Have a creative project you’ve been waiting to make happen? The Council for the Arts at MIT (CAMIT) is a community of alumni and friends dedicated to championing the arts at MIT, offering grant funding to support students, staff, and faculty pursuing artistic projects that engage the MIT community. From small prototyping grants to larger project awards, CAMIT funding is available to help bring creative visions to life. Browse the questions below to learn more about available programs, eligible expenses, and how to apply.
About the Student Art Grants Program
What is the Council for the Arts at MIT (CAMIT)?
The Council is a community of alumni and friends of the arts at MIT who champion arts engagement across the Institute. Among other programs, CAMIT supports arts grants to fund artistic projects engaging the MIT community.
What types of grants does CAMIT offer?
CAMIT offers two grant types:
- Grants Committee Funding: Awards of up to $5,000 for a wide range of artistic projects that directly engage the MIT community. The average award is typically around $2,500.
- Student Arts Mini Grants: Smaller awards capped at $500 are designed to support ideation, prototyping, and small-scale arts projects aimed at engaging the MIT community.
What is the difference between CAMIT and CAST?
Council for the Arts at MIT (CAMIT) funds projects that focus on student and community engagement.
The MIT Center for Art, Science & Technology (CAST) was established to create new opportunities for art, science, and technology to thrive as interrelated, mutually-informing modes of exploration, knowledge, and discovery at MIT. Faculty whose projects are primarily focused on their own research and artistic practice should apply for funding via CAST.
Note that applicants with a currently funded CAMIT or CAST project must complete it before applying for additional funding, and may only apply to one program (CAST or CAMIT) at a time.
Eligibility
Who is eligible to apply for Grants Committee Funding?
Current MIT students, staff, and faculty are all eligible to apply. However, faculty applicants must ensure their project focuses on student and community engagement—not primarily on their own research or artistic practice (for the latter, faculty should apply for funding via CAST).
Who is eligible to apply for Student Arts Mini Grants?
All current MIT students and student groups across all programs and schools are eligible to apply for Mini Grants.
I’m a graduate student in the Art, Culture, and Technology (ACT) program. Which grant should I apply to?
It depends on where you are in your program:
- First or second semester: Apply directly to ACT for project support that is provided by CAMIT and administered by ACT.
- Third or fourth semester: You are eligible to apply directly to the Council for funding, provided your project includes strong MIT community engagement.
Can I apply for more than one grant in an academic year?
For Grants Committee Funding, only one grant project per applicant per academic year will be funded. For Mini Grants, you may receive no more than $500 total in mini grant funding per academic year. You may not apply to both CAMIT and CAST simultaneously, and you must complete any currently funded project before applying for additional funding.
Can I apply if I’m about to graduate or leave MIT?
Your project must be completed prior to your graduation or departure from MIT. Projects should also be on a timeline to be completed within six months to one year from the date of the award.
Do all members of my project team need to be affiliated with MIT?
Yes. All CAMIT grant applicants and the entire project team are required to maintain an MIT affiliation for the duration of the project. If your project relies on the substantive participation of a collaborator (e.g., direct fabrication of project elements or working in MIT makerspaces) who does not have an MIT affiliation, please contact council-arts@mit.edu to discuss options for applying for MIT affiliate or visiting student status. You are still welcome to seek advice and mentorship from people outside MIT.
Application Process & Deadlines
What does the Grants Committee Funding application process look like?
The application process has three phases:
- Virtual Information Session: Prospective applicants are invited to attend a Zoom session where you can learn more about the available grants, the application and review process, and ask questions directly of CAMIT Grants Committee representatives.
- Preliminary Proposal: Applicants submit an initial overview of their project. These proposals are reviewed for basic feasibility, eligibility, and potential to engage the MIT community.
- Full Proposal (by invitation): Selected applicants from Phase Two are invited to submit a complete application. See below for details on what to include.
What is required in the Full Proposal submission?
If you are invited to submit a full proposal, your application should include:
- A detailed description of your project and your artistic work
- A one-minute video describing the project
- A completed CAMIT Grant budget template (provided to you upon invitation)
- Additional instructions will be provided at the time of your invitation. Note that the budget template will ask for an itemized breakdown of all anticipated project expenses.
When are the application deadlines for Grants Committee Funding?
Grants Committee Funding has application deadlines in both the fall and spring semesters. Visit the Apply page for specific deadline dates and to begin your application.
When can I apply for a Mini Grant?
Mini Grant applications are accepted on a rolling basis. You may submit your application at any point during the academic year.
How do I apply?
Visit the Apply page for a detailed list of deadlines and to submit a preliminary proposal. You can also find information about previously funded projects there for inspiration.
What Can Grant Funding Be Used For?
What expenses are eligible for CAMIT grant funding?
- Materials for your project
- Equipment or software rentals
- Equipment or software purchases (in rare cases only — see below)
- Facilities and space rental
- Payment to professional performers, technical assistants, guest speakers, or contractors (note restrictions for Mini Grants — see below)
What expenses are NOT eligible for CAMIT funding?
- Food and beverages
- Printed publicity
- Equipment purchases (except in rare, pre-approved cases; laptops, tablets, phones, projectors, and cameras are never funded)
- Musical instrument purchases
- Stipends for the applicant’s own time or work creating the project
- Events designed as fundraising efforts for other non-profit organizations
- Projects requiring retroactive support (funding cannot be applied to work already completed)
- Routine curricular activities, classwork, or thesis projects
- Travel and/or accommodation expenses for the applicant(s)
Can I use grant funds to purchase equipment or software?
Equipment and software purchases are only funded on rare occasions. If your proposal includes a purchase of this kind, you must discuss it with CAMIT staff before submitting your application. Only equipment approved for use in an official MIT makerspace or workspace will be considered for purchase. CAMIT does not fund the purchase of laptops, tablets, phones, projectors, or cameras. For software, applicants are encouraged to first familiarize themselves with MIT’s enterprise software offerings; if you request funding for software, you will be asked to provide justification.
Can I use Mini Grant funding to pay contractors or performers?
Generally, no. Mini Grants may not be used to pay professional performers, technical assistants, guest speakers, or contractors, except in the case of ASA-recognized student organizations.
Can I use a grant to fund a class project or thesis work?
No. Projects cannot be part of regular class assignments or thesis work, and grants cannot be used to fund routine curricular activities. However, Mini Grants may be used to expand upon a project that was originally created in an academic course, as long as the expanded work goes beyond the original class assignment.
Are there any restrictions on where fabrication work can take place?
Yes. All fabrication work must take place on campus, in an official MIT studio or makerspace, and must comply with MIT Environment, Health & Safety (EHS) regulations.
Financial Policies & Disbursement
How will grant funds be disbursed to me?
Grant funds can be disbursed in the following ways:
- Internal transfer to an MIT cost object administered by a department, lab, or center (DLC), or by SOLE for ASA-recognized student organizations
- Reimbursement with actual, itemized receipts (note: MIT cannot reimburse tax, but documentation for tax-exempt purchasing is available)
- Purchasing through Buy2Pay, MIT’s purchasing portal, using a cost object provided by CAMIT
What if paying out of pocket would be a financial hardship for me?
We understand that not everyone can easily front costs. If an internal transfer or Buy2Pay purchase is not possible and paying out of pocket would present a financial hardship, please let us know and we will work with you to find a solution that allows you to complete your project.
How do I handle payments to people (performers, contractors, guest speakers, etc.)?
All payments to people — whether for professional services or honoraria — must be processed through MIT’s financial system to ensure compliance with US tax regulations. Funds for such payments will need to be transferred to an MIT cost object and processed by a Department/Lab/Center or, for ASA-recognized student organizations, by the Division of Student Life. Contracts must be approved by MIT Contracts before any work with that person can begin.
Health, Safety & Liability
Are there health and safety requirements for CAMIT-funded projects?
Yes. All CAMIT-funded projects must comply with MIT health and safety policies. Fabrication must take place in an official MIT studio or makerspace in compliance with EHS guidelines.
My project involves some potentially hazardous elements. Do I need to take additional steps?
Yes. Additional steps are required if your project involves any of the following:
- Materials considered hazardous by EHS
- Power, industrial, or construction-scale tools (rated Class 2, 3, or 4 per EHS Shop and Makerspace Safety guidelines)
- Structures that people enter or climb on, or that include electrical, mechanical, pressure, or other hazards
- Animals
- Candles or sterno
- Decorations
- Fog, haze, or smoke
- Tents
If your project includes any of the above, you will need to:
- Submit a written safety plan approved by EHS
- Provide a makerspace training proposal or proof of training (where relevant)
- Have a standard MIT liability waiver signed and submitted to the Office of the Arts
We strongly encourage you to reach out to CAMIT staff early if you think your project may fall into any of these categories.
Project Changes, Reallocations & Cancellations
What happens if my project changes significantly after I receive a grant?
Major changes to your project require you to submit a revised proposal and budget to the CAMIT grants team for review and approval of a new project scope. Please don’t wait until the end of your project to flag significant changes — reach out as soon as you know.
Can I reallocate funds between budget categories if my plans shift?
Any reallocation of funds — including changes to the deliverables/outcomes of your project or changes to the categories of expenses — must be approved in advance by CAMIT staff. Please contact us before making any such changes.
What if I need to cancel my project?
If your project is canceled, or changes to the point where it no longer meets CAMIT grant eligibility requirements, you should contact the CAMIT team as soon as possible to discuss options for resolution. This may include returning all or part of the grant funds to CAMIT.
Credit, Reporting & Wrap-Up
Am I required to credit CAMIT in my project communications?
Yes. All grant recipients must credit the Council in all communications about their project. The credit line should read:
“Funded (or funded in part) by the Council for the Arts at MIT.”
Please also use the Council logo alongside this credit line, and tag @artsatmit on social media when posting about your project.
Is there a final report I need to submit?
Yes. All grant recipients are required to submit a final report no later than one month after the project is completed. A link to the reporting form is available on the CAMIT grants webpage.
Who should I contact if I have questions not covered here?
You can reach the CAMIT grants team at council-arts@mit.edu. We encourage you to get in touch early—especially if your project involves any complex elements related to safety, personnel payments, equipment purchases, or collaborators without MIT affiliations.