The Baltimore Museum of Art recently announced its first annual Essay Prize Competition.
These awards recognize excellence in scholarly writing pertaining to the collections and
exhibitions of the Baltimore Museum of Art (BMA). Submissions will be judged on scholarly merit and
originality, quality of writing, and relevance to the BMA, objects in its collections, or its
exhibitions.

Graduate Award

3,500 – 5,000 words, excluding notes

Winner: $500

Honorable Mention: $200

Undergraduate Award

2,500 – 3,500 words, excluding notes

Winner: $250

Honorable Mention: $100

Student Eligibility

Entrants must be students in the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences at the Johns Hopkins
University at the time of submission. The graduate award is open to any student enrolled in a
Master’s or Doctoral program; the undergraduate award is open to any student enrolled in a
Bachelor of Arts or Science program.

Essay Requirements

Essays related to the BMA, objects in its collections, or its exhibitions from any discipline are
eligible. Portions of theses and dissertation chapters are eligible; however, they must be
modified so that they stand alone as a complete essay. Each entry must be the work of a single
author and must be submitted by that author. Only one entry is permitted per entrant. Entries
must be written in English. Essays that have been previously published are not eligible.

Submissions should be sent as a word document or PDF via email to Dr. Robin Owen Joyce,
Assistant Curator of Academic Engagement, [email protected], with the subject line Essay
Prize Submission. Please indicate in the email whether you are a graduate or undergraduate
student.

Submissions must be received by May 5th, 2025.