The Sainsbury Institute For The Study Of Japanese Arts And Culture

Charity Number: 1073416

Annual Expenditure: £0.4M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £372,463
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed (decisions made after February deadline for September start)
  • Grant Range: £7,500 - £30,000 (fellowships)
  • Geographic Focus: International (priority for early career researchers globally)

Contact Details

Address: 64 The Close, Norwich, NR1 4DH, UK

Phone: 020 7410 0330

Email: sisjac@sainsbury-institute.org

Website: https://www.sainsbury-institute.org

Overview

The Sainsbury Institute for the Study of Japanese Arts and Cultures (SISJAC) was founded in 1999 through the generosity of Sir Robert and Lady Sainsbury to promote knowledge and understanding of Japanese arts and cultures. Registered as Charity 1073416, the Institute operates as an independent charitable organization with a total annual income of approximately £372,000. Based in a Grade II listed building in Norwich, the Institute maintains close partnerships with the University of East Anglia, SOAS University of London, and the British Museum. In 2024, the Institute was awarded the prestigious Japan Foundation Award and received Foreign Minister's Commendations from the Japanese government, recognising its 25 years of world-class research leadership in Japanese studies from prehistory to contemporary culture. The Institute houses the Lisa Sainsbury Library, Europe's only specialist library on Japanese art with 50,000 volumes (80% in Japanese).

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Robert and Lisa Sainsbury Fellowships: £15,000 - £30,000

Established in 2000, these prestigious fellowships support early career researchers to conduct research at the Institute. One-year fellowships (£30,000) are preferred, with six-month fellowships (£15,000) also available. Over 70 fellows have benefited since 2001. Applications open annually with a February deadline for September start dates. Application forms requested via email.

Ishibashi Foundation Network Leader Fellowship Programme: £7,500

Launched in 2025, this fellowship supports well-defined individual research projects for PhD candidates and early postdocs (up to two years post-PhD) specializing in Japanese arts and visual culture. Includes online mentoring, training sessions, and a one-week UK trip in summer. Application deadline: May 30.

Handa Japanese Archaeology Fellowship

Established in 2003 and funded by Japanese philanthropist Handa Haruhisa through the International Jomon Culture Conference. Designed for promising Japanese archaeologists to spend one year at the Institute. Amount not publicly disclosed. Five fellows have been supported to date.

Ishibashi Foundation Summer Fellowship

Three-week intensive program (fully funded) for recent graduates, postgraduate students, and early career professionals interested in Japanese arts and cultural heritage. Includes classes, museum visits in London and Cambridge, and research opportunities at the Lisa Sainsbury Library.

Priority Areas

The Institute prioritises research in:

  • Visual studies and art history
  • Cultural heritage
  • Archaeology (particularly Japanese prehistory)
  • Architecture
  • Performing arts
  • Film studies
  • Digital humanities
  • Contemporary Japanese culture

Preference given to early career researchers within eight years of PhD award or six years of first academic appointment.

What They Don't Fund

The Institute does not fund:

  • Projects outside Japanese arts and cultures
  • Researchers who have not completed their PhD (except for specific programs like Network Leader Fellowship for PhD candidates)
  • Projects without clear research objectives
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Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

Chair: Professor David Maguire, Vice Chancellor and President of the University of East Anglia

Board Members:

  • Professor Adam Habib, Director of SOAS
  • Peter Hesketh, CEO of The Gatsby Charitable Foundation
  • Professor Kawai Masatomo, Former Director of Chiba City Museum of Art and Professor Emeritus of Keio University
  • Sir Tim Lankester KCB
  • Stephen McEnally
  • Sir David Warren KCMG
  • Professor Sarah Barrow, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Arts and Humanities, UEA

All five trustees serve on a voluntary basis with no remuneration, payments or benefits from the charity.

Executive Leadership

Executive Director: Professor Simon Kaner has led the Institute since 2018 and is Head of the Centre for Archaeology and Heritage. He specializes in Japanese prehistory and received the Japanese Foreign Minister's Commendation in 2024.

Research Director: Professor Nicole Coolidge Rousmaniere, PhD, is the founding Director (now Research Director) and Professor of Japanese Art and Culture at the University of East Anglia. She is a leading curator and scholar of Japanese art.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Applications are accepted through specific calls for each fellowship program. For the Robert and Lisa Sainsbury Fellowships:

  1. Request application form via email to sisjac@sainsbury-institute.org
  2. Submit completed application form, CV, writing sample (published article or PhD chapter), and two reference letters
  3. All documents must be in English and PDF format
  4. References sent directly by referees to arrive by deadline

Language Requirements: Good spoken and written English required. Japanese language proficiency advantageous but not mandatory for all programs.

Additional Expectations: Fellows are expected to live in Norwich during their appointment, contribute to lectures and seminars, and organize a symposium. The Institute provides shared office space and visa sponsorship if required.

Decision Timeline

Applications close on February 28 for fellowships commencing in September. Specific decision notification dates are not publicly disclosed, but successful fellows are announced before the September start date. For the Ishibashi Network Leader Fellowship, interviews are held in June following the May 30 deadline.

Success Rates

The Institute does not publish application statistics or success rates. With over 70 fellows supported since 2001 across multiple programs, the fellowships are highly competitive. The Institute states they “regret that we are unable to provide individual feedback to unsuccessful applicants.”

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy is published. Unsuccessful applicants are not prohibited from reapplying in subsequent years, but no explicit guidance is provided on this matter.

Application Success Factors

Based on analysis of successful fellows and program criteria:

Preferred Research Areas: Strong preference for visual studies, including art history, cultural heritage, archaeology, architecture, film studies, performing arts, and digital humanities. Recent fellows have researched topics ranging from prehistoric Jomon artifacts to contemporary nihonga painting and female craftspeople in modern Tokyo.

Career Stage Matters: While open to all PhD holders, the Institute explicitly prioritizes Early Career Researchers defined as within eight years of PhD award or six years of first academic appointment (AHRC definition). This suggests applications from established senior scholars may be less competitive.

Quality of Writing Sample: The writing sample (published article or PhD chapter) is a key assessment component. This should demonstrate rigorous scholarship, original contribution to the field, and clear academic writing.

Research Environment Fit: Fellows are expected to contribute to the Institute's intellectual community through lectures, seminars, and symposia. Applications should demonstrate how the candidate will engage with and contribute to this collaborative research environment.

International Reach: The fellowships are explicitly designed to “strengthen academic ties with Japanese studies programmes across Asia, Europe, Oceania and North America,” suggesting the Institute values international diversity and collaborative potential.

Project Clarity: For programs like the Network Leader Fellowship, “well-defined individual research projects” are required. Proposals should have clear objectives, methodologies, and expected outcomes.

Access to Resources: Fellows benefit from the Lisa Sainsbury Library's unique collection of 50,000 volumes on Japanese art (80% in Japanese). Successful applications likely demonstrate how the Institute's resources will advance the proposed research.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Target early career stage: The Institute explicitly prioritizes researchers within 8 years of PhD, making this the ideal career stage for competitive applications
  • Emphasize visual culture: While broadly supporting Japanese studies, strong preference given to visual studies, art history, cultural heritage, archaeology, architecture, and digital humanities
  • Demonstrate collaborative value: Fellows are expected to contribute to seminars and symposia—highlight how you'll engage with the Institute's community
  • Leverage unique resources: Show how the Lisa Sainsbury Library's specialist collection and the Norwich research environment specifically advance your project
  • Submit polished writing sample: Your published article or PhD chapter is a critical assessment component demonstrating scholarly rigor
  • Plan for Norwich residency: Fellows must live in Norwich during their appointment—consider practical logistics in your planning
  • Apply for one-year fellowship: One-year fellowships (£30,000) are preferred over six-month fellowships (£15,000)
  • Understand decision opacity: No individual feedback provided to unsuccessful applicants; no published success rates—competition level is opaque but presumed high given the Institute's prestige and 25-year track record

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References