The Leonard A. Lauder Research Center for Modern Art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art invites applications for the annual Residency for Curators and Conservators.

Applications are open till May 31, 2026, for the Leonard A. Lauder Residency for Curators and Conservators. Recognizing the need for curators and conservators to have focused time to work on a current project, the residency supports research and writing in the field of modern art. It covers round-trip travel to New York and accommodation for a continuous period of 1-3 months, anytime between January and June 2027. The successful applicant will participate in the activities of the Research Center and give a presentation on their work towards the end of the Residency.

We use the term ‘modern art’ inclusively to refer to architecture, drawing, design (including exhibition, graphic, interior and stage design), film, painting, performance, photography, printmaking, sculpture, and textiles in the period from the last third of the nineteenth century through the 1960s, from any country, region, or culture. (If your application is focused on art from the 1970s onwards or on other historical periods, it will not be considered.)

APPLICATION
You will be asked to include:
- The number of months requested and the preferred timing of the residency between January and June
- A research/project proposal with bibliography
- A project/work plan
- An explanation as to how the fellowship supports delivery of the overall project (e.g. research/education event, exhibition, publication, including confirmed plans for outcomes)
- A resumé or cv
- A letter of support from a Museum Director or equivalent (for freelance curators or conservators), confirming venue for research output, whether publisher or exhibition gallery
- A short writing sample
- Applications are assessed by a panel, and detailed information on the application materials to be submitted, the eligible costs, and the award criteria are all available on the Research Center website.
Application via: https://www.metmuseum.org/de/research-centers/leonard-a-lauder-research-center/residencies/curator-and-conservator-residencies

SELECTION CRITERIA
A sub-committee of the Center’s Advisory Committee will assess applications using the following criteria:
- Quality and feasibility of project described
- Need for research/writing time in the Research Center, and the timing of the project in relation to it
- Quality of research and publications
- Fit with the Research Center’s mission to support work on modern art (as defined in the application materials)
- Potential benefit to the Research Center and to the museum
- Any challenges in terms of cross-departmental working in the proposal (that may make it less feasible)
- The strength of the letter of support from the applicant’s Museum Director, Department Head, or equivalent

MORE INFORMATION
https://www.metmuseum.org/research-centers/leonard-a-lauder-research-center/residencies/curator-and-conservator-residencies