The Efroymson Bridge Year Arts Fellowship, established in 2011, are one-year paid fellowships awarded to promising »¨¼¾´«Ã½ students who have graduated in the previous year, in Studio Art and/or Art History and planning to seek advanced degrees or professional opportunities in the arts. Both minors and majors are eligible.

Efroymson Bridge Year Arts Fellowship

The Efroymson Bridge Year Fellowship is a paid ten month program with benefits available to one
graduating senior with a major or minor in studio art or art history. The goal of the Bridge Year
Fellowship is to provide the fellow with time and resources to produce a personal portfolio of new work
or scholarly research, with the goal of submitting it with applications to MFA, MA/Ph.D or other
post-graduate programs or professional opportunities. The Bridge Year Fellow will have the opportunity
to work as studio or research assistants and occasionally as teaching assistants in their particular field, and
will have the option to take one course at the University each semester, tuition-free. In addition to the
primary portfolio activity, fellows are expected to contribute to the academic and cultural life of the
department.

Under the guidance of the supervisor, the Bridge Year Fellow will spend 40 hours per week engaged in
various activities. These include working on their own projects/art, and tasks such as studio setup and
maintenance, occasional teaching assistance, and contributing to the department's academic and cultural
life. Other duties may also be assigned. The faculty will be available for consultation on artistic or
scholarly research, career development, etc. Meetings with the supervisor will be held bi-weekly.
By providing time, working space, engagement with the academic and artistic life of the department, and
access to faculty, the program will enable the diligent and motivated fellow to deepen and strengthen their
artistic or scholarly research and output. Bridge Year Fellows in the past have done this in a variety of
ways, including organizing film series, hosting evening drawing sessions, arranging student critiques, and
planning and executing department events (e.g. major-minor mixers and information sessions for new
majors).

Coursework

The Bridge Year Fellow is eligible to audit or take for credit one course per semester. Courses may be taken both inside and outside the undergraduate major. The Bridge Year Fellow will be enrolled as a special status student; for registration purposes, s/he will be given senior priority. Courses taken during the internship will be listed on the »¨¼¾´«Ã½ transcript.

Finances

The Bridge Year Fellow will receive an hourly wage as well as tuition remission for courses taken. The Bridge Year Fellow is eligible to participate in the University’s fringe benefit program and will be responsible for all other costs, including other living expenses, medical fees, activity fees, course-related fees, and the like. The Bridge Year Fellow will not be eligible for University financial aid, including work study, and since s/he will not be enrolled in a degree-seeking program, s/he may have to begin paying off student loans.

To Apply

A meeting with the faculty member you would like to work with during your bridge year is your first step in the application process.  This meeting should be held early in the spring semester. (See planning form date below)

Your application should include a resume, an artist's or research statement, and a summary of 500-750 words covering the following:

1.  Your goals for your fellowship, and the resources available which will help you to achieve those goals
2.  What qualities you think you can bring to the program
3.  Your professional goals for the year after the fellowship (MFA program, museum studies program, gallery work, Ph.D. program, or other)
4.  Contributions you plan to make to the department in general
5.  The name of the professor you intend to work with as your mentor.  

There is only one position available, so the awards will be competitive.  Please make sure your application strongly represents you and your desire to participate in the program.

Fellowship Dates: August 14, 2024 - May 23 - 2025

May 5, 2024 - planning due 

May 10, 2024 - Upload application in a single PDF file .

May 15, 2024 - Interview Date

Recipients will be notified by May 20, 2024