Nurturing the “Art Mafia’s” next generation
The Williams College Graduate Program in the History of Art is the nation’s leading master’s program in the field. Its 400 alumni constitute an exceptional cohort within the international community of curators, academics, and professionals in the visual arts.
Founded in 1972, Graduate Art was originally funded through granting agencies with the expectation that more secure long-term funding would be identified. Today the program relies largely on tuition revenue, which means its student body is largely limited to those who can afford to pay full tuition.
Admission remains highly selective. Nevertheless, without a strong financial aid program Graduate Art struggles in an intensely competitive environment to recruit and enroll outstanding students from diverse backgrounds.
Now in its fifth decade, Graduate Art has proven its value to Williams and the world of art. The program now requires endowed funds to make it a permanent, fully funded institution within the Williams community.
To sustain Graduate Art’s top position among master’s programs—with a strong financial foundation and an expanded pool of outstanding master’s candidates—Williams seeks funding for endowed graduate fellowships.
- Each distinguished fellowship will generate annual earnings to support the education of excellent master’s candidates who cannot otherwise afford to enroll.
- All fellowships will free operating funds to strengthen Graduate Art’s curricular offerings.
To learn more about supporting Williams’ rising generation of leaders in the world of art, contact Director of Development Lew Fisher ’89.
