Art Canada Institute New Voices Publishing Fellowship 2026 – $60,000 Award for Early-Career Scholars in Canadian Art History
- Omran Aburayya
- Oct 23
- 4 min read
Updated: Oct 24
If you are a researcher eager to bring new voices and perspectives into the field of Canadian art history, the Art Canada Institute (ACI) New Voices Publishing Fellowship is now open for applications—an exceptional opportunity to craft a meaningful publication and reshape how art in Canada is represented and understood. Here's everything you need to know.
🎓 Fellowship Summary
Location: Toronto, ON, Canada (hosted by ACI)
Target Group: Post-doctoral scholars in art history or closely related disciplines — early-career researchers within 7 years of PhD completion.
Fields of Focus: Canadian art broadly defined (historical, contemporary, Indigenous, diasporic), covering genres, movements, artists, and themes in Canadian visual culture.
Value & Coverage: CAD $60,000 for the 12-month fellowship.
Award Duration: One year (12 months) tenure, starting September 2026.
Application Deadline: Friday, 16 January 2026.
📚 Fellowship Overview
The New Voices Publishing Fellowship is designed to support the next generation of art historians in Canada by providing mentorship, editorial support, and the financial means to produce a substantive online art book.
🧩 Structure & Activities:
A 12-month program where one Fellow will be awarded the fellowship through competitive adjudication.
The Fellow will receive a publishing contract with ACI to produce an online art book (typically 30,000–40,000 words) within the year.
The Fellow will be mentored by leading scholars in Canadian art history and receive dedicated editorial support from the ACI team.
Opportunities to present the project to ACI’s network of advisors, scholars, artists, and patrons.
The proposed book must align with one of ACI’s major series (Life & Work, Canadian Cities, Artist Groups, Themes) and engage with accessible, inclusive scholarship that broadens public understanding of Canadian art.
💲 Benefits
Major fellowship funding (CAD $60,000) to allow focused time for research and writing.
Publishing contract and editorial backing—enabling an early-career scholar to transition into authorship with institutional support.
Mentorship and access to a community of Canadian art historians, creators, and institutional partners.
A high-profile publication platform (ACI’s online art book series) reaching both academic and public audiences.
The chance to contribute to inclusive narratives in Canadian art—highlighting under-represented voices, artists, mediums, regions, and themes.
✅ Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must meet the following requirements:
Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
Hold a PhD in art history or a closely related discipline.
Be within 7 years of PhD completion at time of application; if still completing, must have a confirmed defence date before the start of the fellowship (September 2026).
Not hold a permanent faculty position or a faculty position leading to tenure/permanency.
Demonstrate significant knowledge in the study of Canadian art (broadly defined).
Be prepared to commit substantial time and meet deliverable deadlines (manuscript draft of 30,000-40,000 words within the 12 months).
Projects focusing on living artists must include written consent from the artist.
ACI emphasises diversity, equity, and inclusion in its selection and supports applicants from historically marginalized communities.
📝 Application Procedure
Applicants must submit all materials via the online application form by 16 January 2026.
🗂️ Required Documents/Materials:
Completed online application form.
Curriculum Vitae (CV).
Manuscript Proposal (3,500 words) detailing:
Working title and indication of which ACI series the book would fall under.
Abstract (200-250 words).
Overview of manuscript (2,000-2,500 words) with chapter summaries, approx. 10 key artworks or artists with rationale.
Discussion of significance (500 words) showing how the project contributes to or challenges current scholarship.
Short Essay Questions (each ~300 words) addressing:
Why the opportunity appeals and how applicant’s objectives align with ACI’s mission.
The applicant’s engagement with the subject matter, methodology and frameworks.
Ethical considerations and how the applicant will work respectfully with communities, artists, etc.
Timeline and plan for completing the manuscript within 12 months.
Writing Sample (maximum 10 pages) demonstrating applicant’s critical voice.
Two letters of reference from qualified referees (submitted via email).
Written consent for projects involving living artists (if applicable).
🔍 Selection Process:
Applications will be reviewed by an external adjudication committee with broad expertise in Canadian art history.
Criteria include relevance/originality of topic, evidence of research and focus, contribution to the field, scope/feasibility, and author preparedness.
Shortlisted applicants may be invited to interview. The announcement of the selected Fellow is expected June 2026; fellowship begins September 2026.
ℹ️ Extra Information & Tips
While the focus is on Canadian art, the definition is broad: historical, contemporary, Indigenous, diasporic practices are all valid.
ACI encourages proposals which expand the platform of lesser-represented artists, mediums, genres, and narratives. Projects that challenge traditional canons or explore new frameworks are welcomed.
Because the deliverable is substantial (30,000-40,000 words in a year), applicants should demonstrate a clear timeline and prior productivity in research and writing.
The publishing contract means the manuscript will reach a wider public—not just academic peers—so writing style must be accessible and engaging beyond specialist circles.
Ensure letters of reference and any required artist consent are submitted in a timely fashion; missing documents may disqualify your application.
Consider how your project aligns with ACI’s publishing streams (Life & Work; Canadian Cities; Artist Groups; Themes) and reflect this in your proposal’s structure.
Because ACI emphasises mentorship, emphasise how you will benefit from the fellowship (e.g., editorial support, network, institutional platform) and how you will contribute to it (e.g., public engagement, digital formats).
🚀 Conclusion
The ACI New Voices Publishing Fellowship is a singular opportunity for early-career scholars of Canadian art to receive substantial funding, institutional publishing support, and mentorship, and to produce an original, wide-impact book that contributes to the field and public understanding of Canadian visual culture. If you hold a PhD (or will defend before September 2026), are within seven years of your PhD, and have a strong research proposal in the broad field of Canadian art, you should strongly consider applying by 16 January 2026.
