The Frick Collection is expanding its fellowship program, creating new opportunities for emerging scholars and museum professionals across curatorial, conservation and music fields.
The New York museum announced July 30 that six new fellowship and research positions have been established since 2024, expanding on the institution’s longstanding commitment to developing the next generation of arts and culture professionals. The new positions are supported by major gifts from donors and organizations.
The expanded program includes the Ayesha Bulchandani Music Fellowship, the Alexis Gregory Fellowship for European Decorative Arts, The Eric & Jane Nord Family Fund Conservation and Curatorial Fellowships, the Louis Vuitton Curatorial Research Associate and the Stephen K. and Janie Woo Scher Fellowship.
The Anne L. Poulet Curatorial Fellowship, one of the Frick’s established programs, will also continue. Now in its third decade, the fellowship will welcome a new appointee this fall.
The fellowships are designed to provide participants with hands-on experience and mentorship while supporting the museum’s broader curatorial, conservation, research and programming activities. The expansion comes as the Frick continues to enhance its facilities and create additional space for its work.
“For generations, The Frick Collection has served as a vital training ground within the cultural sector,” Axel Rüger, Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Director, said in a statement.
Rüger noted that alumni of the Frick’s fellowship programs have gone on to hold directorial, curatorial and scholarly positions around the world. The museum has sought to expand those opportunities and now has the space and financial support to do so.
The new positions cover a range of specialties, reflecting the increasingly broad career paths available within museums and cultural institutions. Along with traditional curatorial research, the program provides opportunities in European decorative arts, art conservation and music.
For participants, the fellowships can offer more than academic research. Working within a major museum gives emerging professionals the opportunity to collaborate with established scholars and museum staff while gaining experience that can help shape their future careers.
The expansion also reflects the importance of private philanthropy in supporting professional development within the cultural sector. According to the Frick, the new positions were made possible through generous funding from multiple donors.
Rüger expressed appreciation to the individuals and organizations supporting the expanded program, saying their contributions will help the museum continue mentoring professionals entering the field.
With the addition of six positions since 2024, the Frick is strengthening a fellowship program that has already produced generations of museum leaders, curators and scholars. The expanded opportunities aim to ensure that legacy continues while giving emerging professionals new ways to build expertise in the arts.