Visual AIDS Research Fellowship 2026-27

About this call

Visual AIDS, the New York, United States organization behind the Visual AIDS Archive, invites applications for its 2026-27 Research Fellowship, a mentored program supporting new scholarship on artists who have been lost to AIDS. Over seven months three fellows research and write about one of four artists in the archive: Mark Carter, Edwin Lacend, Kenneth Mitchell or Joseph Modica. Fellows receive a $1,000 research stipend, take part in group workshops led by arts writer Nicole Kaack and receive one-on-one mentorship from an established scholar. Each fellow produces an original essay for the web-based Visual AIDS Journal, shared publicly at the Visual AIDS Research Symposium in October 2027. The fellowship is designed to support emerging voices in writing and research about art, AIDS and cultural history; Visual AIDS especially encourages independent researchers, writers, artists, curators, archivists and others who are newer to art historical research or have had limited access to traditional academic research opportunities.

Who can apply

• Open to applicants of any nationality
• Medium: Writing
• Entry fee: See official site
• Applicants may be based anywhere and do not need an advanced degree, a university affiliation or previous publication about HIV/AIDS. Applicants should be strong writers with curiosity about archival research and a compelling interest in one of the four artists. Fellows must be able to participate in virtual meetings and develop a final text in English; workshops take place on Zoom, scheduled on Eastern Time, and mentors are generally based in the Eastern Time Zone. Two fellowships are for Mark Carter, Edwin Lacend or Kenneth Mitchell (research can be remote or in person) and one is for Joseph Modica (priority to applicants based in the New York City area or otherwise able to conduct regular in-person research at the Visual AIDS Archive). Preference goes to applicants early in their research practice who would benefit from mentorship. Submit the application form with a writing sample; the form asks you to select the artist, say what draws you to them and what you want to explore, share two or three questions you hope to answer, and describe your background and your experience with research and writing. No developed thesis or previous research on the subject is expected. Applicants are notified in December 2026. The program runs December 2026 to June 2027: an orientation, three group workshops and three individual mentorship meetings; the final edited text is due in June 2027. The call page does not mention an application fee.