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Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, Queen Zenobia Addressing Her Soldiers, 1725/1730, Samuel H. Kress Collection, National Gallery of Art

Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, Queen Zenobia Addressing Her Soldiers, 1725/1730, Samuel H. Kress Collection, National Gallery of Art

 

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, new conservators can develop the specific skills, the hands-on experience, and the confidence on which to base a future career.

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.

Conservation Fellowship Guidelines

Description


Six $37,000 Fellowships are expected to be awarded each year for post-graduate internships in advanced conservation at a museum or conservation facility.

The full $37,000 must be allocated as a fellowship stipend. Payroll taxes may be withheld from the $37,000, but any other benefits, travel or education reimbursement, or administrative costs must be met by the institution or other funding. Grant funds may not be used for indirect costs.

Most Fellowships begin in late summer or early fall, and run for a term of 9-to-12 months. A report, whether interim or final, will be due from the host institution in September of the year following the award.


Eligibility


Applications must be made by the museum or conservation facility at which the fellowship will be based. Prior to beginning the fellowship, fellows should have completed a masters-level degree in conservation. The fellowship candidate may be identified in advance of application by the host institution or recruited subsequently.
 

Application Procedures


The Kress Conservation Fellowships are administered by the Foundation for Advancement in Conservation (FAIC). Please visit the FAIC website for detailed application instructions. For answers to additional questions, you may also wish to review the Fellowship FAQs.


Deadline


Applications are due on January 22.

In addition to these Conservation Fellowships, the Kress Foundation supports conservation at other institutions. For a complete list, see Fellowship Partners.

How to Apply

The Foundation for Advancement in Conservation (FAIC) administers the Kress Conservation Fellowships on behalf of the Kress Foundation. All applications should be submitted through the FAIC’s online application portal.

Please consult the application guidelines on the FAIC website for more information.


DEADLINE: Applications are due annually on January 22.