NEHS collaborates with the Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM) to offer Chapter Advisors an enriching professional development opportunity through the SAAM Summer Institutes: Teaching the Humanities through Art. This immersive experience is designed to empower educators with innovative teaching strategies that integrate American art with social studies, history, and English/language arts.
The Summer Institute provides a deep dive into the intersections of American art and interdisciplinary studies, equipping Advisors with tools to enhance lesson planning and execution in high school classrooms. Through hands-on workshops and scholarly discussions, Advisors explore how visual art can ignite critical thinking, foster visual literacy, and inspire creativity among students.
By participating in this program, Chapter Advisors gain invaluable insights and resources to create dynamic learning experiences across multiple academic disciplines. They collaborate with museum experts and fellow educators to develop engaging curriculum materials that connect art to broader cultural contexts, enriching the educational journey of NEHS student members.
The partnership with SAAM underscores NEHS’ commitment to supporting Chapter Advisors in their professional growth and in elevating the quality of English Language Arts education. It empowers Advisors to innovate in their teaching methods, encouraging them to use art as a powerful tool for interdisciplinary learning and intellectual exploration in the classroom.
Awards
NEHS will provide one scholarship of up to $1,500 and the Smithsonian Institute will provide one scholarship of up to $1,500 to the two best NEHS Chapter Advisor applications received. The course registration fees will be waived for scholarship winners.
Distribution of scholarship funds: Scholarship recipients will receive their funds following completion of the Summer Institute at SAAM.
Eligiblity
Applicants must be a registered Chapter Advisor of a currently active chapter.
Application requirements
- Applicants must submit a competitive application directly to the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s Summer Institute: Teaching the Humanities through Art. All applications must be submitted via the SAAM website before March 23, 2026. Please indicate in the drop-down box in the application that the applicant is an NEHS Chapter Advisor.
- Applicants must agree that they are willing to provide a written report and photos detailing the impact the scholarship has had on them, which can be used by NEHS to promote this and other opportunities in future years should they win an award.
Application process
All applications must be made through the SAAM Summer Institute application form.
Evaluation process
All applications will be evaluated by the NEHS Advisory Council and SAAM Summer Institute representatives.
