fellowships

The Art Canada Institute welcomes applications from individuals with significant experience in the study of art and from a wide range of backgrounds and lived experiences. Applications are welcome from the following individuals:

• individuals who have experience with completing projects related to art, culture, and restorative decolonial practices / colonial exclusions; or
• individuals who are enrolled in a graduate studies program for a terminal degree (in art history, history, museum studies, sociology, or another field connected to their proposed topic) or have completed a graduate program within the previous six years; or
• individuals who have substantial experience with curatorial research or with working with artists, artist-run centres, archives, and/or community organizations to document and preserve knowledge of artworks.

All applicants must be prepared to commit substantial time to the Fellowship and must be able to demonstrate an ability to meet the deliverables of the Fellowship.

The Art Canada Institute is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion and especially welcomes applications from Indigenous People, Black People, People of Colour, Women, People who are Transgender, People who are Gender Non-binary or Non-conforming, Persons with Disabilities, 2SLGBTQQIA+ persons, and others who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas. Applicants may self-identify in their application materials if they wish to.

As part of the application process, applicants must submit the following elements by January 19, 2024.

Please submit all of the following elements of the application to fellowships@aci-iac.ca

Materials

1. Application Form
   
2. Statement of Research and Methodological Approach
   This 1250-word statement must identify and explain the significance of the candidate’s research focus, the significance of the project for an artist and/or a community, the importance of the source material with which they wish to work (please include details about access to this material), and their proposed research methodology. Applicants must demonstrate that they have considered ethical questions relating to their research to ensure that respectful relationships with the people, communities, and practices being researched are upheld, that a commitment to care and reciprocity is maintained throughout the project, and that the sovereignty of Indigenous peoples is honoured at all times. Finally, this statement should consider the significance of the candidate’s research focus for the wider fields of Canadian and Indigenous art, with attention to previous research in related areas, and it must demonstrate that it is feasible to complete the research within a single year.

   
3. Personal Statement
   This 750-word statement should outline how the candidate’s lived experiences, personal history, education, and work have prepared the candidate for the project they are proposing to undertake. In particular, applicants should demonstrate their background in research or equivalent experiences that are relevant to the proposed field of study and identify the skills and knowledge that they bring to the project, and they should offer a reflection on their personal relationship to the topic that they wish to research and write about.
   
4. Written Consent
   For projects that propose to engage with the work of a living artist, the applicant must secure written consent from the artist in question, demonstrating that the artist agrees to be the subject of a Fellowship research project and eventual ACI book. Applications should include documentation of said consent. This requirement applies to projects on living artists only.
   
5. Letters of Reference
   Applicants are required to request two letters of reference from referees who have supervised the applicant in a professional or educational environment and can speak to the candidate’s expertise and ability to complete the scope of work and to the potential impact of the project, both for the candidate and the field. Letters from referees must be submitted separately and via email to fellowships@aci-iac.ca.
   
6. Supporting Material
   Applicants are invited to submit one additional piece of supporting material, which may take the form of a writing sample showcasing the applicant’s critical voice, a video personal statement, or other submission as appropriate to the research project.

Applications will be assessed by a committee of external adjudicators who represent a broad range of expertise in the study of Canadian art history. Adjudicators will consider the following criteria:

1. Relevance and originality
   Is the topic relevant to Canadian art history and aligned with the ACI’s publishing mandate?
   Does the applicant’s project offer a fresh perspective or address a gap in existing writing on Canadian art?
   
2. Evidence of research and focus
   Is there evidence of rigorous research and a sound conceptual framework?
   Does the proposed manuscript demonstrate critical engagement with existing literature and methodologies?
   Are the objectives of the manuscript well defined?
   
3. Contribution to the field
   Does the proposed manuscript help to broaden the public’s understanding of a topic or subject in Canadian art?
   
4. Scope and feasibility
   Is the project accessible and engaging for a general reader?
   Is the project appropriate for ACI’s publication format?
   Can the author realistically complete the manuscript draft within a year?
   
5. Author expertise and preparedness
   Does the applicant demonstrate sufficient knowledge of the topic
   Does the applicant’s background and experience support successful completion of the manuscript?
   

If the project focuses on the life and work of a single artist (or group of artists): has the applicant demonstrated support for the project from the artist or the artist’s estate/representative?

Shortlisted applicants will be invited to an interview with ACI directors and members of the Fellowship Advisory Committee. Interviews will take place in April 2026.

The selected Fellow will be announced publicly in June 2026, and the fellowship will commence in September 2026.

Download the 2024 Application Form.

If you have questions about how to apply, reach out to a member of the Fellowships team.