ABOUT THE AWARD

The Harold and Arlene Schnitzer Prize in the Visual Arts is awarded annually to three to five MIT students for excellence in a body of artistic work. The Schnitzer Prize was established in 1996 through an endowment from Harold and Arlene Schnitzer of Portland, Oregon. Harold Schnitzer, a real estate investor, graduated from MIT in 1944 with a degree in metallurgy.

Three prizes are awarded: first, second, and third. In some cases, honorable mentions may also be awarded. Traditionally, the recipients exhibit their artwork in the MIT Wiesner Student Art Gallery but during the time of physical distancing to limit the spread of COVID-19, a selection of work by the recipients is available online. The Selection Committee, comprised of members of the Council for the Arts at MIT and members of the MIT visual arts community, evaluates applications based on the level of excellence displayed in the applicant’s body of work.

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For more information, contact Sarah Hirzel.

Special thanks to 2020 Schnitzer Prize recipient Jonathan Zong for designing this page.