Smothsonian’s The Anne van Biema Fellowship 2026

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Call for applications for The Anne van Biema Fellowship is open now!!!

The Anne van Biema Fellowship is a prestigious research opportunity established to promote excellence in the study and publication of Japanese visual arts. Hosted by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art, the fellowship supports advanced scholarly work that contributes to both academic knowledge and public understanding of Japanese art. It is specifically designed for postdoctoral and senior scholars with a strong record of research and publication.

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The fellowship encourages innovative and interdisciplinary research proposals, provided they maintain a primary focus on Japanese visual arts. Applications are assessed based on merit, originality, methodological rigor, and the potential to produce significant scholarly publications. Selected fellows are expected to engage fully with their research projects while also contributing to the intellectual environment of the museum.

For the 2026 cycle, awards are offered for a duration of three to nine months, with a maximum stipend of $45,000, prorated at approximately $5,000 per month. Additional funding of up to $5,000 is available for research-related and travel expenses. Fellows are granted access to extensive institutional resources, including art collections, archives, libraries, and dedicated research facilities.

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The program fosters a collaborative and intellectually stimulating environment where fellows are encouraged to participate in seminars and scholarly discussions. Each fellow is required to present a research-in-progress seminar during their tenure. While residency in Washington, DC is not mandatory for the entire duration, fellows are expected to maintain active engagement with the museum’s academic community.

The fellowship is open to scholars worldwide, though applicants are responsible for securing the necessary visas and meeting all residency requirements. Appointments typically begin between August 1 and December 1, with notifications issued by the end of June. Overall, the fellowship provides a significant platform for advancing research in Japanese visual arts within a globally respected institution.