Marilynn Thoma Fellowship in the Art of the Spanish Americas
Offered by Carl & Marilynn Thoma Foundation
About This Scholarship
The Carl & Marilynn Thoma Foundation funds one of the most generous fellowships in the humanities: $50,000 for a one-year predoctoral dissertation research fellowship in the art of the Spanish Americas (a $65,000 postdoctoral track runs alongside it for recent PhDs). Applications for the current cycle are due December 15, 2026, with decisions announced by April 2027.
The field is specific: projects must focus on the art of colonial South America and the broader Spanish Americas, and applicants must be able to communicate and conduct research in both English and Spanish. Fellowship money supports the recipient's own expenses and research assistants - it cannot fund group projects, equipment purchases, or work outside art and art history. The foundation also offers smaller research, travel, and conservation awards in the same field through the same portal.
For art history doctoral students, the math is simple: $50,000 for a dissertation year is roughly double a typical university stipend, and the applicant pool for colonial Latin American art is tiny compared to general humanities fellowships. The application includes a project proposal, and the foundation publishes a Spanish-language version of the application page - a signal of how seriously it treats bilingual scholarship.
Eligibility
- Doctoral student at the dissertation research stage (predoctoral track); postdoctoral track requires a PhD conferred between 2016 and 2026
- Project focuses on the art of the Spanish Americas, including colonial South America
- Able to communicate and conduct research in both English and Spanish
- Funds may only be used for the recipient's and research assistants' expenses on art/art history projects
How To Apply
- Go to the Art of the Spanish Americas fellowships page on grants.thomafoundation.org
- Prepare a research proposal focused on the art of the Spanish Americas, indicating project scope
- Complete the online application (available in English and Spanish) through the foundation's portal
- Submit by December 15, 2026; applicants are informed of their status no later than April 2027
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the Marilynn Thoma Fellowship?
The predoctoral dissertation research fellowship is $50,000 for one year. A postdoctoral track pays $65,000 for a one- to two-year project for scholars whose PhD was conferred between 2016 and 2026.
Do I need to speak Spanish to apply?
Yes. Applicants for both tracks must be able to communicate and conduct research in both English and Spanish, reflecting the colonial Latin American source material.
What can the fellowship money be used for?
The recipient's own expenses and research assistants. It cannot fund group projects, equipment purchases, or projects unrelated to the study of art and art history.