Accepted Proposals

16. What if there were a fellowship to establish a student-run public-facing arts co-op to produce bold, issue-based, interdisciplinary projects for campus and community revitalization?

May 16, 2025

The collaboration led by: Shannon Enders

With collaborators: David Li, Jennifer Ambrose; Margarita Blush; Jessica Buttery; Cayden Chng; Courtney Gibbons; Emily Harrison; Anna Huff; Tom Marhenke; Monk Rowe; Janina Selzer; Sarah Sgro; Diya Singh

We establish a co-op for students/new alumni across disciplines to make issue-based art for the communal good of the campus and surrounding communities. Its purpose is to serve as a platform for students to apply their training in a real-world setting and as a resource for faculty members interested in incorporating art into their teaching. After an initial test run on campus, we will strive to establish a collaborative relationship with community organizations and arts coordinators in public schools to develop arts-based, solution-driven programs. Ultimately, we aim to transform the College into a regional cultural hub and public-facing educational resource.

The proposal was submitted for TRANSFORMATIONAL funding (no maximum) and was ranked medium with respect to the other proposals based upon the evaluation rubric.

The committee applauds the proposers for:

• Providing specific information about the program that they would like to develop, including a plan for expansion and had already expanded the community for outreach.
• The community engagement aspect of the proposal; facing Hamilton outwards toward the community and working with public schools on arts-based curriculum, with a focus on the revitalization of liberal arts and acknowledging the need for public-facing arts work in community groups.
• Proposing art with educational merit and by nature interdisciplinary,  including a variety of disciplines that expand the focus of arts, including disruptive technologies and climate change.
• Recognizing that Hamilton College often does not keep alumni near campus after graduation; a post-baccalaureate opportunity would provide the opportunity for alumni to explore a space for incubating ideas and allowing people to explore ideas for longer as a launchpad for their career.

The points that the committee recommends the proposers need to continue to develop include:

• Several proposals were submitted focused on developing post-baccalaureate opportunities. As part of a post-baccalaureate experience, a support program should be explored. 
• Additional collaboration with a representative from Student Affairs, specifically Student Support Services, to help think about the support structures that should be in place for individuals in the post-baccalaureate program.

From the committee’s perspective, the next phase of this project should include:

• Program development
• Collaboration with other post-bacc proposals

The committee recommends funding the next phase of this proposal for $5,000 to move this idea forward for further aspirational design and development.