CFAs: Luce/ACLS Dissertation Fellowships in American Art (US)

The Luce/ACLS Dissertation Fellowships in American Art provide up to $43,500 to doctoral students conducting dissertation research on the history of art and visual culture of the United States, including Native American art. The fellowship supports 9–12 months of dissertation research and writing between July 2027 and June 2028, helping PhD candidates complete high-quality scholarship in American art history and visual studies.

Luce/ACLS Dissertation Fellowships in American Art 2027–2028

The Luce/ACLS Dissertation Fellowships in American Art are prestigious doctoral fellowships that support advanced dissertation research on the history of art and visual culture in the United States.

Administered by the American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) with support from the Henry Luce Foundation, the fellowship enables doctoral candidates to dedicate uninterrupted time to research and writing while contributing new scholarship to the field of American art history.

The program welcomes projects examining all aspects of U.S. visual culture, including Native American art, provided the research centers on visual objects or images using an art history or visual studies methodology.

Fellowship Overview

Program Name: Luce/ACLS Dissertation Fellowships in American Art

Administered By: American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS)

Supported By: Henry Luce Foundation

Program Type: Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship

Number of Fellowships: Seven

Fellowship Duration: 9–12 continuous months

Fellowship Period: July 2027 to June 2028

Research Location: Home institution or another suitable research site

Funding Details

Successful fellows receive total funding of up to $43,500, consisting of:

• $39,000 stipend for dissertation research and writing.
• Up to $4,500 for research and travel expenses.

The fellowship is intended to support dissertation completion and professional scholarly research.

Funding Restrictions

The fellowship:

• Cannot be used to pay tuition fees.
• Cannot be held simultaneously with another major fellowship or grant.
• Must conclude before the fellow is awarded their PhD degree.

Applicants should ensure that their fellowship schedule aligns with their expected dissertation completion timeline.

Fellowship Objectives

The program aims to:

• Support outstanding doctoral research in American art history.
• Advance scholarship on U.S. visual culture.
• Encourage innovative art historical research.
• Promote research on Native American art.
• Enable uninterrupted dissertation writing.
• Strengthen the next generation of art historians and visual studies scholars.

Research Areas Supported

The fellowship supports research on:

• History of American art.
• Visual culture of the United States.
• Native American art.
• Indigenous visual traditions.
• Public art.
• Painting.
• Sculpture.
• Photography.
• Architecture.
• Print culture.
• Material culture.
• Contemporary visual culture.
• Historical visual media.

Projects may explore any period of American visual history, provided the primary focus remains on visual objects or images.

Eligible Research Approaches

Applicants should use an appropriate scholarly methodology, including:

• Art history.
• Visual studies.
• Interdisciplinary visual culture research.

Projects should place visual analysis at the center of the dissertation.

Who Is Eligible?

Applicants must:

• Be enrolled as doctoral students at a university in the United States.
• Study art history or a closely related discipline.
• Conduct dissertation research focused on American visual arts.
• Complete all PhD requirements except the dissertation before the fellowship begins.
• Meet all citizenship or residency eligibility requirements.
• Submit a complete application before the deadline.

Eligible Academic Fields

Applicants may come from disciplines including:

• Art History.
• Native American and Indigenous Studies.
• African American Studies.
• Ethnic Studies.
• Other closely related humanities disciplines.

Regardless of discipline, the dissertation must primarily focus on the history of visual arts in the United States.

Citizenship and Residency Requirements

Applicants must be one of the following:

• U.S. citizen.
• U.S. permanent resident.
• Indigenous person residing in the United States through rights associated with the Jay Treaty of 1794.
• Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipient.
• Asylee.
• Refugee.
• Individual granted Temporary Protected Status (TPS) in the United States.

Who Is Not Eligible?

Applicants are not eligible if they:

• Have applied for this fellowship more than once previously.
• Will complete their PhD before the fellowship period begins.
• Do not focus primarily on American visual arts.
• Have not completed all doctoral requirements other than the dissertation before the fellowship starts.

Application Requirements

Applications must be submitted through the ACLS Fellowship and Grant Administration System.

A complete application includes:

• Completed online application form.
• Dissertation proposal.
• Required supporting information requested by ACLS.

Dissertation Proposal Requirements

The proposal must:

• Be no longer than eight pages.
• Be double spaced.
• Include at least three images.
• Clearly explain the research project.

Applicants should describe:

• Research scope.
• Research questions.
• Methodology.
• Scholarly significance.
• Progress completed to date.
• Tentative fellowship work schedule.

A well-structured proposal is critical for a competitive application.

Selection Criteria

Applications are expected to be evaluated based on:

• Scholarly quality.
• Originality of research.
• Contribution to American art history.
• Strength of methodology.
• Feasibility of the research plan.
• Quality of the dissertation proposal.
• Potential contribution to visual studies scholarship.

Why This Fellowship Matters

The Luce/ACLS Dissertation Fellowships provide dedicated financial support during one of the most demanding stages of doctoral education.

By funding dissertation research and writing, the fellowship enables emerging scholars to produce impactful research that expands knowledge of American art, visual culture, and Indigenous artistic traditions while reducing financial barriers during dissertation completion.

The fellowship also contributes to strengthening scholarship in the humanities and preserving the study of America’s diverse artistic heritage.

How to Apply

Applicants should follow these steps:

1. Confirm that you meet all eligibility requirements.
2. Complete all doctoral requirements except the dissertation before the fellowship begins.
3. Develop a dissertation focused on American art or visual culture.
4. Prepare an eight-page double-spaced proposal.
5. Include at least three images that support your research.
6. Explain the project’s methodology, significance, progress, and timeline.
7. Complete the online application through the ACLS Fellowship and Grant Administration System.
8. Submit all required documents before the application deadline.

Tips for a Strong Application

To strengthen your application:

• Present a clearly defined research question.
• Demonstrate the originality of your project.
• Explain why your research is significant to American art history.
• Use a strong visual studies or art historical methodology.
• Include high-quality supporting images.
• Present a realistic research and writing schedule.
• Carefully follow all formatting requirements.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Avoid these common application errors:

• Submitting proposals longer than eight pages.
• Omitting the required images.
• Failing to explain the project’s scholarly significance.
• Applying before completing all non-dissertation PhD requirements.
• Proposing research outside the fellowship’s subject focus.
• Holding another major fellowship during the award period.
• Missing application instructions or deadlines.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the Luce/ACLS Dissertation Fellowship in American Art?

It is a doctoral fellowship that supports dissertation research and writing on the history of American art and visual culture, including Native American art.

How much funding is available?

Each fellowship provides up to $43,500, including a $39,000 stipend and up to $4,500 for travel and research expenses.

Who can apply?

Eligible applicants are doctoral students enrolled at U.S. universities in art history or related disciplines whose dissertations focus on the visual arts of the United States.

What types of research are supported?

The fellowship supports research centered on American visual arts, including Native American art, using art historical or visual studies approaches.

Can the fellowship be combined with another major fellowship?

No. Fellows may not hold another major fellowship or grant during the fellowship period.

What must the dissertation proposal include?

The proposal must be no more than eight pages, double spaced, include at least three images, and describe the project’s scope, methodology, significance, progress, and proposed work schedule.

Where can fellows conduct their research?

Research may be conducted at the fellow’s home institution or another appropriate research location during the fellowship period.

Conclusion

The Luce/ACLS Dissertation Fellowships in American Art 2027–2028 offer an exceptional opportunity for doctoral students to advance original research on the history of American art and visual culture. With up to $43,500 in funding, dedicated research time, and support for travel and scholarly activities, the fellowship enables emerging scholars to complete high-quality dissertations that deepen understanding of American visual traditions, including Native American art, and contribute meaningful scholarship to the humanities.