Our friends at Solid Light, an experience design and fabrication firm in Louisville, KY, will be awarding one all-inclusive conference scholarship for Crosscurrents, the AMM 2025 Conference in the Quad Cities (Davenport, IA), a collaboration with the Illinois Association of Museums and Iowa Museum Association.

The Solid Light Scholars Program focuses on providing opportunities for development and advancement for students and emerging museum professionals in the Midwest region through participation in the AMM Conference. Become a 2025 Solid Light Scholar to connect with professionals across the region, explore a diverse array of museums, and present a poster or conversation station on your favorite project or topic of interest. The Scholar will also have an opportunity to meet members of the Solid Light team and AMM’s Executive Director virtually before the conference, gather tips for success, and start building their network.

Bonus! All applicants will receive a discount on conference registration, just for taking the time to apply!

How to Apply:

Emerging professionals at all stages – in school, recent grads, or those in the museum workforce less than 10 years – and located in one of the 8 Midwest states (IA, IL, IN, MI, MN, MO, OH, WI) are invited to apply to be a Solid Light Scholar.

To apply, share a highlight from your portfolio in the application form linked here. Please include 1-2 paragraphs about the the portfolio highlight or project you selected, why you chose it, and at least one lesson you learned from your work on it. Include up to 4 photos that illustrate the project (minimum of one).

NOTE: Submit your portfolio highlight through the online application form in one of these document formats: PDF, Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, link to Google Doc or Slides, or link to a page of your online portfolio/website. Please submit your project in only one (1) format, and make sure that whichever format you choose contains all of the required information (text and photos).

Applications must be received by 11:59 PM EST on Monday, May 19, 2025, for consideration.

Selection Criteria and Timeline:

Applications will be reviewed following the close of the application window (May 19). The winner of the Solid Light Scholars Program will be notified as soon as possible in June.

Applications will be assessed based on completeness – all required materials provided – and the relevance of the projects and expression of lessons learned.