About
Brief History
Marie Christine Kohler (1876-1943) was a member of the Kohler family of Wisconsin and was prominent in the community life of Sheboygan and Kohler, active in social work, and was well known for her philanthropy. In 1940, she co-founded the Kohler Foundation, Inc. The Kohler Fellows previously had a residence program at the Knapp House on campus. When the Knapp House fell into disrepair, the Kohler Fellows became the Marie Christine Kohler Fellows at WID and the program became non-residential. The term Kohler Fellows is used informally for the program.
About the Fellowship
- Marie Christine Kohler Fellows @ WID are appointed for one calendar year, loosely divided into a semester of inspiration and semester of realizing projects. Fellows are not expected to arrive with a project already in mind. In fact, our goal is for fresh material and ideas to emerge with the interaction and discussion among fellows. During the first semester of the fellowship, fellows and advisors meet as a group each week, where we discuss topics like art+science fusion philosophies and roles in society, the creative process. We also meet with guests and learn from and about the fellows. This immersion helps foster a foundation of openness, fresh ways of thinking, and pollination across many disciplines.
- Kohler Fellows Committee Mentors guide each artist and scientist pair through the creative and technical challenges of developing their art+science fusion project, offering feedback and expertise as the collaboration takes shape. Drawing on their own experience at the intersection of art and science, they help Fellows translate research and concepts into work that resonates with public audiences.
- That first semester of engagement with one another and focused on art+science fusion helps facilitate the fellowship pairings. Toward the end of the spring semester, fellows submit requests for partners; the advisory committee announces official pairings shortly after.
- Fellows are not required to be on campus over the summer, and many are not, but we strongly recommend partners continue work on their projects and communicate during the break.
- During the fall semester, we meet biweekly and ask pairs to focus more on realizing their projects. Depending on venues, materials, and other factors, the exhibition of each pair’s projects can happen at different times, but all projects must be completed by Nov. 30, 2026.
Expectations
As a Kohler Fellow, you’ll join a cohort of graduate students from the arts and the sciences and be paired with a partner from the opposite discipline to co-create an Art+Science Fusion project for public audiences. Fellows are expected to attend weekly meetings throughout the spring semester, contribute equally to their team’s project, from concept through completion, and take part in community life through a research presentation, a blog post, and attendance at campus events. The program runs January through December, with project work concentrated between April and November and supported by dedicated funding and mentorship along the way.