Mellon Program - Learn - Smart Museum of Art

Learn

The Mellon Program

A forum for research and collaboration

Supported by an endowment from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, our academic and curricular initiatives spur new scholarship and strengthen connections between the University of Chicago and the Smart Museum. Established in 1992 and bolstered with a $1.25 million gift (PDF) from the Mellon Foundation in 2010—the single largest foundation gift in the Museum’s history—the Mellon program fosters collaboration between the Museum and faculty, encourages the integration of our exhibitions and collection into the curriculum, and supports the publication of original research.

At its core, the program allows University faculty and students to work in tandem with the Smart’s curatorial team to develop thematic exhibitions based on the Smart Museum’s extensive collection. Related courses or seminars, exhibition catalogues, and public programs are an integral part of the Mellon program as well.

The Smart welcomes the opportunity to work with University of Chicago faculty from all disciplines. For more information or to discuss an idea for a Mellon exhibition, please contact Anne Leonard.

Grants for faculty initiatives

Through the generosity of the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the Smart now offers grants to University of Chicago faculty who wish to integrate the Smart Museum’s collection or exhibitions into their own research or teaching.

Types of proposals

These Mellon grants are open to University faculty from all disciplines and can be requested in any amount, though most will fall in the $500–$1,500 range. Proposals will be evaluated on a rolling basis each year until funds are exhausted. Initiatives will vary in nature, but should make use of the Smart’s collections or exhibitions to enhance the academic life of the University. Proposals might include, but are not limited to:

Support for new courses involving Smart exhibitions or objects from our collection
Sponsorship of faculty-suggested lectures or other events relating to the Smart’s collection, exhibitions, or programs
Assistance securing long-term loans from other museums to support a course offering
Support for faculty publications involving Smart collections or exhibitions
Funding for conservation education

Proposals will be reviewed by Smart Museum staff and evaluated as to feasibility, relevance to the Smart's collection and exhibitions, and likelihood of completion.

Application

Prospective applicants are encouraged to contact Anne Leonard prior to submitting a formal proposal. The application cover page (PDF), plus a narrative and budget, will be the typical starting point.