Summer Research Fellowship Program

Museum of International Folk Art (MOIFA) will host its Summer Research Fellowship Program in 2027, offering scholars, researchers, and folklorists 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 150 countries, while also engaging with MOIFA staff and the local community. A vibrant city for art and culture, Santa Fe was the first city designated as a Creative City in the United States by UNESCO, appointed in 2005 for its Craft and Folk Art community. The fellowship research period is between July 1 and August 31, 2027.

MOIFA Summer Research Fellows will receive:

• $2,500 Fellowship Honorarium
• Travel allowance to reimburse costs to and from Santa Fe (up to $1,000)
• Stipend towards lodging, per diem living costs, local transportation, and research expenses for the duration of fellowship. Please note that pets are not allowed in lodging that MOIFA identifies for Summer Research Fellows.
• 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.
• Workspace 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.

The program welcomes applications from scholars, independent researchers, public folklorists, and graduate students with a strong interest in folk and traditional arts, cultural traditions, folklore, ethnomusicology, heritage studies, and museum studies. The fellowship is open to applicants of any nationality. For the 2027 program, MOIFA will prioritize applications from early career professionals, artist researchers, and scholars whose focus is African folk art.

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 graduate students with a strong interest in folk and traditional arts, cultural traditions, folklore, ethnomusicology, heritage studies, and museum studies. The fellowship is open to applicants of any nationality. We encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds.

For the 2027 program, MOIFA will prioritize applications from early career professionals, artist researchers, and scholars whose focus is African folk art.

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.

How to Apply

Prospective fellows should apply for the program through the link below. You should complete the online application form then upload the following as a single Microsoft Word file with documents in the order listed below. Please use a file name that begins with your last name in the format LASTNAME_Summer2027. All application materials must be in English.

• Abstract describing the proposed project and its significance (250 word max.)
• Project proposal (1800 word max.)

Your proposal should describe the research you plan to undertake at MOIFA and specify the questions and issues it addresses, the methods you plan to use, how your project engages with prior scholarship, and the project’s significance in scholarly and/or community terms. You should indicate specific areas of MOIFA’s collections and archives you want to work with, clearly state the relevance of MOIFA’s materials to your research, and explain how a MOIFA Summer Research Fellowship would enhance or contribute to your work. Please also briefly discuss how your interest and research in folk and traditional arts, cultural heritage, and/or museums developed. The proposal should be double spaced, with one-inch margins and font no smaller than 11 point. Applications that do not follow these format guidelines will not be considered.

• Plan of work and timeline for completing the project (500 word max.) The MOIFA Summer Research Fellowship supports 4-6 consecutive weeks of research between July 1st and August 31st 2027; please propose residency dates as part of your timeline.
• Bibliography of works relevant to your proposed research (2 page max.)
• Your curriculum vitae (3 page max.)
• Two external letters of recommendation that address the scholarly and/or public significance and contributions of the proposed project, the applicant’s qualifications, and the value of a MOIFA Summer Research Fellowship for the applicant. Recommenders should upload their letters directly to the MOIFA application portal. Recommenders should name their file using the format APPLICANTLASTNAME_Reference. References should be received no later than the application deadline.

Applications are due November 17, 2026. Notification of the award will be made in early January 2027. Email inquiries can be sent to the Program Coordinator: Carrie Hertz, PhD, Curator of Textiles & Dress.