Advanced training in European art history requires direct exposure to the object of study, prolonged access to key information resources such as libraries and photographic archives, the development of professional relationships with colleagues abroad, and sustained immersion in European cultures. These related needs are often best satisfied by extended engagement with a European art research center.
Scholarship Details
- Six pre-doctoral fellowships are awarded every two years
- Each fellowship provides $45,000 annually for two years, totaling $90,000
- Supports dissertation research focused on European art from antiquity through the early 19th century
- Fellowships provide two-year research appointments at participating European institutions
- Participating research centers are located in Florence, Leiden, London, Munich, Paris, and Rome
- Host institutions include the Kunsthistorisches Institut in Florence, Leiden University Centre for the Arts in Society, Courtauld Institute of Art and Warburg Institute in London, Zentralinstitut für Kunstgeschichte in Munich, Institut national d'histoire de l'art in Paris, and Bibliotheca Hertziana in Rome
- Provides access to specialized research collections, libraries, photographic archives, and professional networks
Eligibility Criteria
- Must be a pre-doctoral candidate in art history or a related discipline, such as archaeology, architecture, or classics
- Must be a U.S. citizen or enrolled at an American university
- Must be conducting dissertation research on European art from antiquity through the early 19th century
- Must have achieved All But Dissertation (ABD) status by the beginning of the fellowship
- Must receive a formal nomination from their academic department
- Departmental nominations must be confirmed through a recommendation letter from the department chair
- Each academic department may nominate no more than two candidates, who must apply to different research centers
- Must demonstrate the relevance of the selected European research institution to the proposed dissertation project
Application Process
- Consult your academic department to secure a formal nomination for the Kress History of Art Institutional Fellowship.
- Register for access to the Kress Foundation's online grantmaking portal at https://kressfoundation.fluxx.io.
- Complete the online application, including a list of language proficiencies and confirmation of ABD status or remaining requirements and their expected completion dates.
- Identify three recommenders, including your department chair, dissertation advisor, and an additional scholar. If the department chair also serves as your dissertation advisor, identify another scholar. A fourth recommendation may be submitted when appropriate.
- Prepare a summary of your proposed dissertation research project, limited to 15,000 characters.
- Describe your proposed research plan, emphasizing the importance of conducting research at your selected institution and any anticipated extended travel within Europe, limited to 9,000 characters.
- Provide a description of dissertation work already completed, limited to 3,000 characters.
- Describe previous research and travel experience abroad, particularly your familiarity with international libraries and research facilities, limited to 6,000 characters.
- List other grants for which you are applying, including award names, requested amounts, funding periods, and the portions of your research each grant would support.
- Upload an annotated bibliography of primary works relevant to your research, limited to five pages.
- Upload a proposed fellowship budget, curriculum vitae, and official transcript from your current university.
- Ensure that your recommenders submit their letters through the secure links provided by the application portal, including confirmation of your departmental nomination.
- Submit the completed application and all required materials by November 30th
The Kress History of Art Institutional Fellowships provide doctoral researchers with opportunities to advance their scholarship through sustained immersion in European art history research environments. For step-by-step instructions on completing the online application please see the Portal Guide for the History of Art Institutional Fellowship Application.
