RISD offers these grants to students and alumni.
These are awards in which RISD manages the process, provides support to applicants and awardees, and/or funds.
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Funding for Internships
RISD Maharam Fellowship
Image Credit: Denzel Amoah MLA 24 - 2024 Maharam Fellow
Watch the RISD Maharam Fellowship Info Session
Deadline?
Mid-February
Who can apply?
Currently enrolled Sophomores, Juniors, Seniors, Fifth Years, and Graduate Students.
How much?
$5,000
For what?
The Fellowship focuses on two of the most urgent issues of our time - social justice and sustainability. The Fellowship will support internship work that aspires to advance social progress or safeguard the environment or even combine both of these important issues. The nature of the internship should explore the role of innovative, critical, creative thinkers to solve problems and demonstrate the various ways artists and designers can have a positive impact.
When?
Summer. The internship may take place the summer after graduation.
Where?
You name it!
Application Details
RISD Maharam Fellowship - Guidelines (2024-2025)
RISD Maharam Fellowship - Website
RISD Maharam Fellowship - Application
RISD Undergraduate Internship Discovery Grant
Deadline?
Early April
Who can apply?
Currently enrolled students in First Year, Sophomore, or Junior standing are eligible. Brown/RISD Dual Degree and Architecture students in years 1-4 are eligible.
How much?
$3,000
For what?
Unique summer internships that allow you to explore a specific topic or area of interest. This may be an opportunity to dive deeper into your current studies or have an experience that takes you out of your comfort zone as you expand your skills and knowledge. Your internship may expose you to innovative art and design practices beyond your studio work or lead to future impacts within your discipline.
When?
Summer. Applicants must be an enrolled RISD student the semester before the summer of the internship and returning to RISD the fall after the internship.
Where?
You name it!
Application Details
RISD Undergraduate Internship Discovery Grant - Guidelines
RISD Undergraduate Internship Discovery Grant - Application
RISD Internship Support Funds
Deadline?
Early May
Who can apply?
Currently enrolled undergraduate and graduate students returning to RISD in the Fall – current Sophomores, Juniors, Brown/RISD Dual Degree and Architecture students in years 2-4, and graduate students who are not in their final semester.
How much?
$1,000
For what?
$1,000 for a summer internship that is unpaid, low-paid, or presents financial challenges. Financial need and hardship are critical factors in the selection process and awarding of these grants.
When?
Summer
Where?
You name it!
Application Details
RISD Internship Support Funds - Guidelines
RISD Internship Support Funds - Application
Turner Fund Performing Arts Internship Grants
Image Credit: RISD The Musical, Directors & Writers: Greg Kozatek 10 IL and Jean Kim 10 IL
Deadline?
Mid-Late April
Who can apply?
Currently enrolled undergraduate and graduate students returning to RISD in the Fall – current Sophomores, Juniors, Brown/RISD Dual Degree and Architecture students in years 2-4, and graduate students who are not in their final semester.
How much?
$5,000
For what?
$5,000 for a summer internship that engages theatrical and performance design, performance studies, and/or expose students to theatrical performance.
When?
Summer.
Where?
You name it!
Application Details
Turner Fund Performing Arts Internship Grants - Guidelines
Turner Fund Performing Arts Internship Grants - Application
Funding for Residencies
Anderson Ranch Artists-In-Residence Program
Image Credit: Anderson Ranch
Deadline?
Mid-February
Who can apply?
Undergraduate and graduate students graduating December or June who will be alumni during the residency.
How much?
Funded by Anderson Ranch and RISD; coverage includes residency cost, housing, studio space, and meals.
For what?
Supports an intensive 5 week residency of uninterrupted studio time.
When?
Spring
Where?
Snowmass Village, Colorado
Application Details
Anderson Ranch Artists-In-Residence Program - Guidelines
Anderson Ranch Artists-In-Residence Program - Website
Anderson Ranch Artists-In-Residence Program - Application
The Studios at MASS MoCA Residency Program
Image Credit: Mass MoCA
Deadline?
Early June
Who can apply?
Undergraduate and graduate students graduating June who will be alumni during the residency.
How much?
This opportunity is funded by the RISD Career Center, and covers the costs of the residency, which includes private studio space, housing across from the museum, and a daily communal meal.
For what?
Supports a two or four-week residency of uninterrupted studio time.
When?
Winter/Spring
Where?
North Adams, Massachusetts
Application Details
Mass MoCA Residency - Guidelines
Mass MoCA Residency – Application
Monson Arts Design Residencies
Image Credit: Monson Arts
Deadline?
Late March
Who can apply?
Undergraduate and graduate students graduating June who will be alumni during the residency program. It is also available to all alumni.
How much?
A two-week or four-week, design focused residency funded by Monson Arts. Includes room and board, a private studio, access to wood and metal working shops, and a $500 stipend if two weeks/$1,000 if four weeks
For what?
Supports an intensive residency focused on developing prototypes and designs, and experimenting with materials.
When?
Between August and December – two or four weeks
Where?
Monson, Maine
Application Details
Monson Arts Design Residencies - Guidelines
Monson Arts Design Residencies – Website
Monson Arts Design Residencies – Application
Skowhegan Summer Residency Matching Funds Fellowship
Deadline?
Mid November.
Who can apply?
Undergraduates and graduate students who will be 21 at the start of the summer program. You can be enrolled when you apply and returning to RISD after the summer residency, or graduated from RISD when you undertake the residency. Non-U.S. Citizens are eligible. You must be at least 21 years of age at the start of the program and have a working knowledge of English.
How much?
A total of $6,000 in Matching Funds from the RISD Career Center and Skowhegan to cover tuition, studio space, housing, and meals. Alumni are eligible for the Matching Funds, however, currently enrolled students take priority for funding.
To be considered for the Matching Funds Fellowship, note your RISD education and complete the Financial Assistance Section of the application listing Kevin Jankowski, RISD Career Center Director, as the contact - kjankows@risd.edu, 401.454.6619.
For what?
Supports an intensive 9 week residency of uninterrupted studio time. Residents are given individual studio spaces, as well as access to a sculpture studio, a fresco studio, a media lab, a library, a rich community of artists, and acres of farmland, forests, and lakefront.
When?
Summer
Where?
Madison, Maine
Application Details
Skowhegan Summer Residency – Application
Funding to Support Your Project/Work
Fulbright U.S. Student Program Grant
Image Credit: RISD Alumni & 2014 Award Recipient Lindsay Carone ’13 MFA SC
Deadline?
The RISD deadline is mid to late August
Who can apply?
Enrolled Seniors, Fifth Years, and Graduate Students, and recent alumni up to three years after graduation may apply through RISD. Students may begin the application process in their Junior year but can not submit an application until the fall of their Senior year. Applicants must have a bachelor degree before the start of the grant and must be a U.S. citizen.
How much?
Airfare, health insurance, and monthly stipend which varies depending on country.
For what?
Supports a 9-12 month creative, independent project.
When?
Country dependent. Most begin late summer/early fall.
Where?
In 140+ countries
Application Details
Center for Craft Windgate-Lamar Fellowship
Image Credit: RISD Alumni & 2024 Windgate-Lamar Recipient Njari Anderson ’24 SC
Deadline?
The RISD internal preliminary application deadline is mid-October. The Windgate-Lamar nominee application deadline for the national competition is early February.
Who can apply?
Graduating seniors and 5th year students who work in craft. Applicants must be a U.S. Citizen, U.S. Permanent Resident, OR in the process of applying for Citizenship as per the Windgate-Lamar Fellowship guidelines.
How much?
$15,000
For what?
Unrestricted support for emerging artists whose work is informed by craft processes, materials, traditions, or sensibilities.
When?
Between May and the following April (12 months).
Where?
You name it!
Application Details
Windgate-Lamar Fellowship Award - Guidelines
Windgate- Lamar Fellowship Award - Website
Windgate-Lamar Fellowship Award - Application
Other RISD Grants
The grants below are available to RISD students and offered by various departments. The Career Center does not manage these programs, and so we encourage you to follow up with the sponsoring department to learn more details.
RISD SPUR Fund
The SPUR Fund supports RISD students in advancing as interdisciplinary researchers who utilize arts based and arts integrated approaches among other qualitative and quantitative methods in conducting research. A program of RISD Research, the fund provides grants for up to one year of engagement in projects whose methodologies, methods, and creative practices encourage diverse perspectives, address local and global concerns, provide innovative solutions, promote equity, and/or contribute to meaningful societal change. SPUR Fund grants support various types of research activities, e.g., pilot and full-scale research projects, prototyping, presentations and exhibitions, publishing, attendance at conferences, fellowships, etc. Interdisciplinary proposals that involve a cross-section of RISD departments and disciplines or collaborations with local or marginalized community members, institutions of higher education, organizations, arts and cultural groups, among others are encouraged.
For questions about the fund, contact RISD Research at research@risd.edu
RISD Somerson Sustainability Innovation Fund
The Somerson Sustainability Innovation Fund (SSIF) offers RISD Faculty and Students grants
for transdisciplinary research and creative practices that address sustainability issues with the
aims of broad impact.
RISD Graduate Commons Grant
The Graduate Commons Grant is a competitive annual grant program that supports graduate students pursuing creative open-ended explorations and goal-oriented projects. An internal committee chaired by the Director, Office of Graduate Studies will review proposals and determine recipients and final award amounts. Proposals should describe either a specific outcome to be achieved, or how this component of the project/research will concretely contribute to the achievement of a long-term project/research.
RISD Materials Fund
The Materials Fund, managed by Student Financial Services, was created to assist RISD students with demonstrated financial need in purchasing the basic equipment and supplies needed to advance their art and design education. Applications are welcome from full-time undergraduate and graduate students in any major with demonstrated financial need.
For more information, please contact Student Financial Services at sfs@risd.edu
The Dorner Prize
The Dorner Prize, offered by the RISD Museum, is awarded annually to RISD undergraduate and graduate students for temporary, site-specific projects at the museum. These artistic interventions may take the form of physical, digital, or programmatic encounters, that examine or critique the Museum’s historical and contemporary contexts, collections, architectural idiosyncrasies, habits of visitation, and/or web presence.
Spalter Teaching Fellowship
The Spalter Teaching Fellowship, offered by the RISD Museum, is open to RISD and Brown graduate and undergraduate students from all disciplinary backgrounds. Spalter Teaching Fellows are trained as RISD Museum educators and are responsible for teaching and working with children and youth. Teaching Fellows receive $5000 per academic year and commit to a two-year fellowship, serving up to eight hours per week.