2026 Luce/ACLS Dissertation Fellowships in American Art

Application Deadline: October 28, 2026

NEW YORK, Oct. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) invites applications for the 2026 Luce/ACLS Dissertation Fellowships in American Art.

These fellowships support graduate students pursuing research on the history of art and visual culture of the United States, including all aspects of Native American art.

The program offers seven fellowships of $49,500 each, including a stipend and additional funds for travel and research. ACLS welcomes applicants who are at any stage of PhD dissertation research or writing. We believe that humanistic scholarship is strengthened by the inclusion of a wide range of perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences.

Eligible doctoral candidates should apply no later than 5:00 PM Eastern Time, October 28, 2026. Learn more and apply.

Eligibility 

Applicants must:

• be a doctoral student at a university in the United States in art history or a related field, such as Native American and Indigenous studies, ethnic studies, or African American studies. (Students preparing theses for the Master of Fine Arts degree are not eligible.)
• have a dissertation focused on a topic in the history of the visual arts of the United States, including all facets of Native American art. Projects should be focused foremost on the art object and/or image and employ an art-historical or visual studies approach.
• have completed all requirements for the PhD except the dissertation before beginning fellowship tenure.
• have not previously applied for this fellowship more than once.
• be a US citizen, permanent resident, Indigenous person residing in the United States through rights associated with the Jay Treaty of 1794, DACA recipient, asylee, refugee, or individual granted Temporary Protected Status in the United States.

Questions? Contact us at Fellowships@acls.org.

This program is made possible by the generous support of the Henry Luce Foundation.

Formed a century ago, the American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) is a nonprofit federation of 85 scholarly organizations. As the leading representative of American scholarship in the humanities and social sciences, ACLS upholds the core principle that knowledge is a public good. In supporting its member organizations, ACLS expands the forms, content, and flow of scholarly knowledge, reflecting our commitment to diversity of identity and experience. ACLS collaborates with institutions, associations, and individuals to strengthen the evolving infrastructure for scholarship.

The Henry Luce Foundation seeks to deepen knowledge and understanding in pursuit of a more democratic and just world. Established in 1936 by Henry R. Luce, the co-founder and editor-in-chief of Time, Inc., the Luce Foundation advances its mission by nurturing knowledge communities and institutions, fostering dialogue across divides, enriching public discourse, amplifying diverse voices, and investing in leadership development.

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SOURCE American Council of Learned Societies