The 2026 Margaret F. Williams Memorial Fellowship in the USA offers fully funded residency opportunities for emerging Asian and American curators to explore community-centered art practices.

Applications are now open for the 2026 Margaret F. Williams Memorial Fellowship, organized by The Asia Foundation in partnership with the Asian Art Museum San Francisco. This fully funded fellowship program supports emerging contemporary art curators from Asia and the United States.

The fellowship aims to strengthen community-centered curatorial practice, encouraging creative professionals to explore how art, society, and cultural networks intersect in modern exhibition design and public engagement.

Fellowship Details

The Margaret F. Williams Memorial Fellowship 2026 provides residency opportunities for two emerging curators — one from Asia and one from the United States.

• Host Country: United States
• Location: Asian Art Museum, San Francisco
• Duration: 3 Months (June 1 – August 31, 2026)
• Funding Type: Fully Funded
• Application Deadline: 24 March 2026

Applicants are not required to pay any application fee.

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Financial Benefits of the Fellowship

The fully funded fellowship covers comprehensive expenses, including:

• Round-trip international travel to San Francisco
• Residency housing for three months
• Daily living allowance during residency
• Research stipend of $7,500 for independent study tours

The program ensures selected fellows can focus entirely on research, artistic development, and community engagement projects.

Fellowship Theme: Community-Centered Curatorial Practice

The 2026 program emphasizes community-based artistic engagement.

Selected fellows will explore how curatorial work can integrate lived experiences, long-term community relationships, and knowledge sharing.

Participants will examine:

• Community-focused exhibition models
• Local, regional, and global cultural contexts
• Digital and networked art platforms

Fellows will also review past museum exhibitions and redesign conceptual frameworks to make art presentations more socially connected and relevant.

Expected outcomes include:

• Written research reflections
• Public programs and cultural events
• Experimental digital art projects
• New exhibition design proposals

The primary objective is to transform exhibitions into bridges connecting communities, institutions, and knowledge networks.

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Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Be from Asia, the Pacific Islands, or the United States
• Be an emerging curator or early-career cultural professional
• Have experience in museum, independent, or community-based art work
• Demonstrate interest in digital or non-traditional exhibition formats
• Be fluent in English
• Commit to full three-month residency in San Francisco

Both institutional and independent curators are encouraged to apply, including artists working outside conventional museum systems.

How to Apply

Interested candidates can submit applications online through the official portal:
👉 https://asiafoundation.org/2026-call-for-applications-margaret-f-williams-memorial-fellowship-in-asian-art/

Applicants are advised to review all eligibility criteria carefully before submitting documents.