Deadline: 16-Jan-2026
The Art Canada Institute is now accepting applications for the New Voices Publishing Fellowship to support postdoctoral scholars committed to enhancing public understanding of art in Canada.
The fellowship focuses on the professional growth of early-career art historians by providing meaningful mentorship and guiding them through the development of an online art book. It supports new publications on artists and topics that expand the public’s understanding of Canadian art.
Eligible projects may explore a wide range of topics, including the lives and works of Indigenous and Canadian artists, artist groups, or collectives across various media and time periods; survey studies focusing on important genres and art practices in Canada such as craft, sculpture, ceramics, and landscape; examinations of key themes and issues in Canadian art history, including identity, migration, and women’s contributions; investigations into artistic movements or regional schools; and reinterpretations of canonical artists through innovative critical perspectives.
The 12-month fellowship experience includes a publishing contract with ACI to produce an online art book, mentorship by influential figures in the Canadian art world, and dedicated editorial support for manuscript development.
Fellows will also have opportunities to present their projects to ACI’s network of advisors, scholars, artists, and patrons. The program culminates in a formal keynote lecture, providing a platform for the Fellow to share their findings and engage with a broad public audience.
This prestigious one-year, $60,000 fellowship is awarded to one postdoctoral scholar through a competitive adjudication process and offers the only program of its kind in Canada. It provides the Fellow with focused time and financial support to write a 30,000 to 40,000-word manuscript that will reach a wide audience of art enthusiasts and researchers.
Eligible applicants must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents, hold a PhD in art history or a closely related discipline, and be within seven years of receiving their PhD. They should not currently hold a permanent faculty position or one leading to permanency.
Applicants must show evidence of prior research related to their proposed topic and demonstrate their ability to commit substantial time to the fellowship. Candidates completing their PhD may apply if their defense is scheduled before the fellowship begins in September 2026.
Fellows are required to submit an outline defining their manuscript’s scope and structure, which will be refined in collaboration with ACI’s program directors. Throughout the fellowship, they will develop the manuscript and deliver quarterly presentations to share progress and receive feedback.
In addition, the Fellow will contribute a feature about their project to ACI’s weekly newsletter, highlighting key discoveries and the broader impact of their research. Applicants must submit a completed application form, CV, manuscript proposal, short essay responses, written consent from living artists (if applicable), two letters of reference, and a writing sample.
Applications for the New Voices Publishing Fellowship are due by January 16, 2026.
For more information, visit Art Canada Institute.
