The Fund for Visual Learning at Bard College provides material support to students on need-based financial aid so that they might achieve studio art work of quality and ambition.
Since 2014, the FVL has provided grants for an ambitious range of diverse student art projects.
The Fund for Visual Learning began in 2014 to improve access to the Studio Arts program for students experiencing financial challenges, and to enrich classroom and campus experiences for all.
In Studio Arts, we pay attention to the stresses and sacrifices that our students and their families are making to pursue Studio Arts at Bard, and the Fund for Visual Learning offers support.
In welcoming and supporting all students to Studio Arts with the help of the Fund, the vitality of our Studio Arts program has increased and we hope to continue to see this grow.
To date, the Fund For Visual Learning has supported over $300,000 in funding to students for introductory supply kits and over $10,000 to senior project grants.
We would like to extend our deepest thanks to our donors:
The Bard College Lifelong Learning Institute, George Condo, The Aidekman Family Fund, Catherine and Les Levine, Dave Maron, Charles Buckel, The Doak Family, The Weatherford Fund, The Freilich famiy, The Warren family, The Calloway family, Phyllis Barber, Eric Trudel, Maya Gottfried, Di Baldwin, Judy Pfaff, Jeffrey Gibson, Laura Battle, Julianne Swartz, Kenji Fujita, Jennifer Frank, and our many friends & supporters.
Student Projects
FEATURED STUDENT PROJECTS
Every year, the FVL fund supports two students to attend a weeks long printmaking workshop each at Anderson Ranch Arts Center in Colorado.
Aleda Rosenblum Katz, 2023 Recipient of the Anderson Ranch Scholarship
The Fund for Visual Learning gave me the opportunity to fly 3 ⁄ 4 across the country from New York to Colorado to attend a printmaking workshop I was offered at Anderson Ranch on scholarship. I hadn’t flown in an airplane since 10th grade and to say that high school flight was pretty bad would be just skimming the clouds. I didn’t think I would find myself on a plane for at least the next 5 years, but through FVL not only was I able to get over my fear of flying, but I was able to take the Contemporary Woodblock: Neither Fish Nor Fowl class with instructor Ricky Armendariz. Where I was given a 3 1 ⁄ 2 by 2 foot piece of MDF to create a carving. I have been obsessively making ceramic rats for about half a year now and this was the perfect class to explore my strange obsession in a different medium. Being in Aspen, Colorado at Anderson Ranch was a revelatory and beautiful experience and I wouldn’t have been able to get there if FVL hadn’t funded my trip.
Olivia McLeod, 2021 Recipient of the Anderson Ranch Scholarship
The workshop I'm taking at Anderson Ranch is 'Experimental Etching on Copper: texture & surface' with Ben Beres. The class explores the possibilities of the copper-etching process using surface treatments and resists. Other printmaking methods, both traditional and non-traditional, will be integrated and used to manipulate the surface of prints. Students are encouraged to discover innovative ways of working with the material processes and creating imagery.
MOSHO OLAGUNJU
Grantee 2021
LIA TAUS
Grantee 2020
MARTY KATZOFF
Grantee 2019
IZZY VAN DEN HEUVEL
Grantee
2017
The Fund for Visual Learning played an instrumental role in my Senior Exhibition. I was able to work with a variety of mediums and supplies, from oil paints, acrylics, plastic, vinyl, sculpture, text, drawing to video work. I wanted to challenge myself, and the grant afforded me that; I had a dynamic exhibition with varying mediums. Without the FVL grant and the assistance from the Studio Arts faculty, the exhibition would have been limited. Thank you for the continued support of artists!!
The Fund for Visual Learning grant allowed me to purchase a wide variety of materials that I could experiment on without the financial burden. Since the SPROJ process lasts the entire academic year, it was important that I discovered specific materials to sustain my inspiration for those nine months. For each senior the grant served a different purpose, and for me the scope of possibilities expanded in the variety of materials, size of my work, and creativity.
As an oil painter, I felt as though barriers were lifted allowing me to embrace my own materials instead of seeing them as an obstacle. The gift of materials is an invaluable gesture for young artists, I have been fortunate to have benefited from the FVL during my education at Bard and I believe that it is a tool which strengthens the sense of inclusiveness and community within the studio arts department..
I have always been hesitant to pursue large constructions. With limitations on materials, fear of taking risks and a tad of obsessiveness over detail, I have stuck to small scale projects. Receiving the FVL grant supplied me with the materials to construct this dome but also the confidence that the construction was not a naive dream but an actual possibility—and then a reality.
THE FVL GRANTS
Information regarding grant applications and deadlines is sent to students bard.edu email addresses when grants are made available.
NON MAJOR INTRO GRANT- Offered in Fall and Spring semesters
Grants awarded for cost of intro supply kit. Kit prices vary from $65-$200. (Painting kits are often more expensive so we advise if you are planning on taking a painting course to apply for the grant then.)
For non-majors and unmoderated students on need-based financial aid. Students are eligible for ONE intro grant.
Must be enrolled in a 100 level studio course.
Students are emailed a Google Form they must fill out to receive the grant before the start of the semester.
SENIOR PROJECT GRANT- Offered in Fall Semester
Grants are awarded for up to $300
For seniors working on Senior Projects who are on need-based financial aid.
Google form applications are e-mailed to studio arts seniors in Fall semester and are due before winter break. For seniors graduating at the end of the Fall semester, form must be completed before start of Fall semester.
We do not offer grants for level 2 studio arts courses or for non-studio arts courses.
