Student Opportunities

Gallery Assistants

The New Gallery assistantship offers a dynamic, hands-on learning experience encompassing all facets of gallery and exhibition execution. Assistants develop essential skills in gallery preparation, exhibition design and installation, lighting, promotion, and community engagement.

When not directly involved in exhibition installation at The New Gallery, assistants primarily focus on the University Art Collection. Their responsibilities include cataloging, photographing, handling, restoring, researching, exhibiting, and caring for over 3,500 pieces in the Austin Peay State University art collection.

Gallery Assistants, who are scholarship recipients, can apply their work hours toward gaining valuable museum management skills in a vibrant, hands-on environment.

Curatorial Scholarship

The Jewel Birdsong Curatorial Scholarship recipient works directly with the director of the University Art Collection on research and/or curatorial projects associated with the 3500-piece art collection.

The Jewel Birdsong Scholarship is available to Austin Peay State University art majors. You must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 and a minimum ACT score of 27 to qualify for this award. Learn more about Art+Design scholarships here.

Hazel Smith Summer Research Fellowship

In the late 1990s, Mark S. and Martha Em Raby established the Hazel Smith Student Art Collection to honor Martha Em Raby’s great-aunt, Hazel Smith, who was Austin Peay’s first art instructor. Over the years, they have continued to support this fund, which helps purchase a three-dimensional piece from the annual juried student exhibition each spring, known as the Hazel Smith Student Art Collection Award.

In 2019, they expanded their generosity by creating the Hazel Smith Summer Research Fellowship. This endowment allows a student to work closely with the director of the University Art Collection, enhancing the research and educational outreach of the collection. The Summer Fellowship offers students dedicated time to catalog, photograph, handle, restore, research, exhibit, and care for over 3,500 pieces in the Austin Peay State University art collection.

Endowments are permanently restricted funds managed by the Austin Peay State University Foundation. The amount of each scholarship award may vary and will be determined based on the endowment's value and the Foundation spending plan.

Contact the Office of University Advancement at 931-221-7127 to support APSU fundraising initiatives.