The Smart Museum of Art supports excellence in undergraduate education at the University of Chicago by expanding opportunities for object-centered inquiry. The Smart Scholars Program is designed to foster an expanded range of scholarly and creative expressions for undergraduate researchers interested in the visual arts. This program supports research opportunities at the Smart Museum of Art resulting in an original creative work (such as visual art, music, dance, writing, etc.), program, or scholarly essay.
Students propose their own projects grounded in academic research into one or more objects in the Museum’s collection. For example, this research can propose utilizing library, database, archive, conservation, materials science laboratory, or another museum’s resources to pursue the realization of the proposed project.
Looking for fully-funded opportunities, install the Youth Opportunities Android or iOS App here.
If your proposal is selected for the Smart Scholars Program, your assigned mentor will work with you early on in your project to help you identify whether additional funding is needed. If you and your mentor determine that additional funding is needed, a budget document with cost justifications will be required for review and approval by no later than the end of the fall quarter 2021.
You can read about projects completed by Smart Scholars last year elsewhere on the Smart Museum of Art’s website.
Principle Responsibilities:
- Academic research into one or more objects in the collection of the Smart Museum of Art.
- Regular meetings with a mentor from any of the Smart Museum’s departments (to be assigned).
- Successful completion of the proposed project.
- Hybrid position (on-site at the Smart Museum and independent remote work).
Benefits
- Smart Scholars will experience the creative and intellectual satisfaction of seeing their research into works of art come to fruition in a public forum through display, readings, performance, or other activities.
- Successful proposals will be awarded a $4,500 stipend distributed over the course of the academic year
- A limited amount of additional funding may be available for expenses related to project documentation, technology, supplies, travel, etc.
- For more information please visit the official website
Eligibilities
- Undergraduate student in good standing at the University of Chicago in any major
- Must have already completed at least one full year of undergraduate studies at the University of Chicago
- Must be a registered student at the University of Chicago for the current academic year
- Excellent research and communication skills, time management skills, and some training or experience in the proposed area (medium of proposed creative work, program, scholarly essay, etc.
Application Process
- Resume or CV (Curriculum Vitae)
- 350-word project proposal, including:
- Identification of one or more focal works from the Smart Museum of Art’s collection
- Description of work to result from research: creative work (such as visual art, music, dance, writing), program, scholarly essay, etc.
- Identification and description of any resources needed to complete research and resulting project, if applicable
- Please see the information about Q&A sessions/proposal workshops and contact information below if you have questions about what to include or not include in your proposal narrative (as you craft your proposal, please read about projects completed by Smart Scholars last year on the Smart Museum of Art’s website)
- Unofficial transcript (please download an unofficial copy from the Registrar’s office; do not submit a screen shot of your myuchicago page)
Looking for fully-funded opportunities, install the Youth Opportunities Android or iOS App here.
Application Deadline: August 29, 2021
Application ClosedOfficial link
