The Council for the Arts at MIT (CAMIT) provides grants for arts projects that directly engage the MIT community. There are two application cycles per academic year, one in fall and one in spring. Applications for Student Mini Grants are accepted on a rolling basis.
Current MIT students, faculty, and staff and ASA-recognized student organizations are welcome to apply for funding for projects that are designed for completion within one year of the award date. The average grant is $2,500; extraordinary projects with broad reach may be considered for the maximum of $5,000. Student Students can also apply for a Student Mini Grant of $500 to help kick-start a prototype or small project. Explore answers to commonly asked questions.
Fall 2026 Application Timeline
Tuesday, September 1: Preliminary proposal application opens
Wednesday, September 16 at 5:00pm (ET): Info Session (Zoom)
Friday, September 25 at 12:59pm (ET): Preliminary proposal deadline
September 26–October 8: Preliminary proposal review period
By Friday, October 9: Invitations to submit full proposals sent
Friday, October 23: Full proposal deadline
October 24–November 19: Full proposal review period
By Friday, November 20: Award notifications sent
Beginning November 20: Grant funds available for use
Application Process
First Step
Wednesday, September 16, 2026 at 5:00pm (ET)
Register and Attend the Information Session
Join us for a Zoom information session where prospective applicants can learn more about the grants available, the application and review process, and ask questions directly of CAMIT Grants Committee representatives.
A Zoom link will be sent to your email upon registration.
Second Step
Friday, September 25, 2026 at 12:59pm (ET)*
Preliminary Proposal
Before beginning a preliminary proposal, please make sure you have read our eligibility guidelines and policies for grant recipients, reviewed the Spring 2026 CAMIT Grants Info Slides, and referred to our arts project resource list. Once ready, please proceed to complete this Preliminary Proposal Application.
If you have any questions about any aspect of preparing the preliminary proposal or about the suitability of your project, email us at council-arts@mit.edu.
*Please note the later CAMIT Grants deadline for the 2026 Fall cycle. If your project requires an earlier decision, you may request a fast-track review; however, expedited review is at the discretion of the CAMIT Grants Committee and cannot be guaranteed. We also encourage applicants with spring projects to apply this fall if their plans are ready. CAMIT-funded projects have one year from the date the grant is awarded to be completed.
(Open Sept 1–25, 2026)
Final Step
October 24, 2026
Full Proposal
Based on the feasibility of the proposed project and its ability to engage the MIT community, we will invite selected applicants to submit a full proposal and an itemized project budget.
A complete, full proposal should include a detailed description of your project and your artistic work, a one-minute video describing the project, and a completed CAMIT Grant budget template (to be provided upon invitation). Additional instructions will be provided.
CAMIT Student Mini Grants
Apply for up to $500 to bring your artistic idea to life and share it with the MIT community. From concept to completion, Arts Mini Grants fuel ideas worth sharing—supporting current MIT students in developing creative projects that directly engage the MIT community. Looking to develop a prototype or small project?
Funding Limits: Applicants may receive no more than $500 total in mini grant funding per academic year.
Project Requirements: Grants may not be used to fund projects for class credit or thesis work, but may be used to expand on a project originally created in academic coursework.
Application deadline: Rolling through May 1, 2027
Eligibility: Current MIT students (all years, programs, and schools), and ASA-recognized student organizations