WILLIAMSTOWN, MASS.- The Clark Art Institute announces the appointment of a distinguished class of twenty-one scholars, art historians, and curators as fellows in the Clark’s Research and Academic Program (RAP) for the 2019–2020 academic year. The Clark is one of a small number of institutions globally that is both an art museum and a center for research, critical discussion, and higher education in the visual arts.

The residential fellowships range from one to nine months, beginning in July 2019. During a residency, each fellow pursues an independent research project and has the opportunity to participate in a number of RAP programs considering diverse art historical topics and larger questions and motivations that shape the practice of art history.

Fellowships are awarded annually to established and promising scholars with the aim of fostering a critical commitment to inquiry in the theory, history, and interpretation of art and visual culture. To date, the community of Clark Fellows numbers more than 340 individuals hailing from thirty countries, creating a global network of scholars united through the shared experience of academic pursuits undertaken on the Institute’s Williamstown campus. The Clark’s revered library collection—recognized as one of the leading art history libraries in the United States—serves as a central resource for the researchers. Scholars live in apartments in a communal house close to the Clark’s campus, providing a collegial environment that fosters collaboration, ongoing dialogue, and exchange of ideas.

This year marks the launch of a new program of curatorial fellowships created to provide one-month terms available to scholars and museum professionals working on specific projects.

“The new curatorial fellowships represent an important addition to our Research and Academic Program,” said Caroline Fowler, interim director of RAP. “Recognizing that a full fellowship often requires more time away than is feasible given the press of other professional demands, we looked to create a new type of fellowship that could provide a targeted, short-term study opportunity. Based on the number of applications submitted, it’s clear that the program was enthusiastically received. We look forward to working with our first class of curatorial fellows to help us further refine and nurture this project.”

Support from the Center for Spain in America, the Florence Gould Foundation, the Samuel H. Kress Foundation, The Manton Foundation, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the Prospect Hill Foundation, and the Sperry Fund helps to underwrite fellowships in the Research and Academic Program.

Fellowships for the 2019–2020 year are awarded to:

Summer (July – August 2019)

• Clark Fellows: Lisa Ellis, Art Gallery of Ontario; Eric Pagliano, Centre de recherche et de restauration des musées de France; Barbara Penner, University College London; Sylvie Ramond, Musée des Beaux-Arts de Lyon (France); and Alexandra Suda, National Gallery of Canada

• Clark Graduate Summer Fellow: Christianna Bonin, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (US)

Fall (September – December 2019)

• Beinecke Fellow: Jared Sexton, University of California, Irvine (US)

• Clark Fellows: Susan Gagliardi, Emory University (US); Jessica Horton, University of Delaware (US);

• Clark/Oakley Humanities Fellow: Kirsten Scheid, American University of Beirut (Lebanon)

• Clark Curatorial Fellows: Adrienne Childs, independent scholar (US); Christa Clarke, independent scholar (US); Neeraja Poddar, The City Palace Museum, Udaipur (India)

• Class of 1974 Curatorial Fellow: Carlos Basualdo, Philadelphia Museum of Art (US)

• Manton Fellow: Jiat-Hwee Chang, National University of Singapore

Spring (February – June 2020)

• Center for Spain in America Fellow: Julie Harris, Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership (US)

• Clark Fellow: Lisa Lee, Emory University (US)

• Clark/Oakley Humanities Fellow: Kirsten Scheid, American University of Beirut (Lebanon)

• Florence Gould Foundation Fellow: Matthew Hunter, McGill University (Canada)

• Holly Fellow: Brigid Doherty, Princeton University (US)

• Manton Fellow: Natasha Eaton, University College London