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Mission

SAR advances creative thought and innovative work in the social sciences, humanities, and Native American arts.

Vision

To become the preeminent institution that simultaneously nurtures leading-edge social science and Native American artistic creativity.

Who we are

Founded in 1907, SAR is a residential center focused on the cultivation of innovative research in anthropology, broadly defined, as well as the work of Native American artists and writers.

What is SAR?

What we do

SAR offers residential fellowships to scholars and Native American artists through a competitive process. We host research seminars for scholars undertaking comparative, historically informed research that addresses critical issues of human social life. SAR’s Indian Arts Research Center (IARC) stewards and makes available to scholars and artists one of the world’s finest collections of Native American art from the Southwest. SAR Press publishes path-breaking books in anthropology, archaeology, Indigenous studies, and Native American art. The Catherine McElvain Library provides access to a significant collection of anthropological works and archival material related to Santa Fe history. Our membership program offers frequent lectures, field trips, and campus tours to the general public.

Where we are

The SAR campus is located in Santa Fe, New Mexico, the nation’s oldest capital city and a place that has served as a cultural crossroads for centuries. Although SAR is enriched by its Southwestern location and traditions, our ambitions are cosmopolitan and forward-thinking.

Archaeologist Dr. Polly Schaafsma, expert in Southwestern rock art, guiding an SAR field trip to Comanche Gap in the Galisteo Basin

Why SAR?

Because a great nation needs creative social and artistic thought to lend meaning to its accomplishments and aspirations.


The School for Advanced Research is deeply committed to the long-standing principle of academic freedom and will continue to accept applications from scholars world-wide for our fellowships and seminars. In addition, we are committed to the principle of peer review of all applications without regard to nationality, religion, race, gender, or sexual orientation.