These prizes are determined by department faculty on an annual basis. No application is necessary.

Ann Belsky Moranis Memorial Prize 

Awarded to a concentrator who has excelled in work undertaken in the concentration, shown intellectual generosity and curiosity, and taken advantage of the strengths of the department in imaginative ways.

Outstanding Honors Thesis 

Awarded to a senior student or students in either concentration who have completed an exceptional honors thesis project. 

Outstanding Paper 

Awarded to a student or students in either concentration who have written an exceptional research paper in a department-run course.

Outstanding Architectural Design 

Awarded to a student or students in either concentration who have completed an exceptional design project in a department design studio course.

The Rebecca Molholt Vanel Travel Fund honors the memory of Professor Molholt Vanel who taught in the department from 2008 to 2014. It commemorates her deep interest in travel and museum experience.

Grants of up to $2500 are awarded to HIAA and Architecture students to support research in the history of art and architecture through travel to:

• Collections, libraries, and archives for research
• Museums for participation in curatorial, conservation, and exhibition projects
• Conduct research towards an honors thesis or capstone project

These may consist of shorter visits or longer residencies.

Application requirements:

• 1-2 page proposal (these grants are awarded exclusively to fund travel).
• Budget summary 

Deadline for Summer Funding: Friday, April 17, 2026 

Grants will be announced as soon as possible after the application deadline. We encourage you to talk to your advisor if you have any questions about the application. 

Send Completed Applications to: 

Academic department manager, Nancy Safian, nancy_safian@brown.edu

The Flexible Flyer Fellowship Award is an undergraduate award established by an anonymous gift from a Brown alum, awards an annual prize of $500. The fund supports an independent project by an Architecture or HIAA concentrator who envisions a career in the art world (as an artist, art/architectural historian, curator, critic, etc.)

Eligible projects include independent study projects and work that occurs within department curriculum, such as theses and capstones. However, projects may also take place outside of Brown. Only juniors and seniors are eligible to apply. Independent concentrators may apply as long as they intend to have a career in the arts.

A student may not use the award while on leave from Brown, but it may be used for a summer project between junior and senior year, or for the completion of a project that the student began at Brown and will finish during the summer following graduation.

Application Requirements

• An account of the project and the how the award will aid in its realization
• An account of how the project will further the applicant's studies or experience*
• A budget detailing the proposed use of funds
• No more than two written or visual samples of work in art or art/architectural history

Deadline for Summer Funding: Friday, April 17, 2026 

Grants will be announced as soon as possible after the application deadline. We encourage you to talk to your advisor if you have any questions about the application. 

Send Completed Applications to:

Academic department manager, Nancy Safian, nancy_safian@brown.edu