CASVA Predoctoral Dissertation Fellowships 2027–2030 (National Gallery of Art)
Ten predoctoral dissertation fellowships in the history, theory and criticism of the visual arts at the National Gallery of Art's Center for Advanced Study in the Visual Arts.
| Amount / funding | ESTIMATE: $30,000 per year (ESTIMATE — 2023-cycle stipend quoted by the International Center of Medieval Art; the current NGA programme page does not publish a stipend figure) + housing in residence subject to availability + travel allowances depending on fellowship terms (2023-cycle stipend quoted by the International Center of Medieval Art for CASVA predoctoral dissertation fellowships; the current National Gallery of Art programme page does not publish a stipend figure) |
|---|---|
| Deadline | 15 November 2026, 5:00 PM EST |
| Start date | September 2027 (award periods between September 2027 and August 2030) |
| Level | Doctoral |
| Funding type | partial |
| Field |
About this scholarship
Ten predoctoral dissertation fellowships from the Center for Advanced Study in the Visual Arts at the National Gallery of Art, supporting completion of doctoral dissertations in the history, theory and criticism of the visual arts, with terms of 12, 24 or 36 months depending on the named fellowship. Senior, postdoctoral and visiting senior CASVA deadlines for this cycle have already passed and are not staged.
Minimum requirements
Application may be made only through nomination by the chair of a graduate department of art history or other appropriate department. The nominee must have completed all departmental requirements, including coursework, residency and general and preliminary examinations. Certification in two languages other than English is required. Candidates must be either United States citizens or enrolled in a university in the United States. Ten fellowships: David E. Finley (36 months, two years' research and travel outside the U.S. plus a third year in residence with curatorial work), Paul Mellon (36 months, European art, two years abroad plus a third year in residence), Samuel H. Kress (24 months, European art before the early 19th century), Wyeth (24 months, art of the United States), Ittleson (24 and 12 months, topics other than Europe or the United States), Andrew W. Mellon (24 months, topics other than Europe or the United States, cross-cultural topics encouraged), Robert H. and Clarice Smith (12 months, northern European art 1400–1700, dissertation or publication), Chester Dale (24 and 12 months, any topic in the history, theory and criticism of the visual arts). Award periods between September 2027 and August 2030.
Application checklist
- Secure nomination by the chair of the graduate department of art history or other appropriate department (applications cannot be made independently)
- Confirm all departmental requirements are complete: coursework, residency, general and preliminary examinations
- Confirm certification in two languages other than English
- Confirm U.S. citizenship or enrolment in a U.S. university
- Submit the online application by the deadline (specific fellowship terms differ: Finley and Paul Mellon 36 months, Kress and Wyeth 24 months, Ittleson 24 and 12 months, A. W. Mellon 24 months, Smith 12 months, Chester Dale 24 and 12 months)
Application tips
- Start with the department chair, since nomination is the only route in — an un-nominated application cannot be considered.
- Match your dissertation topic to a named fellowship: Kress is European art before the early 19th century, Wyeth is art of the United States, Smith is northern European art 1400–1700, Ittleson and A. W. Mellon exclude Europe/U.S. topics.
- Note the two-language certification requirement early, since it cannot be completed at the last minute.
- The twelve-month fellowships (Ittleson, Smith, Chester Dale) have no residence requirement at the Center, unlike the longer ones — pick the term that fits your research plan.
Always verify deadline, amount and eligibility on the official page before applying. Values marked ESTIMATE are based on a previous cycle and are not confirmed for the current round.
Tags: Doctoral fellowship, Art history, Visual arts