The Blakemore Foundation was founded in 1990 by Tom and Frances Blakemore for the purpose of providing fellowships for the advanced study of Asian languages and grants to facilitate the introduction of Asian art to communities in the United States.

Blakemore Freeman Fellowships


The Blakemore Foundation with the support of The Freeman Foundation has awarded over $20 million in fellowships to support an academic year of intensive study of an Asian language at an advanced level. Approximately 500 Blakemore Freeman Fellows have studied with the support of our program. Some of those still are in graduate school programs but the majority now hold positions in academia, museums, government service and professions such as journalism, architecture, law and medicine that require ability in an Asian language.

Blakemore Kingfisher Art History Language Fellowships

Blakemore Kingfisher Fellowships are awarded for nine to twelve months of full-time, intensive language study of Chinese or Korean in approved language programs in East Asia. These grants are open to citizens or permanent residents of the United States and Canada who have demonstrated intent to pursue an academic career in Chinese or Korean art history prior to the 20th century. Candidates from underrepresented backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

Frances Blakemore & Griffith Way Asian Art Grants

Frances Blakemore and Griffith Way Asian Art Grants are awarded annually by invitation only. Click below for information about recent art grants and about Frances Blakemore’s art work.