2026 Call for Applications: Margaret F. Williams Memorial Fellowship in Asian Art
San Francisco, February 13, 2026 — In partnership with the Asian Art Museum, the The Asia Foundation announces the opening of applications for the 2026 Margaret F. Williams Memorial Fellowship in Asian Art, a prestigious program supporting emerging curatorial voices working with Asian and/or Asian American art.
Applications open February 17 and close March 24, with final selections announced by mid-April. The 2026 fellowship will run June 1 – August 31.
About the Fellowship
Held biennially, the fellowship selects two emerging contemporary art curators—
• One from Asia
• One from the United States
Fellows undertake a three-month residency at the Asian Art Museum’s Contemporary Art Department under the mentorship of Abby Chen, Senior Associate Curator and Head of Contemporary Art.
Located in the heart of San Francisco, the museum houses over 20,000 artworks—from ancient jades to contemporary installations—and is globally recognized for its exploration of Asian and Asian American art.
2026 Fellowship Theme: Community-Centered Curatorial Practice
The 2026 cycle prioritizes applicants whose work embodies community-rooted cultural practice, including:
- Participatory and socially engaged art
- Dialogues across diasporic, regional, and transnational communities
- Digital, archival, and research-driven practices
- Community partnerships built on trust, reciprocity, and long-term engagement
Fellows will explore how curatorial work can operate as a connector across communities and reimagine past exhibitions through more community-responsive frameworks. Expected outcomes may include:
- Public programs or convenings
- Written reflections
- Experimental or digital platforms
- New curatorial proposals for community-centered exhibition practices
What the Fellowship Provides
Selected fellows receive:
- Round-trip travel to and from San Francisco
- Housing and per diem for the full residency period (June 1–August 31, 2026)
- $7,500 study tour stipend (minimum 4 weeks), to be completed after or separate from the residency, supporting independent research, institutional visits, and network building
Fellows must be on-site at the museum during the residency.
Eligibility
The program embraces an expansive definition of “curator” and encourages applicants with both traditional and non-traditional backgrounds.
Applicants must be:
- Emerging curators with strong conceptual and community-focused approaches
- Demonstrating leadership, initiative, communication skills, and collaborative capacity
- Fully fluent in English
- Able to commit to a full 3-month residency in San Francisco
- From the United States, Asia, or the Pacific Islands
Individuals with experience outside institutional museum settings are encouraged to apply.
About the Fellowship’s Legacy
Established in 2007 by Asia Foundation President Emeritus Dr. Haydn Williams in honor of his late wife Margaret F. Williams, the fellowship strengthens professional exchange between curators in the United States and Asia and contributes to the advancement of Asian art scholarship.
How to Apply
Applications must be submitted online through The Asia Foundation’s fellowship portal.
For inquiries: artsfellowships@asiafoundation.org
Media Contact
Eelynn Sim, Director, Strategic Communications
media@asiafoundation.org
For more details: Click Here
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