Sydney M. Williams Jr. Traveling Fund for Visual Art

Are you a visual artist? Do you have an original creative project that you want to develop by traveling outside of the United States this summer? 

The Sydney M. Williams Jr. Traveling Fund supports up to five students to make original works of visual art. Award recipients will use funds for travel outside the U.S. to support visual art projects. 

Projects should be closely related to an ongoing or proposed creative project – they can include visiting museums and monuments, and can be any type of experience or research project provided that it does not involve taking formal classes. A faculty committee will be selecting awardees with an impressive portfolio of visual work. 

It is the responsibility of students to ensure their ability to complete the programs for which they are applying for funding. 

We encourage you to apply for all funding sources for which you are eligible. If you receive funding from another source, you must notify us immediately. 

Please note that Harvard College students can only accept one funded summer experience each summer. For the latest information, see Harvard College’s Summer Funding Policy.

Mignone Center for Career Success awards are not transferable.  If your project proposal or location changes, you need to seek the approval of our office to be funded for your opportunity. Similarly, funding for one type of opportunity (such as a visual arts project) cannot be moved to another type of opportunity (such as an internship with a third-party internship provider or study abroad). If there are any changes to your project proposal (i.e. type, format, location, duration, etc)  and you do not inform us, your award may be rescinded. 

Who Can Apply for Funding? 

The Mignone Center for Career Success can only fund students who are: 

  • Traveling outside the US to pursue a visual arts project 
  • In good academic standing at time of application and at the end of the spring semester 
    • MCS funding is targeted to support students in good academic standing. Students not in good standing at the time of applying for MCS funding will only be considered for that funding if they have an endorsement from their Resident Dean prior to the application deadline.  An endorsement consists of an email from the student’s Resident Dean stating that the Resident Dean supports the application for MCS funding.  The endorsement email must be submitted to summerfunding@fas.harvard.edu.
  • Current Harvard College undergraduates, sophomore through 1st semester senior during Spring 2024
  • Enrolled full-time during Spring 2024

How to Apply: 

  1. Enroll in direct deposit. See direct deposit instructions
  2. Apply in CARAT to “Sydney Williams Jr Traveling Fellowship SU24” by Thursday, February 15, 2024 with the following materials:
    1. 400-word proposal
    2. One-page resume, PDF format (we recommend using  our templates)
    3. Portfolio of your work (link to Google Drive or personal website)
    4. Proof of Direct Deposit enrollment, PDF format. Submit a pdf screenshot from the “Student Accounts” section from my.harvard that shows you are enrolled in direct deposit (Download sample screenshot)
    5. Complete pre-departure requirements and submit forms to respective offices (some will be submitted online). Upload forms marked with an asterisk (*) with your CARAT application: 
      1. Read Harvard COVID-19 travel policy
      2. Read Harvard College International travel policy
      3. Identify your destination’s travel risk rating - students may not travel to countries or regions within countries where the risk rating is “high”
        1. If you intend to travel to an “elevated” risk country or region, submit an online travel safety questionnaire 
        2. If you intend to travel to an “elevated” risk country or region, attend an elevated-risk orientation at some point this spring.
      4. *Sign and submit travel waiver and release form* - include the signed waiver with your CARAT application. PLEASE NOTE: Submit either the “College Students – Research of Study” or “College Students – Research or Study in Elevated Risk Destinations.” ALL FIELDS MUST BE FILLED OUT. 
      5. *Watch the GSS Online Pre-departure Orientation* – include a screenshot of your certificate of completion in your CARAT application
      6. No more than 90 days prior to your departure and no later than Friday, April 5, 2024, submit the Harvard College Health Clearance packet. PLEASE NOTE: Health clearance packet must be delivered to Harvard University Health Services directly. Do not submit to MCS and do not upload with your application 

This application process is coordinated by the Mignone Center for Career Success in collaboration with the Office for the Arts, the Department of Art, Film, and Visual Studies, and Harvard University Art Museums under the aegis of its Curator of Contemporary Art.