Research Fellowship Program

The Museum of International Folk Art (MOIFA) is pleased to announce the launch of its new Summer Research Fellowship Program. This program offers a unique opportunity for scholars, researchers, public folklorists, community arts administrators and practitioners to spend 4-6 weeks in Santa Fe, New Mexico working on a research project related to MOIFA’s renowned folk art collection of over 163,000 objects and MOIFA’s Bartlett Library and Archives collections, and engaging with MOIFA staff members and the local community. A vibrant city for art and culture, Santa Fe was the first city designated as a Creative City in the United States by UNESCO, appointed in 2005 for its Craft and Folk Art community. This pilot program will run for two years (2025-2026), with the fellowship scheduled between June 1st and August 31st each year. Application Deadline: January 17, 2025.

OVERVIEW

Since its founding in 1953, the Museum of International Folk Art in Santa Fe has built the largest collection of international folk art in the world, along with related archives, and pursued its mission to “shape a humane world by connecting people through creative expression and artistic traditions” through award-winning research-based exhibitions, public programs, and community engagement. Its collection includes objects from more than 100 countries, representing cultures and communities from Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, the Caribbean, North America, and Oceania, with additional concentrations in Spanish Colonial Art, Contemporary Hispano & Latino Art, and Textiles and Dress. Founded along with the museum, the Bartlett Library & Archives documents the history of the museum and its exhibitions and provides books, periodicals, audiovisual materials, artist files, and other resources to support research and study related to the museum’s collection and history.

These holdings offer rich resources for research on folk art traditions – their histories, techniques, meanings, and artists – as well as comparative work and research on the development and workings of a unique museum institution. Potential fellows should identify the particular collection and archive resources they wish to use for their proposed project. We encourage research that will approach MOIFA’s collections and archives from different perspectives, find new ways to work with our diverse holdings, or focus on under-researched aspects of MOIFA’s materials. MOIFA Summer Research Fellows will build lasting relationships and vibrant professional networks by connecting with fellow folklorists and researchers, museum staff, and the local community.

Information about MOIFA’s collection and the Bartlett Library and Archives is available online. Some collections may be restricted due to ongoing consultations. Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact MOIFA before submitting an application to discuss the level of access to the collections their proposed research project would require. Email inquiries can be sent to the Program Coordinators: Carrie Hertz, Phd, Curator of Textiles & Dress and Charlie Lockwood, Executive Director.

A member of MOIFA’s staff will be identified to serve as principal advisor/host after an award is made. Applicants may suggest people they think would be appropriate. There may also be a co-advisor/consultant, depending on the project.

Fellows are responsible for obtaining all needed permissions and clearances for their research project, including approvals for working with human subjects. MOIFA Summer Research Fellows are expected to follow the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs Code of Ethics during their fellowship.

 

MOIFA SUMMER RESEARCH FELLOWS WILL RECEIVE:

  • $2,500 Fellowship Honorarium;
  • Travel Allowance to reimburse costs to and from Santa Fe (up to $1000);
  • Stipend towards lodging, per diem living costs, local transportation, and research expenses for the duration of fellowship.
  • Scheduled access to MOIFA’s collections, its collections database and related files, and to the Bartlett Library and Archives;
  • Guidance and support from staff with specialist knowledge of the collections as available. MOIFA curatorial, library/archives, education, and collections staff and volunteers can provide guidance to help fellows refine their research methodology and gain valuable insights;
  • Work space for conducting the research;
  • Opportunities for community immersion and connecting with local artists, other institutions, and cultural practitioners in Santa Fe, NM;
  • Public engagement through presenting their research and an opportunity to contribute to ongoing dialogue surrounding folk art, expressive culture, and museum studies.

 

MOIFA SUMMER RESEARCH FELLOWS WILL BE EXPECTED TO:

  • Be in residence weekdays and complete their project during the fellowship period;
  • Make a public presentation on their research near the end of their fellowship;
  • Write a blog post and/or a brief article for a MOIFA publication based on the research project;
  • Submit a brief written report (2-3 pages) on research completed and resources used within a month of completing the fellowship;
  • Acknowledge the MOIFA Summer Research Fellowship in any publications, reports, performances, or public presentations resulting from the research.

 

 

WHO SHOULD APPLY:

The program welcomes applications from scholars, independent researchers, public folklorists and other public scholars, graduate students, nonprofit and community arts administrators, and practitioners with a strong interest in folk and traditional arts, cultural traditions, folklore, ethnomusicology, heritage studies, museum studies, and related disciplines and cultural institutions. The Fellowship is open to applicants of any nationality. We encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds.

No employee or contractor of MOIFA, other New Mexico state museums, member of the Museum of New Mexico System board of regents, staff or trustees of the Museum of New Mexico Foundation may hold a MOIFA Summer Research Fellowship during the time of their employment or contract, nor may an award be offered to any person who has been employed by or under contract to them in the previous year.

 

HOW TO APPLY:

Prospective fellows should apply for the program through the link below. You should complete the online application form then upload the following as a single file (PDF or Word) with documents in the order listed below. Please use a file name that begins with your last name in the format NAME_Summer2025. All application materials must be in English.

* Abstract describing the proposed project and its significance (250 word max.)

* Project proposal (1800 word max.)

Your proposal should describe the research you plan to undertake at MOIFA and specify the questions and issues it addresses, the methods you plan to use, how your project engages with prior scholarship, and the project’s significance in scholarly and/or community terms. You should indicate specific areas of MOIFA’s collections and archives you want to work with, clearly state the relevance of MOIFA’s materials to your research, and explain how a MOIFA Summer Research Fellowship would enhance or contribute to your work. Please also briefly discuss how your interest and research in folk and traditional arts, cultural heritage, and/or museums developed. The proposal should be double spaced, with one-inch margins and font no smaller than 11 point. Applications that do not follow these format guidelines will not be considered.

* Plan of work and timeline for completing the project (500 word max.)

The MOIFA Summer Research Fellowship supports 4-6 consecutive weeks of research between 1 June and 31 August 2025; please propose residency dates as part of your timeline.

* Bibliography of works relevant to your proposed research (2 page max.)

* Your curriculum vitae (3 page max.)

* Two external letters of recommendation that address the scholarly and/or public significance and contributions of the proposed project, the applicant’s qualifications, and the value of a MOIFA Summer Research Fellowship for the applicant. Recommenders should upload their letters directly to the MOIFA application portal. References should be received no later than the application deadline.

Applications and reference letters must be received by Friday January 17, 2025. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Apply Now

Reference Letter Submission

 

SELECTION PROCESS:

All complete applications will be reviewed by an interdisciplinary panel of scholars and practitioners drawn from MOIFA and a range of universities and other cultural institutions. Applications will be evaluated on the basis of the proposal’s conceptualization and merit, the applicant’s ability to carry out the proposed research, the suitability of selected materials in MOIFA’s collections and archives, the feasibility of the project, and the project’s potential to increase knowledge of MOIFA’s collections and archives, bring new perspectives to them, and enhance meaningful public engagement.

Awards will be made only if applications of appropriate merit and relevance are received. An invitation to take up the fellowship will be subject to agreement on residency dates. Notification of the award will be made by mid-March 2025.

 

KEY PROGRAM DATES FOR 2025:

January 17, 2025 Application Deadline (including reference letters)

Mid-March 2025 MOIFA Summer Research Fellows Announced

 

CONTACT US:

Email inquiries can be sent to the Program Coordinators: Carrie Hertz, Phd, Curator of Textiles & Dress and Charlie Lockwood, Executive Director.