About the IARC
The Indian Arts Research Center (IARC), a division of the School for Advanced Research, fosters innovative projects and initiatives in Native American studies, art history, and creative expression.
The IARC supports its mission by offering fellowships that provide artists with uninterrupted time to create, cultivating the next generation of arts and museum professionals through hands-on training, and hosting seminars and symposia that bring together artists, scholars, and community members for meaningful dialogue.
Gerry Quotskuyva at work in the Dubin Studio
IARC’s eMuseum
The IARC eMuseum features searchable entries from the renowned collection of over 12,000 Southwestern Native American artworks, spanning historic and contemporary pieces. The eMuseum also highlights contributions to the collection from IARC Native American artist fellows. New collection items are added regularly.
Collaborative Collections Stewardship
Kevin Aspaas in the IARC, 2024
Considered by many to be one of the most remarkable assemblages of Southwestern Native American art in the world, the collections at the IARC have grown to over 12,000 works that span from the sixth century to the present. As a research collection, it is a resource for artists, scholars, source communities, students, and others.
In 2023, the IARC released the Standards for Museums with Native American Collections. The SMNAC is a comprehensive guide for museums with Native collections, offering recommendations across seven functional areas to foster culturally sensitive stewardship and meaningful partnerships with descendant communities. Supported by the Anne Ray Foundation and the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian, it includes case studies and resources to promote collaboration, inclusion, and improved practices in the museum field.
The Indigenous Collections Care (ICC) Working Group, another collaborative effort by the IARC, is developing a guide to support culturally respectful museum practices, prioritizing Native and Indigenous community needs and knowledge. Funded by an IMLS National Leadership Grant, the guide will engage 175 tribal and museum representatives by 2026 and be freely available to promote equitable and community-centered collections stewardship.
Native Artist Fellowships
2025 Anne Ray Interns, Alexandria Hawley and Olivera Masters, in the IARC
Anne Ray Internships
SAR provides paid residential internships for recent college graduates, current graduate students, or junior museum professionals. Interns work with the IARC education, collections management, and registration departments to gain experience with Native communities and collections. Internships run annually from September 1 to May 31.
Community Initiatives
Acoma pottery review in the IARC
Open to tribal community groups, elders, cultural leaders, students, and artists who wish to study the collections, the IARC offers tours and hands-on programming to suit a variety of community needs.
The IARC also provides case-by-case research access to its collections and facilitates loans for exhibitions, with detailed procedures ensuring proper care and respect for cultural and legal considerations.
Additionally, the IARC offers image reproduction services subject to copyright and tribal permissions, with a focus on collaboration and adherence to ethical standards.
School Programs & Online Resources
Bring SAR into your school with the IARC classroom resources that engage students and scholars of all ages in topics related to Native American cultural heritage. From curriculum created for specific learning stages, to online exhibits for all ages, these resources offer ongoing support for educators looking to increase awareness of Native American arts and culture.
Grounded in Clay exhibition at the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture, 2022
Grounded in Clay
The Guidelines led to the development of Grounded in Clay: The Spirit of Pueblo Pottery, a deeply collaborative traveling exhibition that drew from the IARC collections and the Vilcek Foundation collection in New York. The exhibition, developed with over 60 community curators explores the deep connections between Pueblo pottery, culture, and history, offering a rare first-person perspective on the stories, experiences, and relationships embodied in these timeless vessels.
NAGPRA Statement
The Indian Arts Research Center (IARC) at the School for Advanced Research (SAR) is committed to adhering to the Native American Graves and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) with respect and in accordance with the federal law. SAR values and understands the critical need to consult, partner with, and build relationships with Native communities that are represented in the collection.
We acknowledge and recognize the sensitive and emotionally heavy nature of discussions about repatriation. We are committed to engaging in a collaborative and transparent consultation process that facilitates respectful and meaningful dialogue with tribal leaders, cultural knowledge keepers and representatives. Throughout the NAGPRA process, it is our goal to create a space where tribal nations can guide the repatriation process through collaborative, culturally relevant, and appropriate methods in accordance with the federal law.
If you are a tribal representative, community member or cultural knowledge keeper who has questions regarding NAGPRA and the IARC’s process, please contact: iarc@sarsf.org, call (505) 954-7205, or fill out the form below.
IARC Location
School For Advanced Research, 660 Garcia St., Santa Fe, NM
Open Hours
M-F: 9am – 5pm