Getty Conservation Guest Scholars Program

Getty Conservation Guest Scholars Program is sponsored by Getty Conservation Institute. Offers established cultural heritage conservation professionals a fully funded, three-month research opportunity to pursue independent research at the Getty Conservation Institute.

Conservation Guest Scholars | Getty Projects Conservation Guest Scholars Opportunities for professionals to pursue research on topics that bring new knowledge and fresh perspectives to the field of conservation Getty Conservation Institute Through the Conservation Guest Scholars Program, Getty provides opportunities for established scholars or professionals who have attained distinction in the cultural heritage conservation field.

Recipients are in residence at the Conservation Institute for a three-month residency, in which they pursue their own projects free from work-related obligations, make use of research collections at the Getty Center and Getty Villa, and participate with other Getty scholars, fellows, and interns in the intellectual life of Getty. The deadline for submission of application materials is 5:00 pm Los Angeles time (GMT-7), October 1, 2026.

Applications are welcome from researchers and practitioners of all nationalities working in cultural heritage conservation or preservation, including objects, collections, architecture, and sites. Applicants should have at least seven years of professional experience and should have an established record of publications and other contributions to the field.

Individuals from groups underrepresented across the field of cultural heritage conservation are encouraged to apply. Proposals for postdoctoral research or research that contributes to a PhD or other academic degree will not be considered. Recent PhDs in chemistry and other physical or material sciences should apply to the Postdoctoral Fellowship in Conservation Science .

The Conservation Institute will consider proposals that require use of its science laboratories; however, use is dependent upon availability of lab facilities and staff time and cannot be guaranteed. If selected, Scholars should be prepared to conduct research independent of Science department staff. Previous Conservation Guest Scholar Grant recipients are eligible to reapply after a waiting period of six years.

Current Getty staff and members of their immediate family are not eligible for Conservation Guest Scholar Grants. A related opportunity, Getty Scholars Program at the Villa contributes to the understanding and preservation of cultural heritage through advanced research on the arts and cultures of antiquity.

Conservation Guest Scholars and Getty Villa Scholars live in the same complex and participate in many shared activities and lectures while in residence. The parallel programs provide ample opportunities for exchange and collaboration. Applications for the Villa Scholars Program are made separately.

Conservation Guest Scholars are in residence for three months: September–December, January–March, or April–June: $21,500 The grant also includes a workstation at the Conservation Institute, an apartment in the Getty scholar housing complex, research assistance, a travel stipend, and an available healthcare option. These terms apply as of August 2026 and are subject to future changes.

See the overview of the Getty Residential Scholar and Fellow Program for further details about stipends, housing, healthcare, and more. You may return to your work at any time by visiting the portal at the link above and logging into your account.

Please note : Once you have created and saved an application form, be sure to return to work on the same form by selecting the "Applications: In Progress" link to return to your saved application. Otherwise, you may inadvertently create multiple versions of the same application. The project proposal should not exceed five pages, typed and double-spaced and must include a description of the applicant's proposed plan of study.

The proposal should include the following distinct sections: Methodology (please specify which of the project's components would be pursued while in residence at the Getty) Project’s contribution to the advancement of practice in the conservation field Applicant's qualifications to execute project Benefits to project from resources at the Getty Abridged Curriculum Vitae An abridged curriculum vitae (CV) is a condensed record of your most relevant professional activities and should not exceed five typed, single-spaced pages .

Cite scholarly works, other than your own, that are important to the project and place the project in its intellectual framework. Not to exceed two typed, single-spaced pages . Conservation Guest Scholar Grants are awarded on a competitive basis.

Applications are evaluated based on the following criteria: overall quality of the application; how the project would contribute to the advancement of practice in the conservation field; applicant's past achievements; applicant's qualifications to undertake the project; and how the project would benefit from the resources at Getty, including its library collections and staff.

Letters of reference will not be considered in the application evaluation . Applications undergo a rigorous screening process with two separate selection committees. The committees include current Getty staff members and other experts with backgrounds in conservation and adjacent fields of study from outside Getty.

Strong applications will demonstrate an original topic, a clearly defined methodology and proposed outcomes, the impact on the field, the ability to work independently of GCI staff expertise and availability, and a clear explanation of why Getty is the best place to conduct this research. Applicants will be notified of the Getty Conservation Institute's decision by March or April 2027.

Frequently Asked Questions Find answers to the most common questions we receive about our residential grant opportunities at Getty. Still have questions? Please send inquiries to gcischolars@getty.

edu Applications are now open. Deadline to apply is October 1, 2026 at 5:00 pm (Los Angeles).

Getty Welcomes Nine New Residents to Its Conservation Guest Scholars Program Short-term grants offering support for researchers to use the Getty Library’s collections Postdoctoral Fellowship in Conservation Science Two-year fellowship in conservation science for recent PhD recipients Supporting a vibrant intellectual community to carry out innovative research about art and its histories