The purpose of the Kress Conservation Fellowship program is to provide a wide range of post-graduate fellowship opportunities that will help develop the skills of emerging conservators.
At the crossroads of science and art, the fields of conservation and technical art history demand a complex knowledge of chemistry and materials and an extraordinary sensitivity to artistic intent, as well as physical dexterity, patience, and powers of concentration. Initial training, typically at one of a handful of institutions in North America, provides basic qualifications that must be supplemented with an extended period of specialized concentration on paintings, objects, textiles, antiquities, ethnic materials, photographs, prints and drawings, books and manuscripts, furniture, etc. Within a supervised environment, the young conservator develops the specific skills, the hands-on experience, and the confidence on which to base a future career.
The Kress Conservation Fellowships provide competitive grants to museums and other conservation facilities which sponsor supervised internships in the conservation of specific objects and onsite training.
Description
Nine $32,000 Fellowships are expected to be awarded each year for one-year post-graduate internships in advanced conservation at a museum or conservation facility. Typically, $27,000 is allocated as a fellowship stipend, and $5,000 toward host institution administrative costs, benefits for the Fellow, and other direct costs of hosting the Fellowship. Most Fellowships begin in late summer or early fall, and run for a term of 9 to 12 months.
Eligibility
Application must be made by the museum or conservation facility at which the internship will be based. Fellows should have completed (or will complete prior to the Fellowship) a masters-level degree in conservation prior to beginning the Fellowship. The Fellowship candidate may be identified in advance of application by the host institution or recruited subsequently.
Priority is given to first-year requests, but worthy projects that clearly outline benefits to the Fellow for a second year of Fellowship can be and have been funded.
new application procedures
The Kress Conservation Fellowships are now being administered by the Foundation of the American Institute for Conservation (FAIC). Please consult carefully the Application Guidelines and use the application form provided. These materials are also available on the FAIC website.
deadline
Applications must be RECEIVED by March 10.
If the deadline falls on a weekend, applications must be received by the previous Friday.
In addition to these Conservation Fellowships, the Kress Foundation supports conservation at other institutions. For a complete list, see Fellowship Partners.