The 2026 Margaret F. Williams Memorial Fellowship in Asian Art offers a rare, fully funded opportunity for emerging curators working with Asian or Asian American art. Hosted by The Asia Foundation in partnership with the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco, this year’s edition emphasizes community-centered curatorial practice and invites diverse applicants who integrate cultural work with community engagement.
WhatsApp ChannelAbout the Margaret F. Williams Memorial Fellowship
This fellowship selects two emerging contemporary art curators, one from Asia and one from the United States, for a three-month residency at the Asian Art Museum’s Contemporary Art Department in San Francisco. Fellows engage with the museum’s collection, deepen professional skills, and explore how curatorship can connect communities and cultural histories.
The Asian Art Museum holds more than 20,000 artworks spanning ancient jades and ceramics to contemporary installations. The institutional setting creates a rich environment for research, collaboration, and public programming.
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2026 Theme: Community-Centered Curatorial Practice
For 2026, the fellowship puts a specific focus on candidates whose work engages community-oriented approaches. This theme encourages curators to rethink how exhibitions and programs can reflect lived experiences, sustained relationships, and shared cultural knowledge. Fellows may pursue projects that include public programs, digital platforms, written reflections, or proposals that reimagine institutional practices.
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Benefits and Support
Selected fellows receive comprehensive support designed to cover the full experience:
- Round-trip travel to and from San Francisco.
- Housing and per diem for the entire residency period (June 1 to August 31, 2026).
- A $7,500 professional development stipend for a self-designed study tour after the residency to expand research and networks.
This support makes the fellowship an accessible and fully funded experience for curators early in their careers.
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Who Can Apply
The program takes an expansive view of what it means to be a curator. Applicants might come from traditional museum careers, community art spaces, independent practice, or related cultural fields. Key points:
- Emerging curators with strong conceptual vision and collaborative skills.
- Comfortable working in English.
- Able to commit to the full residency in San Francisco.
- From the United States, Asia, or the Pacific Islands.
Experience outside formal institutions is not only accepted, but it’s also encouraged where it strengthens community engagement in curatorial work.
Important Dates
- Application opens: February 17, 2026.
- Deadline: March 24, 2026.
- Fellowship period: June 1 to August 31, 2026.
- Final selections announced: Typically by mid-April.
How to Apply
Applications are submitted online through The Asia Foundation’s fellowship portal. Applicants are advised to review the full program brief and eligibility criteria before submitting materials.
For inquiries about the application process, prospective candidates can contact the program team by email.
