Fellowships & Internships
Fellowships and internships provide professional training and research opportunities for students and scholars at various levels, as well as the chance to engage with F|S staff and utilize the museums’ rich resources. Several fellowships are available to support graduate students and visiting scholars through the Freer and Sackler Galleries, the Smithsonian, or outside institutions. The Freer|Sackler also offers internships to students and interested individuals in its many departments. See below for more information regarding fellowship and internship opportunities at the Freer|Sackler.
Please note: The storage area of the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery will re-open November 2017; the storage area of the Freer Gallery of Art will re-open January 2018. Research visits are by appointment only. Learn more.
Fellowships
The collections, archives, and library of the Freer and Sackler Galleries form a rich resource for research. Several different fellowships are available to support graduate students and visiting scholars, administered through the Freer and Sackler, the Smithsonian, or by outside institutions.
Current Fellows | Past Fellows
Fellowship Opportunities
Anne Van Biema Fellowship
Established by bequest to promote excellence in research and publication on the Japanese visual arts, one award is made each year to support a scholar at the post-doctoral level for a period of two to nine months. Visit the fellowship page for more information and application instructions.
Lunder Fellowship
This fellowship provides opportunities to conduct research and work with the Lunder Consortium for Whistler Studies on programs and publications focusing on James McNeill Whistler and art of the Aesthetic Movement. Both emerging and established scholars are invited to apply. The fellowship is offered through the generosity of the Lunder Foundation and administered through the Lunder Consortium for Whistler Studies (comprising the Freer Gallery, the Colby College Museum of Art, the University of Glasgow, and the Art Institute of Chicago). Fellowships are awarded for twelve- to eighteen-month terms. The 2014–15 fellow, Justin McCann, is working at the Colby College Museum of Art on the upcoming exhibition Whistler in the World: The Lunder Collection of James McNeill Whistler at the Colby College Museum of Art.
Luce Fellow in American Art
The Freer|Sackler seeks an outstanding emerging scholar who specializes in American or British art of the Aesthetic movement for a post-doctoral fellowship funded by the Henry Luce Foundation. Beginning in January 2018, this one-year fellowship, with a possible second-year renewal, will provide opportunities to a scholar interested in a curatorial career in an art museum and also will support scholarly research related to the Freer Gallery of Art’s unparalleled collection of prints, paintings, drawings, and watercolors by James McNeill Whistler. Visit the fellowship page for more information and application instructions.
Smithsonian Institution Fellowships
A variety of fellowships for students and scholars at several stages of their careers are offered through the Smithsonian Institution Office of Fellowships.
The J. S. Lee Memorial Fellowship
In honor of the late Dr. J. S. Lee, a distinguished Hong Kong philanthropist and lifelong supporter of the study of Chinese art, this fellowship facilitates the international exchange of curatorial expertise and contributes to the professional development of Chinese art curators and academics. Fellows may choose to be based at the Freer and Sackler or at a number of other museums worldwide. Visit the fellowship website for more information and application instructions.
Freer Fellowship, University Of Michigan
The University of Michigan Department of the History of Art offers the Charles Lang Freer Fellowship, providing a semester or year-long residency at the Gallery for a pre-doctoral candidate in the department. Visit the department's webpage for more information.
Internships
The Galleries’ many departments offer a wide range of learning opportunities for interns throughout the year.
Application Deadlines
For each internship term, applications must be submitted by the following dates:
Spring: October 15
Summer: March 15
Fall: The application deadline for Fall 2017 internships has been extended to July 31.
Application process
To apply for an internship at the Freer and Sackler Galleries, fill out an online application using the Smithsonian Online Academic Appointment system (SOLAA).
Select "Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Internship Program" from the drop-down program list.
The application must include a statement of interest, a transcript or resume, and two letters of recommendation,
Internship projects, schedules, and other parameters vary based on a variety of factors and will be determined by the staff mentor and prospective candidate at the time of interview or selection. Some departments offer internships only at particular times.
All applicants will be notified regarding acceptance within two months of the application deadline.
For further questions, please contact asiainternship@si.edu.
Internship Opportunities
Freer|Sackler Departmental Internships
Most departmental internships do not provide a stipend.
Applicants may indicate up to three departments of interest.
Administration/Finance/Human Resources
Archives
Collections Management (Registrar)
Conservation and Scientific Research
Curatorial
Design and Publications
Digital Communications
Education and Public Programs
Exhibition Management
Information Technology
Library
Membership and Development
Photography & Video
Marketing and Communications
Web Development
Rights and Reproductions
Publications
Scholarly Programs and Publications
Shop
The Richard Louie Memorial Internship for High School Students
The Freer and Sackler Galleries offer a paid internship for high school students. The Richard Louie Memorial Internship was established in 1994 to honor Richard Louie, former associate director of the Freer and Sackler, and is made possible through the Richard Louie Memorial Fund. Its goal is to offer high school students practical experience in an Asian art museum setting.
Smithsonian Internships
To learn about other Smithsonian internships, including special internships and those with stipends, visit intern.si.edu.
