Organizer Information
This residency is hosted by the Metropolitan Museum of Art Research Center, one of the world’s most influential institutions dedicated to art research, conservation, and historical scholarship. Based in New York City, The Met operates as a global leader in Visual Arts research, with extensive collections spanning multiple cultures and historical periods.
The Research Center is specifically focused on advancing scholarship in modern art and modern visual culture, offering visiting scholars, curators, and conservators access to its library resources and academic environment. The program supports advanced research that contributes to new interpretive frameworks in art history, curatorial practice, and conservation studies.
Title & Description
Residency for Curators and Conservators – The Met Research Center (1–3 Month Research Residency in New York)
This competitive annual Residency is designed for curators and conservators working in the field of modern art and modern visual culture. The program provides selected researchers with dedicated time and resources to conduct library-based research and writing in New York City.
The residency focuses on modern art broadly defined, including architecture, drawing, design, film, painting, performance, photography, printmaking, sculpture, and textiles from the late 19th century through the 1960s.
Residents are given access to The Met’s Research Center and Watson Library, along with workspace and academic resources, to support the development of curatorial or conservation projects that require intensive research time.
Categories
- Curatorial
- Research
- Visual Arts
- Art History
- Conservation
- Architecture
- Photography
- Sculpture
- Performance
- Film & Media
- Design Studies
- Modern Art
Eligibility
- Professional curators or conservators (employed or freelance)
- Working on a defined project in modern art or modern visual culture
- Project must be connected to a confirmed publisher or exhibition venue
- Freelance applicants must demonstrate institutional collaboration or support
- Strong research or publication track record required
- Project must align with the mission of advancing modern art scholarship
- Applicants must require dedicated research/writing time in a library-based environment
Projects outside the defined scope of modern art (late 19th century–1960s) will not be considered.
Program Benefits & Awards
- Fully funded Residency (1–3 months in New York City)
- Furnished accommodation in New York
- Round-trip travel costs covered
- Dedicated workspace at The Met Research Center
- Access to Watson Library resources
- Opportunity for scholarly exchange with museum professionals (subject to availability)
- Presentation of research findings at the end of the residency
- Contribution to international curatorial and conservation discourse
- Institutional acknowledgment in resulting publications
Note: No stipend is provided.
Application Fee
None
Application Requirements
- Requested duration (1–3 months) and preferred timing (Jan–June)
- Research/project proposal with bibliography
- Detailed project work plan
- Explanation of residency relevance to project outcomes
- Curriculum Vitae (CV) or résumé
- Letter of support from institution or publisher/exhibition venue (required for freelancers)
- Writing sample demonstrating research ability
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 31 May 2026
- Residency Period: January – June 2026
- Duration: 1–3 months (flexible within residency window)
- Notification Date: Not specified
Location
New York City, United States
Additional Details
- Residency is strictly research-based (no exhibition production guaranteed)
- No access to conservation labs or restricted collections during the construction period
- The Modern and Contemporary wing is closed until 2029
- Final presentation of research required
- Written report must be submitted after residency completion
- Institutional acknowledgment is required in all resulting publications
- Selection is competitive and based on project quality, feasibility, and alignment with museum mission