From the archive: The fine art of a Smithsonian application

Fulfilling the institution’s criteria in the limited space provided is essential for fellowship success

The Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC claims to be the world’s largest museum, education and research complex. It offers a range of fellowships, including those at postdoctoral and senior researcher levels, which can last from 3 to 12 months and include a stipend of $55,000 (£39,800) a year plus a research allowance of up to $4,000. Applications can also be written for up to two years of support, but the second year of funding will be contingent on certain conditions being met in year one. While some collections work on a different schedule, the main bulk of fellowships are open to application once a year, with the next deadline on 1 November.

In this article from September 2017, Charlotte Horlyck, a London-based researcher in Korean art history, explains how she secured a six-month fellowship. The application was short and straightforward, Horlyck says, and she knew it was important to fulfil the Smithsonian’s criteria in the limited space provided.