Sainsbury Institute (SISJAC) is currently accepring applications for The Ishibashi Foundation Network Leader Fellowship Programme 2026. Interested applicants are encouraged to click here to learn more about this opportunity and apply for it.
About SISJAC The Ishibashi Foundation Network Leader Fellowship Programme
The Ishibashi Foundation Network Leader Fellowship Programme is an international fellowship for early career researchers in Japanese arts and Japanese visual culture.
Benefits of SISJAC The Ishibashi Foundation Network Leader Fellowship Programme
- Financial support of £7500 for a well-defined individual research project for the academic year 2026/27; this funding cannot be used for living expenses.
- Online mentoring and training sessions in the field of Japanese arts over the course of one academic year.
- Access to the extended professional networks of the Sainsbury Institute to develop the fellow’s research project and support career development.
- A one-week trip to the UK in summer 2027, including an academic programme, museum visits, and research symposium, to be funded separately in addition to the research funding outlined above.
SISJAC The Ishibashi Foundation Network Leader Fellowship Programme Requirements
- Open to PhD candidates and early postdocs (up to two years post-PhD) specialising in Japanese arts and fields related to Japan’s visual culture, from anywhere in the world.
- In case of countries where PhD programmes in Japanese or Asian art are limited, applications from early career curators or art professionals working with Japanese arts, with up to five years of professional experience, will be considered.
- Priority will be given to scholars from regions without established centres for the study of Japanese arts (outside Western Europe, North America, and Japan), though all applications will be reviewed.
- Applicants should demonstrate exceptional academic potential, a strong interest in Japanese visual cultures, necessary language training, clearly defined project goals, and a vision for their future career trajectory.
Application Date and Process
- CV (including language skills).
- One letter of recommendation from home institution (PhD supervisor). For scholars who are not affiliated with PhD programmes, a professional reference that attests to your experience working with Japanese arts is required.
- A 5-page proposal including:
- Your background and training in Japanese studies and art.
- You motivation for applying and how your profile fits into the framework of the project.
- An outline of the proposed project (with clear goals and objectives achievable within one year, and which may relate to your PhD project).
- A project timeline.
- A draft budget.
- The type of support you would require from the Sainsbury Institute to realise your project.
- An explanation of how your project will enhance global studies of Japanese arts.
Please submit your application materials in PDF format to [email protected]. Letters of recommendation should be sent directly by the referee to the aforementioned email address.
Application Deadline
31 May, 2026
Opportunity Application
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SISJAC The Ishibashi Foundation Network Leader Fellowship Programme
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