USA Scholarships
Luce/ACLS American Art Fellowship 2026 - $42,500
Luce/ACLS Dissertation Fellowships in American Art support PhD candidates at US degree-granting institutions who are writing dissertations on the history of visual art in the United States, including all facets of Native American art. The Henry Luce Foundation funds the program through ACLS, which selects seven fellows each cycle for a non-renewable nine- to twelve-month term between July 2026 and June 2027. Each fellowship pays $38,000 plus up to $4,500 for travel and research, for $42,500 total. You may work at your home campus or another research site, but the tenure must finish before you receive the PhD and cannot overlap another major stipend fellowship.
What is Luce/ACLS Dissertation Fellowships in American Art?
Since 1992, the Henry Luce Foundation and the American Council of Learned Societies have jointly funded dissertation fellowships for historians of American art. The program has supported more than three hundred scholars who now teach, curate, and lead museums across the country. For the 2026 competition, ACLS expects to name seven fellows who will spend nine to twelve uninterrupted months finishing dissertations on topics in US visual culture.
The fellowship is built for ABD doctoral students who already cleared coursework, exams, and language requirements. You can be deep in archival research or polishing the final chapters, as long as the degree is still outstanding when the tenure ends. ACLS welcomes applicants from every accredited US graduate program, not only elite art-history departments, and encourages candidates from diverse backgrounds.
Money is straightforward: $38,000 to live on while you write, plus up to $4,500 for travel to collections, sites, or conferences that feed the dissertation. The total package of $42,500 is among the larger dissertation awards in the humanities. It is not a tuition grant, and you cannot stack it with another stipend fellowship or a paid assistantship during the same year.
If your project puts paintings, sculpture, photography, material culture, or Native American art at the center of the argument, this fellowship belongs on your short list. Mark 28 October 2026 on your calendar and start recommender conversations early, because ACLS closes the portal promptly at 5:00 PM Eastern Time.
Eligibility
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✓PhD candidate at a US universityYou must be enrolled as a doctoral student at a degree-granting institution in the United States in art history or a closely related field, such as Native American and Indigenous studies, ethnic studies, or African American studies. MFA thesis students are not eligible.
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✓Dissertation on US visual artYour project must focus on the history of visual arts of the United States, including Native American art. ACLS expects the art object or image to sit at the center of the project, using art-historical or visual studies methods rather than a purely social or literary approach.
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✓All coursework complete before tenureYou must finish every PhD requirement except the dissertation before the fellowship term begins. You can be at any stage of dissertation research or writing when you apply, but you cannot start the fellowship while still completing exams or language requirements.
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✓Eligible immigration status in the USApplicants must be US citizens, permanent residents, Indigenous individuals in the United States under Jay Treaty rights, DACA recipients, asylees, refugees, or individuals with Temporary Protected Status. International students without one of these statuses are not eligible.
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✓No prior double applicationACLS allows only one previous application to this specific fellowship. If you have applied twice before, you cannot apply again.
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✓No concurrent major fellowshipYou cannot hold another fellowship that pays a stipend during the Luce/ACLS term. University awards that cover tuition, fees, or health insurance are allowed, but teaching or research assistantships that require work are not.
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✓Fellowship ends before the PhD is awardedThe entire nine- to twelve-month tenure must conclude before you receive the doctoral degree. The award cannot defray tuition charges.
Benefits
- Living stipend $38,000
- Travel and research allowance Up to $4,500
- Total award $42,500
- Fellowships offered per cycle 7
- Tenure length 9-12 continuous months
- Tuition coverage Not a tuition award
- Concurrent stipend fellowships Not permitted
Document checklist
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✓ACLS online applicationSubmit through the ACLS competition portal linked from the official program page. Create an account early so recommenders and uploads are in place before the 28 October 2026 cutoff.
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✓Dissertation project descriptionA clear statement of your dissertation topic, methods, and progress. Emphasize how the project engages American art objects or images and why the fellowship year will advance the writing.
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✓Curriculum vitaeEducation, fellowships, publications, conference papers, teaching, languages, and any museum or curatorial experience relevant to American art.
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✓Dissertation abstract or chapter sampleFollow the current ACLS instructions for length and format. A strong writing sample shows the committee you can finish the dissertation during the award year.
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✓Letters of recommendationTypically three letters from faculty who know your dissertation work. Request them several weeks before the deadline so uploads complete on time.
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✓Transcript or degree progress documentationProof that you remain in good standing and have completed requirements except the dissertation, as required in the live application form.
How to apply
Deadline and timeline
FAQ
What are Luce/ACLS Dissertation Fellowships in American Art?
They are ACLS-administered dissertation fellowships funded by the Henry Luce Foundation for PhD candidates researching the history of visual art in the United States, including Native American art. Seven fellows receive $42,500 each ($38,000 stipend plus up to $4,500 for travel and research) for nine to twelve months of uninterrupted dissertation work.
When is the Luce/ACLS American Art fellowship deadline for 2026?
ACLS lists 28 October 2026 at 5:00 PM Eastern Time as the deadline for the current competition. All materials and recommendation letters must be submitted through the ACLS portal by that time.
How much is the Luce/ACLS Dissertation Fellowship stipend?
Each fellowship totals $42,500: a $38,000 stipend for living and research time plus up to $4,500 specifically for travel and research expenses. The award is paid to the fellow or through the home institution upon request, without indirect cost deductions.
Who is eligible for the Luce/ACLS dissertation fellowship?
You must be a PhD candidate at a US university in art history or a related field, with a dissertation focused on US visual art, all requirements except the dissertation complete before tenure, and an eligible US immigration status (citizen, permanent resident, DACA, asylee, refugee, TPS, or Jay Treaty rights). MFA students and international students without those statuses cannot apply.
Can I hold a teaching assistantship with the Luce/ACLS fellowship?
No. ACLS prohibits concurrent fellowships or grants that pay a stipend and awards that require work, such as teaching or research assistantships. Tuition-only or fee subsidies from your university are generally allowed; check the FAQ and your graduate office before accepting other aid.
Does the fellowship cover Native American art topics?
Yes. ACLS explicitly includes all facets of Native American art within the scope of American art. Projects still need an art-historical or visual studies approach centered on art objects or images.
Where can I complete the Luce/ACLS fellowship year?
You may work at your home institution or relocate to archives, museums, or other research sites appropriate to your dissertation. The fellowship does not require residency at ACLS offices in New York.
How many times can I apply to Luce/ACLS Dissertation Fellowships in American Art?
You may apply at most twice over your graduate career. After a second unsuccessful application, ACLS will not accept further submissions to this competition.
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