February 12, 2013

The Smithsonian Latino Center announces the 2013 Latino Museum Studies Program, July 1 through Aug. 9 in Washington, D.C. Currently in its 17th year, this program fosters the development of scholars and emerging leaders in the fields of Latino history, art and culture. The deadline to apply for this summer’s program is April 15.

The program is open to graduate students and offered in two components: the first is a two-week seminar of presentations, workshops and discussions with leading Smithsonian curators, researchers and scholars. Participants learn about current and future Smithsonian projects and museum best practices via site visits and behind-the-scenes tours of collections and exhibits.

“This is a unique opportunity to enhance the knowledge and experience of these scholars while exposing them to the Smithsonian and creating a national network of Latino cultural workers,” said Latino Center Director Eduardo Díaz.

The second component is a four-week internship at a Smithsonian museum or research center to advance a Smithsonian project or program initiative. Building upon a successful collaboration in 2012, the Latino Center will partner again this year with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, based in Washington, D.C., to offer additional internships. In 2012 scholars worked on a variety of projects ranging from an exhibit on Latino food and video art to surveying Smithsonian Latino collections and research related to immigration and migration. This year the Latino Museum Studies Program received support from the Anheuser-Busch Foundation.

“Our Foundation values the impact that education has on individual lives,” said Margarita Flores, vice president of community affairs for Anheuser-Busch. “This is evidenced through our support of organizations such as the Hispanic Scholarship Fund, Teach for America and the UNCF. We are pleased to provide support this year to the Smithsonian and its efforts to support Latino scholars in the arts.”

Since 1997, Anheuser-Busch and its Foundation have invested in local communities through donations of nearly $490 million to charitable organizations. Anheuser-Busch is a wholly owned subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch InBev, the leading global brewer, and continues to operate under the Anheuser-Busch name and logo.

The Smithsonian Latino Center is a division of the Smithsonian Institution that ensures Latino contributions to art, science and the humanities are highlighted, understood and advanced through the development and support of public programs, scholarly research, museum collections an educational opportunities at the Smithsonian and its affiliated organizations across the U.S. and internationally. For more information about the 2013 Latino Museum Studies Program, visit www.latino.si.edu or call (202) 633-0804.

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SI-49-2013