The Council for the Arts at MIT presents several awards annually to MIT students who have demonstrated excellence in the arts. CAMIT also oversees the Eugene McDermott Award in the Arts at MIT, which recognizes an artist, from outside the Institute, who has demonstrated excellence in the creative arts.

Congratulations to the Student Art Award Recipients:

For more information, please contact council-arts@mit.edu.

Congratulations to the 2022 recipients:

A violinist plays next to a metal sculpture in a stairwell.
Sudler Prize Winner Bertrand Stone in MIT Building 2.

Louis Sudler Prize

The Louis Sudler Prize is presented annually to an individual graduating senior who has demonstrated excellence and the highest standards of proficiency in music, theater, painting, sculpture, design, architecture or film. An endowment fund provides a $2,500 award to the honoree.
 
 
Submit a Nomination
 
More about the Louis Sudler Prize

Cycle: Annual

 

Eligibility: Graduating MIT Senior

 

Process: Nomination by faculty or staff (Self-nominations not accepted)

 

An actress holds a skull in a production of Hamlet.
Wiesner Student Art Award Recipient Tal Scully playing Hamlet in the MIT Shakespeare Ensemble's production of Hamlet. Credit: Alex Konradi.

Laya and Jerome B. Wiesner Student Art Awards

The Laya and Jerome B. Wiesner Student Art Awards are presented annually to individual students (undergraduate or graduate) or MIT groups (.i.e., living groups, student organizations) for outstanding arts-related contributions to the MIT community. Up to four awards are made annually. An endowment fund provides a $2,000 award to each recipient.

 
 
Submit a Nomination
 
More about the Wiesner Student Art Awards

Cycle: Annual

 

Eligibility: Undergraduate or Graduate Students at MIT

 

Process: Nomination by peers, faculty, or staff (Self-nominations not accepted)

A student looks closely at a sculpture made of wood, metal, and wires.
ACT Graduate and 2018 Schnitzer Prize Second Place Recipient Nicolás Kisic Aguirre with his Modular Rhythm Machine. Credit: Design Indaba.

Harold and Arlene Schnitzer Prize

The Harold and Arlene Schnitzer Prize in the Visual Arts is presented to current MIT students, undergraduate and graduate, for excellence in a body of work in the visual arts. Students submit an artistic portfolio for consideration.

 

A generous endowment allows for the award of several Graduate Student prizes of $5,000 each, and undergraduate prizes of $2,500. Recipients also participate in a joint exhibition online and in the Wiesner Student Art Gallery.

Submit an Application

More about the Schnitzer Prize

Cycle: Annual

 

Eligibility: Undergraduate or Graduate Students at MIT

 

Process: Self-Nomination, Application with an Artistic Portfolio

Logo reading "McDermott: The Eugene Award in the Arts at MIT."
Eugene McDermott Award in the Arts at MIT

Eugene McDermott Award in the Arts at MIT

The Eugene McDermott Award in the Arts at MIT recognizes rising, innovative talents and offers its recipient a $100,000 prize and a campus residency. The award may be given to an artist working in any field or cross-disciplinary activity, including architecture, creative writing, dance, design, filmmaking, media arts, music, theater and visual arts.

Cycle: Every other year
 
Eligibility: Artist working in any field or cross-disciplinary activity
 
Process: Requested nominations by Selection Committee

John Harbison looks at a violinist.
John Harbison. Photo: Jon Sachs.

György Kepes Fellowship Prize

The György Kepes Fellowship Prize is presented to a member of the MIT community who has demonstrated excellence in the creative arts, including architecture, visual and performing arts, and writing.

 

Cycle: As identified
 
Eligibility: MIT community members, with a focus on Faculty or Staff
 
Process: Nomination