Organizer Information
MUUS Collection is a premier American 20th-century photography collection dedicated to the preservation, research, and revelation of historical archives. By organizing and interpreting vast collections—including those of Deborah Turbeville, Larry Fink, Rosalind Fox Solomon, and Alfred Wertheimer—MUUS Collection transforms raw archives into meaningful public scholarship. The organization is a member of the Gallery Climate Coalition, ensuring its exhibitions align with environmental best practices, and partners globally to promote photographic culture and cross-cultural dialogue.
Title & Description
MUUS Collection Research Fellowship 2026: Photography Archive & Scholarship
Launched in 2026, this fellowship invites a curator or academic to dive deep into the MUUS archives over a twelve-month period. The goal is to develop a novel exhibition or publication concept that offers a fresh perspective on the 20th-century masters in the collection's care. Fellows will have exclusive access to physical works and ephemera—such as journals, contact sheets, and cameras—complemented by the state-of-the-art MUUSEUM online research portal. This initiative seeks to bridge historical preservation with contemporary interpretation, supported by mentorship from a world-class advisory board.
Categories
Photography, Curatorial, Research, Art History, Archive Studies, and Visual Culture.
Eligibility
- Open to International candidates (fluency in English is required).
- Professional Experience: Minimum of five years at museums, galleries, universities, or similar cultural institutions.
- Commitment: Must be willing to travel to Tenafly, New Jersey, for a week-long archival visit and engage in remote collaboration.
- Diversity: Candidates from underrepresented or marginalized communities are strongly encouraged to apply.
Program Benefits and Awards
- Grant Amount: $20,000 total award.
- Travel: Full coverage of travel costs to the archives in New Jersey.
- Mentorship: Exclusive sessions with an advisory board including directors from Aperture, Photo Elysée, and Autograph ABP.
- Publication Support: MUUS Collection will collaborate to help place and promote the resulting publication or exhibition.
- Archival Access: Hands-on access to the physical archives and the MUUSEUM research portal.
Fees
- Application Fee: Free to apply.
- There are no costs for submission or participation.
Application Requirements
- Submit a single PDF to fellowship@muuscollection.com including:
- Cover Letter (1 page): Addressing your work and why this is the right career moment.
- Curriculum Vitae (CV).
- Research Proposal (Max 500 words): Concept for an exhibition or publication engaging with MUUS artists (Turbeville, Fink, Solomon, or Wertheimer).
- Two Professional References.
How to Apply?
Applications open on May 1 and must be submitted via email following the specific PDF naming conventions.
Key Dates
- Application Period: May 1 – July 31, 2026.
- Shortlist Interviews: September 2026.
- Final Notification: October 2026.
- Public Announcement: November 2026 (at Paris Photo).
- Fellowship Term: November 2026 – November 2027.
Location
United States, Tenafly, New Jersey (with remote components).
Additional Details
The advisory board features Nathalie Herschdorfer (Photo Elysée), Sarah Meister (Aperture), Paul Roth (Image Centre), Mark Sealy OBE (Autograph ABP), and Sophie Wright (MUUS Collection). The resulting project must exclusively engage with the artists owned or represented by the collection.