Visiting Professionals Program for American Indians

This program uses the unique resources of NMAI to develop the knowledge and skills of professionals who work in Native cultural institutions throughout the Western Hemisphere and Hawai‘i. Each year, more than a dozen visiting professionals are chosen to conduct research at NMAI’s facilities in New York and Washington, D.C. Work/study or research projects can last from three days to six weeks, depending upon the professional’s availability, NMAI staff availability, and the nature of each project. Participants can receive travel and lodging, depending on available resources.

There are three Visiting Professional Program tracks to choose from:

• The New Professionals Program serves individuals who need hands-on experience preparing for new duties at Native cultural institutions. (For example, a museum store manager who is making the transition to exhibition development.)
• The Museum Research Program serves employees of Native museums, cultural centers, schools, and libraries who require special human, material, or technological resources to research a museum topic or function. Human resources might include museum experts who can give advice on fundraising, exhibition script writing, repatriation practices, and other topics. Material resources might include access to archaeological, ethnological, or archival materials. Technological resources might include the use of sophisticated conservation equipment. The results of the participant’s research, if not of a sensitive nature, should be shared in a report to NMAI.
• The Cultural Research Program serves Native individuals who wish to expand their deep cultural knowledge through research in NMAI’s collections or archives. This specialized knowledge should be deemed of critical value to the community. Participants are encouraged to collaborate with a local tribal entity or cultural center, share their knowledge in a public presentation, and/or distribute reports on their research findings, if not of a sensitive nature, to the local institution and NMAI.