Margaret F Williams Memorial Fellowship 2026 for International Students
Applications are now open for the Margaret F. Williams Memorial Fellowship 2026 in the United States. International applicants from around the world are encouraged to apply. There is no application fee, and the fellowship covers all expenses for selected candidates.
This fellowship, awarded every two years, offers up to three months of residency at the Asian Art Museum for two emerging curators of contemporary art one from Asia and one from the United States. The fellows will be hosted by the museum’s Contemporary Art Department under the guidance of Abby Chen, Senior Associate Curator and Director of Contemporary Art. Final selections are expected to be announced by mid-April. The application window opens on February 17 and closes on March 24, with the 2026 fellowship running from June 1 to August 31.
Organized by The Asia Foundation in partnership with the Asian Art Museum, the Margaret F. Williams Memorial Fellowship aims to encourage collaboration and exchange between early career curators specializing in Asian and Asian American art. The program supports two selected curators to spend up to three months in residence at the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco, providing a valuable opportunity for professional growth and cross-cultural engagement.
Margaret F Williams Memorial Fellowship 2026 Details
| Offered by: | Asian Art Museum in San Francisco |
| Duration: | 3 Months |
| Scholarship coverage: | Fully Funded |
| Eligible nationality: | All Nationalities |
| Award country: | United States |
| Last date: | 24 March 2026 |
Financial Benefits
Margaret F Williams Memorial Fellowship 2026 for international students covers:
- Travel that is fully funded includes round-trip travel and transportation to and from the residency in San Francisco.
- During the program’s duration (June 1–August 31, 2026), residency housing was provided.
- A daily stipend to cover living costs while visiting the Asian Art Museum.
- A $7,500 scholarship for a self-designed study journey is known as the research stipend.
Theme
- Theme: Curatorial Practice Focused on the Community
- Candidates that closely collaborate with communities in their cultural and curatorial practices will be the focus of the 2026 program.
- Fellows will investigate how curating, creating art, and institutional work may all involve fostering a sense of community. This comprises:
- Making use of personal experiences
- Creating enduring connections
- Educating communities
- In accordance with their cultural and professional backgrounds, fellows will:
- Examine various community-centered models.
- Examine regional, global, local, and online environments.
- Examine digital and networked platforms.
- Fellows will examine a few previous museum exhibits and:
- Consider how they may be redesigned now.
- Make them more pertinent and community connected.
- Encourage more active participation and discussion.
Outcome of the Fellowship
- writtenReflections
- Public events and programs
- Experimental Online projects
- Fresh concepts and suggestions for upcoming exhibitions
- The ultimate objective is to use exhibitions as links between networks, communities, and locations.
Eligibility Criteria
- You have to be from the Pacific Islands, Asia, or the United States to be eligible .
- The program is intended for emerging curators, or the “next generation.”
- Applications are accepted from both inside and outside of conventional museums. They welcome:
- curators employed by institutions (in museums).
- independent artists or curators.
- Those with expertise in “non-brick-and-mortar” (digital/online) exhibitions or community participation are welcome to apply.
- Applicants must speak English fluently.
- During the whole three-month residency (June 1–August 31, 2026), you must be able to remain in San Francisco.
Application Deadline
The last date to apply for the Margaret F Williams Memorial Fellowship 2026 in USA for international students is 24th March 2026.
How to Apply for Margaret F Williams Memorial Fellowship?
Applicants must apply online for this fellowship.
