Andrew W. Mellon Fellowship

The National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) is committed to equity and social justice for the Native/Indigenous peoples of the Western Hemisphere through education, inspiration, and empowerment. NMAI stewards one of the most extensive collections of Native American cultural heritage in the world - approximately 825,000 items - representing over 12,000 years of history and more than 1,200 Indigenous cultures throughout the Americas.

NMAI has three locations: NMAI-DC, NMAI-NY and the Cultural Resources Center (CRC) in Suitland Maryland, where the collection is housed, and conservation labs are located.

NMAI CONSERVATION ANDREW W. MELLON FELLOWSHIP

NMAI offers a fellowship each fall to support progressive thinking in conservation, collections care and stewardship and a strong interest in collaborative conservation. It is intended for someone who will advance in the field in ways that serve and benefit Indigenous communities. The fellowship is holistic in its approach, expanding beyond the idea of conservation as treatment focused. During the fellowship, fellows will utilize their skills to provide access, implementing collaborative engagements, developing integrated documentation practices, skills in collections care and stewardship, practice in preventive conservation, opportunities for mountmaking, developing project management skills, and implementing decision making and treatment through integrated diverse knowledge sets and values.

The fellowship is full time, 40 hours/week, for a maximum of two years and is primarily located at the NMAI Cultural Resources Center in Suitland, Maryland. With the guidance of conservation staff, the fellow develops and carries out a research project designed to serve the NMAI’s Native/Indigenous constituency. Overall, this fellowship supports individuals as they work to further knowledge dissemination and perpetuation in the field by providing mentorship and resources to support existing knowledge, passion, and drive towards personal, professional, and research goals.

Application Process:

The application process is a two-stage competitive process. All applicants are required to submit a Stage 1 application form with the materials listed below by the due date. These will be reviewed and select candidates will be invited to submit additional documents and references as part of Stage 2.

Stage 1 Submission Requirements:

• Statement of Interest (1000 words or less)—Please share more about your personal and professional background as it relates to your field of knowledge or profession. Please address why you are interested in this fellowship at NMAI and what you think your impact could be.
• Vision for your research (500 words or less)—Please generally describe your research intentions and goals.
• Transcripts—This should be of highest education achieved and unofficial copies are accepted.
• Curricula Vitae/Resume/Biographical Sketch—All applicants must submit a detailed, up-to-date résumé, curriculum vitae or biographical sketch that summarizes their background in their field(s) of knowledge and experience working with communities or artists.

Criteria for Selection:

Applicants are evaluated by Conservation Department staff based on a combination of their knowledge, experience, potential and vision.

• Applicants must demonstrate knowledge of Indigenous cultures or experience with community-based preservation.
• Applicants must have familiarity and working knowledge of organic and inorganic materials used in the creation of Indigenous cultural heritage.
• Applicants must demonstrate ability to execute skillset of artistic or conservation practice.
• Applicants must have knowledge of ethics and practice of community or collaborative based work.
• Applicants must demonstrate openness and interest in engaging with both Western and Indigenous approaches to cultural heritage care and conservation.
• Applicants must employ creativity, progressive and critical thinking with the potential to positively impact Indigenous peoples and advance their respective field of expertise.
• Applicants must develop a research idea that outlines the use of their funds and how this it will support Indigenous communities.

As part of its mandate for “the increase and diffusion of knowledge,” including the diverse ideas, skills, and cultures of our nation, the Smithsonian Fellowship program does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex (including gender identity, gender stereotyping, pregnancy, and sexual orientation), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, parental status, or marital status.