Residency for Curators and Conservators

We offer an annual residency for a curator or conservator, working on a project in the field of modern art, and in need of time for library-based research and/or writing. Applicants may be attached to an institution or freelance (if freelance, the project should be organized by a non-profit cultural institution), but the project must have a confirmed publisher (if an essay or book, for example) or exhibition venue (if exhibition in progress, for example). The curatorial/conservation project proposed must align with the mission of the Center, which fosters new research on modern art. We encourage work that introduces innovative interpretative frameworks and new forms of critical thinking. Research that explores the connections between other historical and cultural areas and modern art is encouraged.

The residency provides furnished accommodation in New York for a period from 1 to 3 months between January and May, plus round-trip travel costs; there is no stipend. Recipients of the Residency will be provided with work space in the Research Center, access to The Watson Library at The Met, and, subject to availability, opportunity for intellectual exchange with Met colleagues. Residencies will be awarded competitively on application.

Recipients of the Residency are expected to participate in some, but not all, activities of the Center as agreed in advance with the Head of Center. At the end of the Residency, the curator or conservator will present their research to an invited audience of museum staff, Research Center Fellows, and Advisory Committee members, and write a short report on their work. Recipients of the Residency award will be asked to acknowledge the support of the Research Center in any publication resulting from the Residency.

Please note: The award of a Residency does not imply the opportunity to organize an exhibition at The Met and does not guarantee potential loans from the institution. The Modern and Contemporary wing of the museum will be closed for construction until 2029 such that access to works in the collection will be severely restricted. Projects that assume access to laboratories or conservation studios are unlikely to succeed.

You will be asked to include:

• The number of months requested and the preferred timing of the residency between January and May
• A research/project proposal with bibliography
• A project/work plan
• An explanation as to how the fellowship supports delivery of the overall project (e.g. research/education event, exhibition, publication, including confirmed plans for outcomes)
• A resumé or cv
• A letter of support from a Museum Director or equivalent (for freelance curators or conservators), confirming venue for research output, whether publisher or exhibition gallery
• A short writing sample

A sub-committee of the Center’s Advisory Committee will assess applications using the following criteria:

• Quality and feasibility of project described
• Need for research/writing time in the Research Center, and the timing of the project in relation to it
• Track record of research and publication
• Fit with the Research Center’s mission to support work on modern art (as defined in the application materials)
• Potential benefit to the Research Center and to the museum
• Any challenges in terms of cross-departmental working in the proposal (that may make it less feasible)
• The strength of the letter of support from the applicant’s Museum Director or equivalent