications are invited for the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s Audrey Flack Short-Term Fellowship. The application deadline is February 1. The renowned artist Audrey Flack (1931–2024) generously established this short-term award in recognition of her personal journey balancing intensive career demands with raising two daughters, one of whom has autism. More information on the program and a link to the application are available on SAAM's webpage (https://americanart.si.edu/research/fellowships/audrey-flack) and below:

A single Audrey Flack Short-Term Fellowship will be awarded annually in support of a one-month (thirty-day) residency. Residencies must take place between June 1, 2025, and May 31, 2026, and begin on the 1st or 15th of the month. The Audrey Flack Short-Term Fellow will receive a stipend of $5,000 to support travel to and living expenses in Washington, D.C. Housing is not provided.

The Audrey Flack Short-Term Fellowship is open to predoctoral, postdoctoral, and senior scholars researching topics in American art who reside, work, or attend school outside of commuting distance from Washington, D.C. Researchers whose personal circumstances (i.e., financial constraints, employment conditions, care-giving responsibilities, or other limitations) preclude them from participating in longer-term residencies are encouraged to apply. Applicants should submit a statement of need justifying the rationale for a short-term fellowship. More information on submitting an application can be found on our How to Apply page.

Applicants must identify a member of SAAM’s research staff to serve as the primary fellowship advisor. Projects that require access to SAAM’s collections and staff expertise are prioritized, although those that utilize other Smithsonian resources are eligible.

12/12/2024

The fall newsletter of the Research and Scholars Center highlights initiatives and events happening here this fall. Enjoy!

11/06/2024

The James Smithson Fellowship for 2025 invites applications for the theme of “migration,” which could encompass everything from the movement of monarch butterflies to the diaspora of humans across time and space. The James Smithson Fellowship Program was created to offer early career opportunities for post-doctoral researchers interested in gaining a better understanding about the interplay between scholarship and public policy through a Smithsonian lens. The fellowship is open to postdoctoral researchers (no more than 5 years out from the PhD) in the fields of science, the humanities, and the arts who are U.S. citizens. Applications are due January 15, 2025 at 5 PM. Learn more and apply at

node:field_teaser]

08/22/2024

Apply by October 15 for a fellowship at the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the Renwick Gallery. Scholars from any discipline who are researching topics relating to U.S. art, craft, and visual culture are encouraged to apply, as are those who foreground new perspectives, materials, and methodologies. Fellowships are residential and support full-time research.

Each fellow is provided a carrel in SAAM’s Research and Scholars Center. There, they have access to the museum’s collection of over 46,000 works, specialized study collections and databases, the Smithsonian’s Archives of American Art, and an 180,000-volume branch library specializing in American art. The Research and Scholars Center is a short walk from other Smithsonian museums and libraries, the Library of Congress, the National Archives, and the National Gallery of Art. Regular workshops, seminars, and lectures provide a forum for lively scholarly exchange and professional advancement.

Candidates may apply to one or more of the following three opportunities:
• SAAM and SIFP Fellowships: SAAM hosts fellows through the Smithsonian Institution Fellowship Program (SIFP), and also awards a number of named fellowships to graduate, predoctoral, postdoctoral, and senior candidates from this general pool. Deadline: October 15, 2024.
• The Betsy James Wyeth Fellowship in Native American Art: This joint fellowship at SAAM and the National Museum of the American Indian is awarded for a twelve-month term at the predoctoral level or a nine-month term at the postdoctoral or senior level. Deadline: October 15, 2024.
• The Audrey Flack Short-Term Fellowship: One fellowship is awarded at the predoctoral, postdoctoral, or senior level for a one-month term. Deadline: February 1, 2025.

Learn more at

The museum supports pre- and postdoctoral scholars in residence to conduct research on topics in American art and visual culture.