Luce/ACLS Dissertation Fellowships in American Art

The American Council of Learned Societies is a nonprofit federation established in 1919 that represents a broad network of scholarly organizations in the humanities and social sciences. It operates with the guiding principle that knowledge is a public good and supports research that advances humanistic scholarship. Through its fellowship and grant programs, the organization funds scholars at different career stages, including graduate students, to foster rigorous academic work. The Luce Dissertation Fellowships in American Art are supported by the Henry Luce Foundation and are specifically designed to strengthen scholarship in the history of American art and visual culture. This fellowship program is intended to support doctoral candidates conducting dissertation research or writing on topics related to the visual arts of the United States. This includes a wide scope of subject matter, explicitly incorporating Native American art and encouraging interdisciplinary approaches across fields such as ethnic studies and African American studies. The funding supports projects that center on the art object or image and employ art historical or visual studies methodologies. The fellowship emphasizes inclusivity and encourages applications from a diverse pool of scholars across institutions in the United States. Each fellowship provides a total award of forty three thousand five hundred dollars, which includes a stipend of thirty nine thousand dollars and an additional allowance of up to four thousand five hundred dollars for travel and research expenses. The fellowship tenure must span a continuous period of nine to twelve months and must occur between July two thousand twenty seven and June two thousand twenty eight. The funding cannot be used to pay tuition and cannot be held concurrently with another major fellowship or grant. All funded work must be completed before the recipient is awarded their doctoral degree. Eligibility for this program is limited to doctoral students enrolled at accredited universities in the United States who are pursuing degrees in art history or closely related disciplines. Applicants must have completed all PhD requirements except the dissertation prior to the start of the fellowship. Additional eligibility criteria include restrictions on prior applications, allowing no more than one previous application, and specific residency or citizenship requirements, including United States citizens, permanent residents, and certain protected or authorized immigrant statuses. The application process requires submission through the ACLS online fellowship administration system. Required materials include a completed application form, a detailed proposal of no more than eight pages that outlines the research scope, methodology, and significance, and an annotated bibliography of key sources. Applicants must also submit two reference letters, including one from their dissertation advisor, and an institutional statement confirming academic standing and support. Optional materials include a list of publications and academic contributions. The proposal must include images and a clear work plan for the fellowship period. Applications are evaluated by peer reviewers based on the quality of the research proposal, its contribution to the field of American art, and the applicant’s scholarly record and potential. Reviewers are also instructed to consider the value of diverse perspectives and institutional contexts in strengthening scholarship. The competition opens in July two thousand twenty six and has a submission deadline of October twenty eight two thousand twenty six at five PM Eastern Time. Award notifications are expected by mid March two thousand twenty seven. This fellowship is part of an annual funding cycle and supports a limited number of fellows, with seven awards granted per cycle. The program provides flexibility in research location, allowing fellows to conduct their work at their home institution or another suitable site. The structured timeline, comprehensive application requirements, and emphasis on scholarly contribution make this a competitive and prestigious opportunity for doctoral candidates in the humanities.

Proposals must clearly outline scholarly contribution and context. Applications with structured sections and strong intellectual framing are favored.