Latino Museum Studies Program

The Latino Museum Studies Program (LMSP) provides a national forum for graduate students to share, explore and discuss the representation and interpretation of Latino cultures in the context of the American experience. It provides a unique opportunity to meet and engage with Smithsonian professionals, scholars from renowned universities, and with leaders in the museum field.

Created in 1994 as Smithsonian Institute for Interpreting and Representing Latino Cultures (SIIRLC), LMSP seeks to increase the representation, documentation, research, knowledge, and interpretation of Latino art, culture, and history. The program focuses on developing museum practice within a framework of Latino cultural studies and is offered in two components.

The first component consists of a series of lectures, workshops, and behind-the-scenes tours at the Smithsonian. Curators, researchers, and other museum professionals as well as invited guest lecturers, will lead interactive tours and discussions providing participants a unique opportunity to see and hear first-hand the best practices in museums and cultural centers.

The second component consists of a practicum project within a selected Smithsonian museum. Applicants are matched to a practicum based on their background and experience, and how well the project aligns to their future goals.

If you are a graduate student enrolled or engaged in the fields of Latino art, culture, and history, we encourage you to apply! These include but are not limited to art history, visual arts, digital arts, cultural anthropology, arts management, performing arts, and related studies.

For general information, please send an email to LMSPInfo@si.edu. If you are visiting this page following the dates referenced below, the dates for the next program have not been confirmed.

Please see the following link for Frequently Asked Questions.

The following information applies to the 2020 program. 

• Deadline to apply is 11:59 p.m. EDT Friday, March 13, 2020.
• Notifications will be made in early May.
• Applications are submitted through the Smithsonian Online Academic Appointment System (SOLAA).
• Download the practicum descriptions.
• Download the application checklist (PDF) for your reference.