Kress
Conservation Fellowships

FAIC is pleased to administer the Kress Conservation Fellowship program on behalf of the Samuel H. Kress Foundation. The Kress Conservation Fellowship program provides competitive grants to cultural institutions and conservation facilities to sponsor supervised post-graduate fellowship opportunities to help develop the skills of emerging conservators.

Submission Deadline: January 22

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*The 2025 Fellowship is pending funding from the Samuel H. Kress Foundation as requested via grant application in September 2024. We anticipate the application to open December 1, 2024, potentially with updated guidelines and criteria.

At the crossroads of science and art, the field of conservation demands a complex knowledge of chemistry, materials, and sensitivity to artistic intent. Advanced skills in physical dexterity, patience, and concentration are also required. Initial training provides basic qualifications that must be supplemented with practice in a specialized area. Emerging conservation professionals develop skills, hands-on experience, and confidence within a supervised environment.

• Six $37,000 Fellowships are expected to be awarded each year for one-year post-graduate internships in advanced conservation at a cultural heritage institution or conservation facility.
• The full $37,000 must be allocated as a fellowship stipend.
• Payroll taxes may be withheld from the $37,000, but any other benefits, travel or education reimbursement, or administrative costs must be met by the institution or other funding source.
• Grant funds may not be used for indirect costs.
• Preference may go to institutions who commit to contributing additional funds to the fellowship.
• Most Fellowships begin in late summer or early fall, and run for a term of nine to twelve months.
• A interim or final report is due from the host institution in September of the year following the award.

Criteria

The program seeks to support a set of fellowships that offer:

• A variety of specialty areas (paintings, paper, objects, etc.).
• Opportunities for graduates from a variety of graduate programs in the U.S. and Canada.
• Opportunities to work in a variety of institutions, from large municipal museums to university museums and other conservation facilities, as well as sites outside the U.S.

• Preference may be given to institutions that have not recently hosted Kress Fellows.

Applications will be rated according to the potential for the Fellow to develop professional skills, knowledge, and abilities in conservation, based on an ability to provide:

• A varied and challenging set of tasks.
• Sufficient and qualified supervision and mentoring.
• Access to appropriate expertise and analytical services.
• Appropriate work space and equipment.
• Opportunities for professional presentations and public outreach activities.

If a specific candidate is proposed, review will also be made regarding the potential for the Fellow to make a contribution to the conservation community, and the appropriateness of the proposed Fellowship experience for that individual.

If a specific candidate is not proposed at the time of application, review will include the appropriateness of the search procedure to fill the Fellowship position. Final approval of awards will be contingent on approval of the selected Fellow (including eligibility requirements) and their potential to make a contribution to the conservation community.

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