The Mary Duke Biddle Award

APPLICATION DEADLINE: Friday, May 1, 2026 by 11:59 PM EST
Eligibility: Duke University undergraduate or graduate student

The Mary Duke Biddle Award assists students with living costs incurred during internships at major art museums in the United States or abroad (up to $5,000). Students seeking an award to support an internship at another institution must secure that position prior to applying to the Nasher Museum for funding. Past interns have worked at museums such as the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.; the UCCA Center of Contemporary Art in Beijing, China; the National Gallery of Ireland in Dublin, Ireland; and the DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center in Chicago, Illinois.

Application Process
All application materials must be submitted by email to Ellen C. Raimond, Ph.D., Associate Curator of Academic Initiatives, at ellen.raimond@duke.edu. (In the subject line of the email write, “MDB Award – <applicant’s first and last name>”).

To be considered complete, applications must include:

• A statement of acceptance (i.e., offer letter, email, etc.) from the granting institution.
• Resume.
• Cover letter outlining relevant coursework and/or experience in museums and/or the arts; explanation of how the internship furthers student’s professional goals and/or aspirations.

A candidate will be selected by early May.  For inquiries concerning the internship or application process, please contact Ellen Raimond at ellen.raimond@duke.edu.