Programs
Latino Museum Studies Program (LMSP)

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2008 Latino Museum Studies Program (LMSP)

Guidelines

 

Overview

Organized by the Smithsonian Latino Center (SLC), the Latino Museum Studies Program (LMSP) was established in 1994 to increase the representation, documentation, knowledge and interpretation of Latino art, culture, and history. The program includes a two-week seminar designed to provide participants with the tools to enhance their leadership, research, and creative skills through a series of lectures, workshops and practical experiences at the Smithsonian Institution, as well as other research facilities within the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. 

 

Each year fifteen mid-career museum professionals and graduate students are selected from a nationwide pool of applicants.  Participation is free and includes the cost of round-trip travel to Washington, D.C. and housing accommodations for the duration of the four-week program.

 

Goals

• Strengthen academic and professional excellence in the representation of Latino art, culture, and history.
• Provide a network among the program faculty, participants, and Smithsonian staff.
• Advance research in the areas of Latino art, culture, and history.
• Share and promote Smithsonian Latino collections and resources.

 

Summary

The first half of the program will address issues concerning the representation of Latino art, culture, and history, and include panel sessions, lectures, workshops, and behind the scenes access to Smithsonian collections. Topics covered include various areas of museum work such as curatorial practice, education, exhibition design, collections management, public programming, and development.  Additionally, the format provides an ideal platform to promote the diverse perspectives, fields of study, ethnic backgrounds, and experiences of the participants and faculty.

 

During the second half of the program, participants must choose a team project.  This component provides hands-on experience in different areas of museum work such as collecting initiatives, museum-based curriculum development, curatorial work, and on-line education initiatives.  All participants will be required to work on a final project.   At the conclusion of the program, teams will be required to deliver a final presentation on their project.

 

The goal of the projects is to encourage the teams to develop new concepts and theories, and complete research, as well as contribute to current exhibitions, programs and research in progress at the Smithsonian.

 

Participants are required to complete all four weeks of the program.

 

Calendar

March 28, 2008                  Online Application 

 

April 24, 2008 Deadline for complete application packet

April through May 2008 Application processing

May 16, 2008 Selection process finalized

July 13 – August 8, 2008 Program

 

Selection Criteria

LMSP is open to graduate students and mid-career museum professionals enrolled or engaged in the fields of Latino and Latin American art, culture and history, these include but are not limited to visual arts, sociology, performing arts, literature, cultural anthropology and related studies.  Successful candidates should have considerable research and/or leadership experiences within their field, and hold an active interest in theoretical and practical issues related to museums or other cultural centers.

 

Application

To apply:

• Complete an online application 
• Submit two letters of recommendation

 

Deadline

All application materials are due in the Smithsonian Latino Center office no later than 5 p.m. April 24, 2008.

:

 

Latino Museum Studies Program

Smithsonian Latino Center

Capital Gallery

600 Maryland Avenue, SW, Suite 7042

MRC 512

Washington, DC 20024

 

Notification

All applicants will be notified of their application status in May 2007.

 

For more information, please visit the Smithsonian Latino Center online at http://latino.si.edu, or contact Joanne Flores, Core Programs Director at 202.633.0807 or email latinoconference@si.edu.