Courtesy/IAIA
IAIA News:
The Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) today announced an initiative to establish the Patsy Phillips Endowed Scholarship in Museum Studies, a named scholarship honoring Patsy Phillips (Cherokee Nation), Director of the IAIA Museum of Contemporary Native Arts (MoCNA), as she prepares to retire at the end of June after 18 years at MoCNA and 30 years advancing contemporary Indigenous arts.
The scholarship fund is designated to support future qualifying IAIA Indigenous women students pursuing degrees in Museum Studies who will rise to fill much-needed roles as Indigenous leaders in the museum field. Created as a lasting tribute to Phillips’ dedication to IAIA, MoCNA, and the field of contemporary Indigenous art, the scholarship reflects her lifelong commitment to opening doors for Indigenous students, artists, curators, and cultural leaders.
With $85,000 already pledged toward the Patsy Phillips Endowed Scholarship in Museum Studies, IAIA is seeking additional founding donors to help launch the endowment in time for the scholarship to be announced at IAIA’s Benefit & Auction in August.
“Patsy Phillips has spent her career creating pathways for Indigenous artists, students, and museum professionals. The Patsy Phillips Endowed Scholarship in Museum Studies will carry that legacy forward by supporting Indigenous women students who are preparing to lead museums, cultural institutions, and the broader field of Indigenous arts. It is a fitting and enduring tribute to Patsy’s vision, dedication, and transformational leadership,” says Dr. Shelly C. Lowe (Navajo), IAIA President.
The scholarship announcement comes amid recognition of Phillips’ service and impact. IAIA recently conferred upon Phillips an honorary doctoral degree during the 2026 IAIA Commencement Ceremony, and MoCNA dedicated the Patsy Phillips Gallery in her honor. On Sunday, June 14, Phillips’ opinion piece, “The future of Native art is bright,” appeared in the Santa Fe New Mexican, offering reflections on her career.
Phillips announced her retirement earlier this year after a 30-year career elevating contemporary Indigenous arts through three major organizations: ATLATL, the National Service Organization for Native American Art; the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of the American Indian; and MoCNA, where she has served as director for 18 years.
“I am announcing my retirement with sincere gratitude,” Phillips said in IAIA’s official retirement announcement. “It is difficult to fully convey the significance of IAIA and MoCNA in my life and in the field, and I am profoundly thankful for the opportunity to have served in this role.” “It is important to have Native women in these roles for future generations,” Phillips said. To learn more about Phillips’ retirement, read “MoCNA Director Patsy Phillips Announces Retirement After 18 Years of Leadership.”
In Spring 2026, Phillips was elected to the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, joining a class of 252 leaders in academia, the arts, industry, journalism, philanthropy, policy, research, and science. She was elected to Class V, Leadership, Policy, and Communications, in the Scientific, Cultural, and Nonprofit Leadership section. In 2025, ForbesWomen named Phillips to its 50 Over 50 list, recognizing women making powerful contributions through their initiatives and leadership.
Although Phillips retires from her role as MoCNA Director at the end of June, she plans to remain active in the museum field by continuing her service on the boards of the American Alliance of Museums and the International Council of Museums (ICOM-US). She has also stated that she plans to continue supporting IAIA and MoCNA and to teach in IAIA’s Museum Studies department in the future.
The Patsy Phillips Endowed Scholarship in Museum Studies will continue Phillips’ legacy by investing in Native women students preparing to shape the future of museums, cultural institutions, and Indigenous arts leadership.
To support the Patsy Phillips Endowed Scholarship in Museum Studies, please contact Kara Clem, Chief Advancement Officer, at kara.clem@iaia.edu.
The mission of the IAIA Museum of Contemporary Native Arts (MoCNA) is “To elevate contemporary Indigenous art through exhibitions, collections, programs, partnerships, and new research.”
MoCNA is the country’s premiere museum for exhibiting, collecting, and interpreting the most progressive work of contemporary Native artists. MoCNA is dedicated solely to advancing the scholarship, discourse, and interpretation of contemporary Native art for regional, national, and international audiences—as such, it stewards over 9,500 contemporary Indigenous artworks (created 1962 to present). MoCNA is at the forefront of contemporary Native art presentation and strives to be flexible, foresighted, and risk-taking in its exhibitions and programs. MoCNA is located in the heart of downtown Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Visit the IAIA Museum of Contemporary Native Arts (MoCNA) at 108 Cathedral Place, Santa Fe, NM 87501. For more information or questions about MoCNA, please visit our website or call 505.424.2300.
Courtesy/IAIA