Research Fellowship Program

The Museum of International Folk Art (MOIFA) will be hosting its second Summer Research Fellowship Program in 2026, offering scholars, researchers, folklorists, and community arts administrators the opportunity to spend 4-6 weeks in Santa Fe, New Mexico, conducting research on the museum's extensive folk art collection and archives. Fellows will have access to 163,000 objects and related resources from more than 100 countries, while also engaging with MOIFA staff and the local community. Fellowships are scheduled from June to August each year.

The 2026 fellowship application opens in September 2025 with an announcement of the award in early 2026. Details for the application process can be found on this webpage in the coming months.

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.

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.

 

CONTACT US:

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