The Center for Life Beyond Reed

Reed Arts Grant Experience (RAGE)

Managed by the Undergraduate Research Committee

Proposal Overview

This fellowship supports students from the Division of the Arts who seek to engage in original and independent arts history, theory, and/or practice research during the summer. Projects can include research in the studio, archive, and/or rehearsal room, and can be collaborative or solo. Performance/studio projects and history/theory projects are both welcome, as are those that blend genres and approaches. Projects should be grounded in academic rigor and theoretical frameworks. Projects should result in some kind of writing, performance, and/or exhibition of an original nature.

Eligibility: Applicants, in good academic standing, must normally be returning to Reed (or going on an approved study abroad program) for the following fall; however, applications involving graduating seniors may be considered when the reasons for choosing a graduate are compelling. This fellowship is open to the following declared majors: Art, Dance, Music, and Theatre.

Students may apply to multiple opportunities, but a student cannot hold this fellowship at the same time as another summer award, including the Locher, the Rothschild, and department awards.

Requirements: Proposals should be designed for a summer of research, roughly defined as ten weeks of full-time commitment (roughly 37.5 hours a week) or equivalent hours. Proposals should include a detailed work schedule that outlines an overview of the timeline of the planned work and the various stages involved. 

Successful applicants will produce a poster, piece of writing, exhibition, or performance in the fall semester following their fellowship, or, if that is not possible, submit a written report of no more than 1500 words. Please include a short written reflection (500 words) on your process as a part of your final report and submit to Meg Andrews, urc@reed.edu.

Budget

The Reed Arts Grant Experience fellowship stipend for summer 2025 is $6,400. There is also up to $1,000 available for project supplies. 

Application process

Application: By 12:00 p.m. noon on March 5, 2025, all applicants should upload their application online by applying in Handshake. Bundle items 1–4 (in that order) into one PDF document before uploading. Applicants must address all aspects of the application.

1. A cover page with the title of the project, the name and email address of the applicant, and the name and email address of a faculty member who has agreed to mentor the project.

2. A 1–2 page (maximum) resume describing your relevant work, volunteer, and course experience
   • The URC asks for resumes to help learn more about each applicant, and to encourage students to develop their application materials. The URC does not make evaluative decisions based on the content of the resume.
3. Project description (no more than 1,500 words) detailing the project you plan to undertake. 
   • Why is this project important at this moment? What does your research seek to say, provoke, or question?
   • What are the theoretical frameworks that underpin your project? Please cite specific artists, theoreticians, scholars, and/or texts and clearly explain how they relate to your project. Also include a short (5-10 sources) annotated bibliography.
   • Describe how the opportunity will benefit your educational progress and/or how it relates to your career goals. 
   • What are the desired outcomes of the project?
   • Include a detailed schedule of work to be undertaken.
   • Note: The URC would like to be able to use successful proposals as examples for future applicants to use. Student names will be redacted from proposals before use. If you are comfortable with this possibility, then please include this statement at the bottom of your project proposal: I give permission to have my proposal used as an example to help future fellowship applicants.

4. When appropriate, a detailed budget for any expenses up to $1,000. A budget narrative should explain line items wherever needed. Non-consumable equipment or supplies should be returned to the college on completion of the project.

5. One confidential letter of support from the Reed faculty member who is sponsoring the project. The letter need not be long, but should address the student’s readiness for the project and ability to complete the project successfully. The letter should be emailed directly to Meg Andrews, URC Administrator, at urc@reed.edu. Please make sure you contact your letter writer with adequate advance of the deadline.

Apply in Handshake

Deadline

March 5, 2025 at 12:00 p.m. noon. Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted.

IRB Approval

The Institutional Review Board must approve of any project involving the use of human subjects. An award will not be administered without this approval. If your project will require IRB approval, you MUST submit your application to the IRB before applying to this fellowship. 

Available Guidance

Review the best practices for applying to any URC grant. For questions about the application process, applicants are strongly encouraged to contact Meg Andrews (urc@reed.edu). Members of the Undergraduate Research Committee offer office hours to answer proposal development questions. The CLBR advising team can also help you with your application and offers drop-in advising as well as 1:1 appointments. Please see the CLBR website for drop-in hours and for how to make an appointment. We encourage you to take advantage of this.

Inclusivity

The Undergraduate Research Committee seeks to offer students opportunities to support their studies and interests in the form of grants and awards. The URC views the opportunity to apply for grants and awards as a pedagogical one in which students have the chance to learn about how the application process works. The URC grants and awards are open to all students regardless of discipline. The URC is aware of systemic bias in the application process, and seeks in particular to support students from historically underrepresented communities in academia, and we take into consideration bias, oppression, and opportunity as we evaluate applications.

Travel

Reed College prohibits College-funded international travel to countries that are classified with a State Department travel advisory risk of Level 4.