Shirley L. Thomson Award for Young Conservators

• Project proposal summary and working title.
• Project objectives, method, outcomes, and work plan.
• Complete budget proposal and sources of support.
• Supervisor or project lead name and CV.
• Evaluation and skills development plan.

Who is eligible?

• Museums
• Art galleries
• Artist-run centres
• Indigenous cultural centres

Who is not eligible

• For-profit organizations
• Institutions outside Canada
• Organizations not active in visual arts or museum-related conservation

Eligible expenses

• Intern stipends.
• Travel and material costs.
• Costs related to participation in the CMA National Congress.
• Other approved project expenses.

Eligible geographic areas

• Canada

• Clear project objectives, methods, and measurable results.
• Strength of the learning experience and mentoring plan.
• Quality of supervision, orientation, and professional support.
• Financial plan and additional support secured or proposed.
• Institutional commitment to promotion and professional standards.

• Step 1: Prepare the project proposal
  • Define the working title and summarize the project.
  • Describe objectives, methods, results, tasks, and work plan.
• Step 2: Build the application package
  • Prepare the full budget and identify all funding sources.
  • Provide the project duration, location, number of participants, and travel or other costs.
  • Include the supervisor or project lead name and CV, plus the evaluation plan and skills development plan.
• Step 3: Add institutional and recruitment information
  • Provide proof of the institution’s commitment and professional standards.
  • Include the recruitment process and the institution’s involvement in the CMA and the museum community.
• Step 4: Submit the nomination
  • Submit all required information through the nomination process described by the program.

• Applications are reviewed by a committee of experienced visual arts conservation professionals.
• Committee decisions are final.
• If selected, the institution must recruit interns through a transparent and fair process.
• The internship opportunity must also be posted on the CMA online jobs site.

• Applications are currently not being accepted because the award is under review.
• The award may be granted to one project or split between two proposals.
• Selected institutions must post the internship opportunity on the CMA online jobs site.
• The selection committee’s decisions are final.