Decorative Arts Trust Research Grants

Date: Jan 02, 2025 - Apr 30, 2025

Each year since 2003, the Decorative Arts Trust has awarded Research Grants to graduate students working on a Master’s thesis or PhD dissertation in a field related to the decorative arts. These research travel grants range from $500 to $2,000. The Trust encourages projects that advance diversity in the study of American decorative arts.

In partnership with other organizations, the Trust also offers grants for topics with a particular focus:

• Marie Zimmermann Grant: Sponsored by the Marie & John Zimmermann Fund, these grants are allocated to projects that focus on late-19th and 20th-century topics.
• DARTS Grant: Sponsored by the Decorative Arts Society of Orange County, these grants are given to students pursuing a topic based on objects, collections, crafts, or designers located on the West Coast or students enrolled at a West Coast-based graduate program.

Applications are due by April 30 each year, and these two steps are required:

1. Complete the online application.
2. Submit CV and three images contextualizing the project via email to thetrust@decorativeartstrust.org.

Grant recipients are notified by May 15. Recognizing the potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on research travel, recipients are expected to complete the stated research project as conditions allow. Grant funding is provided once travel is complete, at which time recipients are required to submit a 500-word report that details the scope of the research and the impact upon their thesis or dissertation project as well as high-resolution images of the objects or historic sites examined during their travels. The Trust selects some reports for inclusion in The Magazine of the Decorative Arts Trust and the Decorative Arts Trust Bulletin. 

View a list of previous winners.

Learn more and apply.