Art of the Spanish Americas Fellowships & Awards

The Carl & Marilynn Thoma Foundation offers predoctoral and postdoctoral fellowships annually in support of projects and research initiatives that will advance study of the art of the Spanish Americas. The Marilynn Thoma Fellowship is the only unrestricted research funding in the United States devoted exclusively to the field of art of the Spanish Americas. Scholars may come from any discipline, but all projects must relate to the study of art and art history. Exceptionally accomplished scholars holding an MA may also apply. International scholars, particularly from Latin America, are strongly encouraged to apply. 

Versión en castellano    Application Guidelines

Applicants should propose projects that exhibit original scholarship and/or will make a significant contribution to the understanding of the art of the Spanish Americas and its history. Fellowships range in duration from one to two years and eventuate in major measurable outcomes, including museum exhibitions, dissertations, book publications, scholarly essays, and lecture series. Projects will be considered from all of Spanish colonial Latin America and the Caribbean; however, the Foundation will give strong preference to projects that make specific contributions to the history of painting and sculpture in viceregal South America. 

Predoctoral Dissertation Research Fellowship: $50,000 (one-year award) 

Postdoctoral Research Fellowship*: $65,000/year (one- to two-year award; indicate project length in application)

*Applicants should hold a PhD conferred between 2013 and 2023. 

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Congruent with the Marilynn Thoma Fellowship, the Foundation offers annual grants to scholars, curators, art historians, and advanced graduate students working on MA theses or PhD dissertations in support of projects and research initiatives that will advance the field of the art of the Spanish Americas. These grants are meant to help defray the costs of research-related expenses. Funding is provided each year to several scholars selected by an international jury of undisclosed experts in the field. 

Grants of up to $25,000 are available for projects lasting up to six months.  

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All applications that do not directly focus on South America must demonstrate how the project relates to the art history of South America. Projects that focus exclusively on decorative arts, maps, or manuscripts are not eligible to apply. Applicants must have the ability to communicate and conduct research in both Spanish and English.

Fellowships and Travel Awards are portable and funds may be used in any reasonable way the applicant sees fit to accomplish the project, including travel and accommodation, photography/digital images, access and research fees, tuition remission, supportive staffing, and scientific analysis. Funds may only be used for the expenses of the grant recipient and research assistants (not family or companions).

Award monies may not be used to fund group projects, equipment purchases, or projects that do not relate directly to the study of art and art history.

Projects should relate to a measurable outcome commensurate with the award amount, such as a dissertation, book manuscript, museum exhibition, essay, lecture series, article for a scholarly journal, etc.

Awardees will be selected by an anonymous jury of four accomplished professionals in the field. Decisions are made on the merit of the application and compelling nature of the project. The number of awards made in each category will vary in response to the applicant pool.

We acknowledge that the overwhelming uncertainty currently surrounding research and travel plans may interfere with project timelines. Applicants are therefore encouraged to propose flexible timelines. Funds may be used up to 3 years from date of issue. Foundation staff is available to respond to any questions or concerns during the application process. In the case of travel-related expenditures, winners will be asked to buy refundable tickets and travel insurance to protect against cancelled flights and other unknowns.

The Thoma Foundation is not liable for any taxes, foreign or domestic, incurred by the receipt of these fellowships and awards. Applicants should familiarize themselves with the financial policies of their home countries and banking institutions, and should budget accordingly when planning fellowship research & travel.

Please only submit one application per year.

Please see the full eligibility criteria and application guidelines here.

Contact veronica@thomafoundation.org with any questions and/or to apply. For a Spanish language version of the above instructions, please click here. 

Applications for the 2023-24 fellowship and award cycle open August 15, 2023. The deadline for the Marilynn Thoma Fellowship and Thoma Foundation Research and Travel Awards is December 15, 2023. 

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