In 2020 Kingfisher Foundation initiated its East Asian art history grant program. In a time where the museum and academic fields are exploring approaches to expand and deepen cultural understanding we recognize the importance of cultural histories and pre-modern art as an essential pathway of understanding. We also value the extraordinary creative and technical achievements exemplified in the pre-modern art and material practice of the East Asian region as well as the significance and depth of North American museum collections.
We recognize the importance of cultural histories and pre-modern art as an essential pathway of understanding.
Programmatic Focus
We strive to support a vibrant North American community of East Asian scholars, curators and market professionals grounded in pre-modern art history, object-based learning and languages whose work deepens cultural understanding and sparks public curiosity and learning through scholarly and accessible exhibitions, education and research.
We invest in North American institutions and projects advancing object based education and language training for graduate students as well as accessible public exhibitions and associated collaborative exchange amongst scholars and institutions that develop new ideas, artistic connections and bring new materials to audiences. Our grants strive to develop:
I. Materials-based study
Materials-based study, connoisseurship, and curatorial skills as an essential foundation of for East Asian premodern art history graduate education programs. This grounding enables graduates to communicate the full impact of artistic and material expression to audiences.
Learn More
Read more about object based study programs that enrich graduate student learning and promote institutional exchange on our blog, or read view the press release on the UMMA website .
II. Immersive training opportunities in second language
Successful completion of East Asian art history graduate study entails lengthy and multi dimensional academic training. Fellowships for a year long overseas language study program helps ensure qualified students can achieve proficiency in reading, writing and speaking.
Learn More
Read more about the Fellowships on our blog or link to the Blakemore Kingfisher Art History Language Fellowships website
III. Support for institutions planning and hosting symposia or workshops
Support for institutions planning and hosting symposia or workshops that bring together talented people with a breadth relevant skills and perspectives to exchange ideas and build working relationships amongst North American insitutions and their global counterparts. Participants could include scholars, museum staff, students, conservation professionals and market professionals.
We invest in the next generation of East Asian curators and scholars in order to expand and deepen cultural understanding of this important region and its myriad of connections with other regions.
The Work We Fund
Investing in the next generation of curators and scholars helps continue North American Institutions’ longstanding history of innovative scholarship, public exhibitions, curatorial practices and exchange with their global counterparts. The goal is to ensure the art history and artworks of East Asia continue to be accessible, appreciated and valued by audiences, deepening and extending cultural understanding of this important region and its myriad of connections and exchange with other regions across time and geography.
We recognize that there are many organizations doing excellent work and these organizations commit valuable resources to writing inquiries and proposals. Given our small team and very specific focus, we do not accept unsolicited proposals.
We do not fund contemporary art, art history or studies, endowment, films, or books.