Sheldon Museum of Art is offering a unique opportunity for instructors to enrich their teaching through the integration of original works of art, architecture, and object-based learning.
Art Across Disciplines grants support faculty from all fields in designing innovative learning experiences that incorporate Sheldon’s collection of more than 13,000 works, its iconic Philip Johnson-designed building, and other museum resources.
Grant Details – Each grant provides $1,000 for summer curriculum development, with four awards available this academic year. Proposals for the grant period of May 2026 – May 2027 are open to all fields and due April 15. Recipients will be notified by May 1. Applicants are encouraged to consult with Erin Hanas prior to submission.
Recipients will collaborate one-on-one with Erin Hanas, Sheldon’s curator for academic and campus engagement, to develop assignments, modules, or full course units that leverage art as a tool for inquiry, critical thinking, interdisciplinary analysis, and inclusive exploration.
While the grant emphasizes curricular innovation, its deeper intent reflects a growing recognition across campus: learning with art expands students’ perspectives and deepens engagement. As highlighted in Art of Learning, faculty across disciplines — from political science to engineering, sociology to advertising, and beyond — have found that visits to the museum act as a dynamic learning lab, fostering reflection, dialogue, and heightened critical-thinking skills. Political science professor Courtney Hillebrecht notes that art “engages [students] at a higher level of critical thinking” and disrupts the notion of a single authoritative interpretation.
Students report that encountering art firsthand helps them wrestle with ambiguity, engage multiple modes of learning, and connect course concepts to real-world contexts “in a way that no journal article could.” Even simply being in a different space encourages them to think about course topics from different perspectives — often literally. Avery Lambert (’25), as a student in Hillebrecht’s class, said she “paid more attention because [she] was somewhere new.” Student ambassadors and museum educators facilitate these sessions, helping students realize that museums are not exclusive spaces, but welcoming environments for discovery and conversation.
For instructors seeking to broaden student engagement, foster active learning, and cultivate interdisciplinary thinking, the Art Across Disciplines grants offer a meaningful pathway to transform how students experience both art and academic inquiry. Proposals for the Art Across Disciplines grants may include new assignments, redesigned units, experiential learning projects, or full course modules. While all instructors, including graduate students with teaching responsibilities, are encouraged to apply, preference will be given to instructors who have not previously integrated Sheldon into their teaching or who are applying to develop new courses or new approaches. Individuals from any teaching-focused unit may apply, and no prior experience with art is required.
More details at: https://sheldonartmuseum.org/art-across-disciplines-grants/