The Museum of International Folk Art (MOIFA) in Santa Fe has announced the opening of applications for its 2026 Summer Research Fellowship Program. The initiative offers scholars, researchers, and public folklorists a chance to work with the museum’s collections and archives for four to six weeks during the summer.
The program will take place between June 1 and August 31, 2026. Applicants are required to submit their materials by November 17, 2025. Details about the fellowship and project descriptions can be found on MOIFA’s website.
Fellows selected for the program will receive a $2,500 honorarium, travel reimbursement up to $1,000, as well as additional stipends for lodging and living expenses. Participants will have access to workspace, collections, library resources, and opportunities for community engagement.
"After a successful inaugural program this summer, we are pleased to announce the continuation of this important initiative in 2026," said Charlie Lockwood, Executive Director of MOIFA. "Through their projects, fellowship participants will not only explore their own research interests, but also aid in advancing understanding, responsible cultural stewardship, and collaborative community-centered approaches to our work."
Addison Nace, who participated as a fellow in summer 2025, shared: "The fellowship at MOIFA provided me with an intellectual home and community that I had never experienced—truly a dream come true. It provided me with the space to connect my work in community-based research to object histories and stories in the archives in a transdisciplinary manner."
The Summer Research Fellowship Program is supported by funding from the International Folk Art Foundation and contributions from Susan and Steven Goldstein.
MOIFA operates under New Mexico's Department of Cultural Affairs and is overseen by the Board of Regents for the Museum of New Mexico. Since its establishment in 1953, MOIFA has built what it describes as the world’s largest collection of international folk art—with more than 163,000 objects representing over 160 countries. The museum supports research into folk art histories and traditions through its resources and programs.
For more information about applying or learning about MOIFA’s collections visit htps://moifa.org/learn/research-fellowship-program.
