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.
If you receive funding from another source, you must notify us immediately. Harvard College students can only accept one funded summer experience each summer according to Harvard College’s Summer Funding Policy.
**Note: Students may apply Harvard University funding to two different opportunities, given that one source of funding supports thesis research and that the two opportunities do not overlap in time. If a student applies for multiple sources of funding under this exception, they should email all involved funding centers with the timing of their thesis research and other summer experience.**
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to your project proposal (i.e. type, format, location, duration, etc) and you do not inform us, your award may be rescinded.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, throughout the spring semester, and for the duration of the proposed project
- Students not in good standing at the time of applying for MCS funding will only be considered if they have an endorsement from their Resident Dean (RD) stating that the RD supports the student’s application for MCS funding. Emails must be sent to summerfunding@fas.harvard.edu by the application deadline.
- Current Harvard College undergraduates, sophomore through 1st semester senior during Spring 2025
- Enrolled full-time during Spring 2025;
- In accordance with the Student Handbook, students in good standing who are on a voluntary leave of absence may be permitted to apply for Harvard funding, including but not limited to summer grants, provided that they have obtained the Administrative Board’s prior approval. In making this determination, the Administrative Board will consider the relevant circumstances, including, for example, the circumstances that led to the student’s leave of absence. Students on leave should start this approval process as soon as possible by contacting their Resident Dean; if approved, students must submit all applications by their posted deadlines.
- In accordance with the Student Handbook, students in good standing who are on a voluntary leave of absence may be permitted to apply for Harvard funding, including but not limited to summer grants, provided that they have obtained the Administrative Board’s prior approval. In making this determination, the Administrative Board will consider the relevant circumstances, including, for example, the circumstances that led to the student’s leave of absence. Students on leave should start this approval process as soon as possible by contacting their Resident Dean; if approved, students must submit all applications by their posted deadlines.
How to Apply:
- Enroll in direct deposit. See direct deposit instructions
- Apply in CARAT to “Sydney Williams Jr Traveling Fellowship SU25” by Thursday, February 13, 2025 with the following materials:
- 400-word proposal
- One-page resume, PDF format (we recommend using our templates)
- Portfolio of your work (link to Google Drive or personal website)
- 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)
- 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:
- Read Harvard COVID-19 travel policy
- Read Harvard College International travel policy
- Identify your destination’s travel risk rating - students may not travel to countries or regions within countries where the risk rating is “high”
- If you intend to travel to an “elevated” risk country or region, submit an online travel safety questionnaire
- If you intend to travel to an “elevated” risk country or region, attend an elevated-risk orientation at some point this spring.
- *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.
- *Watch the GSS Online Pre-departure Orientation* – include a screenshot of your certificate of completion in your CARAT application
- No more than 90 days prior to your departure and no later than Friday, April 25, 2025, 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.