Residential Grants FAQs
Answers to frequently asked questions
Getty offers several different types of residential grants that are awarded through open application processes. The FAQs below address questions that are relevant to all residential grant programs, in addition to some that are specific to certain programs, including the Getty Scholars Program, Getty Scholars Program at the Villa, and the Conservation Guest Scholar Program (GCI). When in residence, all grantees join a lively and diverse cohort of researchers and professionals at various career levels hosted across the Getty campuses.
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Will you be offering virtual fellowships during the closure?
No. The ethos of the Getty Research Institute Scholars Program lies in its residential character and hinges on activities carried out at the Getty Center. In order to preserve these integral components of our program, we will not offer any virtual opportunities.
Will the Getty Villa and Getty Conservation Institute offer any residential grants in 2027–2028?
Yes. The Getty Villa and Getty Conservation Institute will accept applications for residential grants for 2027–2028. For more information about these funding opportunities, visit the Residential Grants page.
Will you be offering fellowships under the African American Art History Initiative in 2027–2028?
No. As the African American Art History Initiative grants are a part of the Getty Research Institute Scholars Program, they will also be paused for the 2027–2028 year.
Will you be accepting Pre- and Postdoctoral Fellows in 2027–2028?
No. The Getty Research Institute’s Scholars Program will not accept Pre- and Postdoctoral Fellowship applications for the 2027–28 academic year.
Will there be a Consortium Seminar in 2027–2028?
No. Due to the closure and the possibility of limited library services, we will not offer the Consortium Seminar to graduate students in 2027 or 2028.
Will the Getty Research Institute Scholars Program continue after the temporary closure?
Yes. The Getty Research Institute Scholars Program will be offered following the reopening of the Getty Center in 2028.
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What kinds of projects do Getty Residential Grants support?
Consistent with Getty’s overall mission, Getty Residential Grants support individuals to undertake research related to the history of art, archaeology, and conservation of cultural heritage from all times and places. The majority of Getty Residential Grants are awarded for art history through special initiatives focused on a specific issue, region, annual theme, or for dedicated research in conservation and conservation science. Getty Residential Grants also encourage projects that will particularly benefit from the intellectual life at Getty by engaging with its collections, libraries, and professional staff.
Does the program provide housing?
Yes. You may visit the Getty Scholar Housing page for further details.
Is transportation provided?
A shuttle runs between Scholar Housing and the Getty Center on weekdays during regular business hours; shuttles do not operate on weekends or holidays.
A van runs between Scholar Housing and the Getty Villa on weekdays during regular business hours; vans do not operate on weekends or holidays.
If I receive a residential grant, can I bring my family along?
Yes. Families are welcome.
May I bring my pet to Scholar Housing?
Yes. A limited number of units in Scholar Housing have been designated for residents with pets.
Does Getty offer remote fellowships for those who are unable to relocate to Los Angeles?
No. All appointed fellows are required to be in residence throughout the duration of their appointment.
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Do applicants need to be US citizens or permanent residents to be eligible for a Getty Residential Grant?
No. Getty welcomes applications from scholars of any nationality or place of residence. Scholars who are citizens of countries other than the United States are especially encouraged to apply, as are scholars who have experience studying, teaching, and/or conducting art historical research in non-US contexts. Getty provides visa support for those who have accepted an offer to one of our residential programs.
May I apply for more than one grant that is offered by Getty in a given year?
Yes. You may apply for multiple grants for the same term. However, two Getty grants cannot be held at the same time.
I have previously held a Getty Residential Grant. Am I eligible to reapply?
Yes. After a waiting period of six years, previous Getty Residential Grant recipients in any category are eligible to reapply for another grant in whichever category they are eligible for and interested in.
I am current Getty staff or the immediate family of Getty staff. Am I eligible to apply?
No. Current Getty staff and members of their immediate family are not eligible for Scholar Grants or Pre- and Postdoctoral Fellowships.
What are the eligibility differences between Predoctoral Fellows and Postdoctoral Fellows?
Predoctoral Fellowships are offered only for the Getty Scholars Program, and applicants should expect to complete their doctoral dissertation during the fellowship period. See “Eligibility” on the Pre- and Postdoctoral Fellowships page.
Note: Applicants in doctoral programs who will not have been awarded their PhD by the application deadline must apply for a Predoctoral Fellowship. If the candidate receives their doctorate before/during the residency, the applicant’s status will be changed to Postdoctoral Fellow upon receiving proof of degree conferral.
Postdoctoral Fellowships are offered for the Getty Scholars Program and the Getty Scholars Program at the Villa. See “Eligibility” on the Pre- and Postdoctoral Fellowships page and Getty Scholars Program at the Villa page respectively.
I am a predoctoral student and would like to apply for the Getty Scholars Program at the Villa. Am I eligible?
At this time the Getty Scholars Program at the Villa offers only Postdoctoral Fellowships.
May I apply to be an Artist in Residence?
The Artist in Residence program, attached to the Scholars Program and annual theme at the Getty Research Institute, was paused in 2024.
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How do I apply for a grant?
For information about grants for established researchers and professionals who have held PhDs for at least five years and/or possess strong records of publication and professional activity, consult the Getty Scholars Program, Getty Scholars Program at the Villa, and Conservation Guest Scholars pages.
For information about fellowships for PhD candidates and recently granted PhDs, consult the Pre- and Postdoctoral Fellowships, Getty Villa Postdoctoral Fellowships, and Postdoctoral Fellowship in Conservation Science pages.
When is the deadline to apply?
Most applications are due in the fall, between early October and mid-November. For exact dates, please check the pages for each individual category.
I understand that the Getty Scholars Program, Getty Scholars Program at the Villa, and Pre- and Postdoctoral Fellowships have an annual theme that changes each year. When will the new scholar theme be posted?
The scholar theme is announced in the spring and the online application materials become available in the summer.
Do I need letters of reference?
Two letters of reference are required for Predoctoral and Postdoctoral applicants. All letters must be in English. See “Letters of Recommendation” on the Pre- and Postdoctoral Fellowship page for requirements.
Applicants for the Getty Scholars Program, Getty Scholars Program at the Villa, and for Conservation Guest Scholars are not required to submit letters of reference.
May I use Interfolio to submit reference letters?
Yes.
Are there any examples of successful Getty Residential Grant proposals available to reference?
While there is no single model to follow for a successful application, and Getty does not provide examples of proposals that have received funding in the past, applicants are invited to search Getty's grant database and view past scholars’ profiles to learn more about the projects Getty has funded over the last four decades.
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How does Getty decide which applications to support?
Each application is evaluated in relation to the stated application criteria for that funding category. This work is done by reviewers who work at Getty or outside of Getty in the visual arts and cultural heritage conservation fields.
Who will review my application?
Applications undergo a rigorous screening process with at least one selection committee. Committees include past Getty scholars, current Getty staff members, and other experts with backgrounds in art history, archaeology, and adjacent fields of study from outside Getty.
When will I receive a notification about the status of my application?
Applicants will be notified of their application outcome by March or April.
My application was not selected. Can I receive feedback?
Due to the large volume of applications, Getty is unable to provide comments on individual applications.
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I have read through all of the FAQs, and I still have questions about my application. Whom may I contact?
For inquiries about the Getty Scholars Program, please email researchgrants@getty.edu.
For inquiries about the Getty Scholar Program at the Villa, please email villascholars@getty.edu.
For inquiries about Conservation Guest Scholars, please email gcischolars@getty.edu.
How do I apply for a job at Getty?
Visit our job opportunities page for information about job positions at Getty.