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Reilly Johnson's (T '19) Program II thesis project on view in the Ruby. Image by Robert Zimmerman.

Duke Arts Creative Arts Grants are provided to help defray project expenses of up to $500 for Trinity and Pratt students enrolled in faculty-supervised Independent Study courses or full-credit private instruction in the creative arts (e.g., Art & Visual Studies, Dance, Literature, Music, Theater Studies).

Funds are available to purchase approved supplies and equipment for the arts project; equipment becomes the property of the University. When strongly recommended by a student’s faculty supervisor, it may be possible to use the grant to support a student’s travel to use a unique resource. Grants may not be used to buy personal books or personal items, or to pay salaries.

Criteria used in evaluating applications include:

  1. Clarity and completeness of the application: Students should submit a short project proposal, describing the nature of and rationale for the work they will be doing. The proposal must include an itemized budget for proposed expenses. The proposal should begin with a clear statement of the goals of the project and include a timeline for completion of the project.
  2. Qualifications of student to complete the project: This can include a sample of prior work, or a description of prior classwork and/or training in the art.
  3. Support by the faculty mentor: Faculty directly involved in mentoring and oversight for the project should submit a brief statement to Carla Sturdivant (carla.sturdivant@duke.edu), Business Manager. The mentor’s statement should support the artistic value of the proposed project, verify the student’s qualification to complete the project, and indicate the willingness of the faculty mentor to supervise the project. The statement should also confirm the appropriateness of proposed supply/equipment budget.