
AAI Arts & Humanities Grant
We believe that looking at societal problems through the lens of the arts and humanities helps to think through issues, compliments and articulates the work of science and education, and engages diverse perspectives.
The Achievement & Assessment Institute (AAI) is pleased to announce our Arts & Humanities Grant, now in its third year, is accepting proposals. The purpose of the grant program is to foster deeper ties between the arts and humanities and the education and social sciences within which most of AAI’s work is focused. We believe that looking at societal problems through the lens of the arts and humanities helps to think through issues, compliments and articulates the work of science and education, and engages diverse perspectives.
Work in AAI focuses on enhancing educational opportunity; optimizing the well-being of children, youth, and families, creating accessible assessment systems that better support student learning (especially for struggling learners), and creating educational technologies and data systems that support students, teachers, and organizations.
Proposed projects must connect to one of AAI’s areas of focus and there is a requirement that a first activity in any project is a dialogue with staff members within AAI who focus on the area to which the project is connected. There is no need to identify in advance who in AAI will participate in the opening discussion and no requirement that the dialog influence or be reflected in the finished project. We ask that projects be completed within a year from the start of the next semester after award notification (i.e. between January 2024 and January 2025 for this round).
Any tenure track faculty, teaching professor, or multiterm lecturer in a department considered by KU to be in the arts or humanities is eligible. Certain unclassified academic staff (library or museum, for example) may also be eligible. Contact us regarding the latter.
Any project that can be completed in one year is eligible. General examples include creation of artwork in any medium, or scholarly analysis through an arts or humanities lens. Proposed projects must connect to one of AAI’s areas of focus. Reviewing the work of our many centers may help to match your focus.
2022 Awardees
Ash Wilson, director of the Center for Sexuality & Gender Diversity at KU, and David Mai, assistant teaching professor in the Department of Film & Media Studies, were awarded the grant for their project titled “Telling Our Stories.”
The aim of the project is to document queer and trans (QT) voices at KU and in the broader community, with QT students trained on how to interview and film QT staff, faculty and community members.
AAI ANNOUNCES RECIPIENTS FOR 2022 ARTS & HUMANITIES GRANT
2021 Awardees
For the inaugural grant period, two faculty were awarded.
Ryan D. Clifford, Assistant Professor of Design and Visual Communication, was awarded for his RadLab! DIY Youth Creative Workshop Series.
F. María Velasco, Professor of Visual Art, was awarded for her proposed On Our Terms, In Our Own Words project.
AAI will cover up to $12,000 for any expenses allowable under university and KU Office of Research guidelines. For example, money might be used to cover summer salary for the faculty member or a course buyout during the year, hiring a student assistant, travel, or materials. Since this is being funded by AAI, a university research center, there will be no indirect charges to be paid out of the grant.
The proposal should be a maximum of five pages, single spaced, with a minimum 1-inch margin on all sides, minimum 11-point font, and page numbers on all pages. The proposal should cover the following and include headers for each part:
- Project Description (Description of the project including any products or events that will be the result of the project)
- Connection with AAI (How the project connects to the work of AAI)
- Importance (Why this project is important to either your field, AAI’s mission, or both)
- Qualifications (Why you are qualified to carry out this project)
- Budget (If you need help creating the budget, we can provide that.)
- Schedule (When you will start and finish and any other key dates)
Requested proposal file type is PDF.
Proposals must be received by 5 PM. Central Standard Time Friday, September 29.
AAI will establish a review committee to evaluate proposals.
Our goal is to inform the awardee by Wednesday, October 18, but this might be impacted by the number of proposals.
Radlab!


2022 Awardees
Ash Wilson, director of the Center for Sexuality & Gender Diversity at KU, and David Mai, assistant teaching professor in the Department of Film & Media Studies, were awarded the grant for their project titled “Telling Our Stories.”
The aim of the project is to document queer and trans (QT) voices at KU and in the broader community, with QT students trained on how to interview and film QT staff, faculty and community members.

2021 Awardees
For the inaugural grant period, two faculty were awarded.
Ryan D. Clifford, Assistant Professor of Design and Visual Communication, was awarded for his RadLab! DIY Youth Creative Workshop Series.
F. María Velasco, Professor of Visual Art, was awarded for her proposed On Our Terms, In Our Own Words project.