The David C. Driskell Center at the University of Maryland invites applications for its 2025–2026 Archives Research Fellowship program. Designed to support original scholarship rooted in the Center’s rich archival holdings, the program offers two low-residency fellowships over the academic year. Each fellow will receive a $3,000 stipend, paid in two installments, along with travel and lodging support for a short-term residency of up to three weeks at the Center. We welcome applications from scholars, artists, and cultural workers whose work engages with Black art, art history, and visual culture.
Eligibility
The fellowship is open to scholars, artists, curators, and cultural workers at any career stage, including graduate students (ABD), early-career researchers, and independent scholars. Applicants must demonstrate a clear research interest in African American art and visual culture, with a specific plan for using the archival and/or special collections of The Driskell Center. While the fellowship is open to U.S. and international applicants, travel reimbursement is limited to domestic travel within the United States.
Commitment
Fellows are expected to complete a short-term research residency at The Driskell Center (up to three weeks) during the 2025–2026 academic year. The timing of the residency will be scheduled in coordination with the Center staff. Fellows will be asked to share their research in a public-facing format, such as a virtual presentation, blog post, or interview. A stipend of $3,000 will be paid in two installments: the first upon commencement of the fellowship on September 2, 2025, and the second upon completion of the residency and submission of a summary report by June 30, 2026.
Required Application Materials
Applicants should submit the following materials as a single PDF to archives-driskellcenter@umd.edu with “Archives Research Fellowship” in the subject line by Monday, June 30, 2025:
- Research Proposal (max. 1,000 words) outlining the project’s goals, its relevance to the Driskell Center’s archival holdings, and the intended outcomes.
- CV or Resume (max. 3 pages)
- Proposed Residency Timeline indicating preferred dates for an on-site visit during the 2025–2026 academic year.
- Contact information for one reference (name, title, affiliation, and email). Recommenders will be contacted directly after the application deadline.
Website: https://driskellcenter.umd.edu/
