Art Bridges Fellows Class 2 at Crystal Bridges, Summer 2023 — Art Bridges Fellows at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art (Bentonville, AR).

Art BridgesFellows Program

The Art Bridges Fellows Program is dedicated to creating diverse museum leadership with a national group of emerging arts professionals and mentors.

The Fellows Program was conceived of as a three-year pilot to establish career pathways for historically underrepresented groups in the arts and offer new models for fellowship roles within museums. We have currently launched the third year and the evaluation of the program and therefore are not placing fellows at new locations. Check back here for updates about the program or subscribe to our newsletter.

The Art Bridges Fellows Program establishes career pathways for historically underrepresented groups in the arts and offers new models for fellowship roles within museums.

Art Bridges Fellows Payton Murray and Jessica Spradling touring the galleries at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art (Bentonville, AR) as part of the Fellows Program, Summer 2022

Art Bridges Fellow Lianna González at Shiloh Museum (Springdale, AR).

Art Bridges Fellows Program

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"...the program aspires to change who works in and leads museums."

Kristin Pedrozo

Art Bridges Fellow, Memphis Brooks Museum of Art

The foundation works to place Art Bridges Fellows in three-year appointments at partner museums. Each position is connected to substantial, multi-year Art Bridges programs — including major initiatives like the Cohort Program and Partner Loan Network — and capacity needs of partner museums.

In addition to ongoing professional development, the Art Bridges Fellows gather in Bentonville for regular convenings and a month-long residency and orientation.

Art Bridges Fellows Class 2 Summer 2023

Fellows Program

Program Goals

1
Investing in Diversity
Expand pathways to diverse and inclusive museum leadership by building and investing in a cohort of Art Bridges Fellows from historically underrepresented communities.
2
Building Bridges
Provide financial and strategic support to Art Bridges partners with approved exhibitions, loans, and collection sharing projects as well as for programming, audience engagement, and evaluation to increase community access to American art.
3
Collaborating for Success
Assist with funding applications once a partner is approved for a project in collaboration with Art Bridges program and awards teams.
4
Creating Pathways
Create and strengthen bridges across generations — from elementary students to college interns to Art Bridges Fellows to museum directors and board members — to open opportunities in the arts.