Virginia B. Ball Center for Creative Inquiry
2027-2028 Call for Proposals
The Virginia B. Ball Center for Creative Inquiry (VBC) invites proposals for large-scale, student-driven projects that transcend the limits of a single classroom or even a single semester. All projects must involve a VBC Faculty Fellow, but we welcome proposals from both faculty and students. For student-initiated projects, students will work with a faculty member(s) to implement their vision for the project with guidance from the faculty member(s).
What is the Virginia Ball Center?
The Virginia B. Ball Center for Creative Inquiry (VBC) was established in 1999 to promote bold interdisciplinary work that involves the creation of a creative project shared with the public. Virginia Ball Center Faculty Fellows and their student cohorts have produced Emmy-winning films, large-scale theatrical productions, award-winning landscape architecture installations, and projects receiving commendation from the American Association for State and Local History. VBC Fellows and students dedicate themselves to engaging in extended, interdisciplinary projects that are sizeable in scale and ambition. Each experience is curated so that a cohort of undergraduate students from multiple majors can:
- Explore the connections among the arts, humanities, science, and technology
- Engage in interdisciplinary inquiry that extends over the course of a year
- Create a product that illustrates collaborative research and interdisciplinary study
- Present that product to the community in an open forum.
What are we looking for?
We want your most innovative, ambitious and unique ideas! We want to hear about your dream project ideas! Each VBC seminar consists of three components:
- Seminars: Interdisciplinary, discussion-based courses exploring the proposed project’s topics of inquiry.
- Signature experiences: VBC projects include distinct experiences that engage deeply with the proposed project’s topic. Signature experiences may include off-campus residencies, large-scale workshops, intensive consultations and mentorship by professionals, curated travel experiences, and other innovative ideas.
- Product and showcase: A tangible outcome created from the project’s investigations and presented to the community in an open forum.
Given the potential scope of these experiences, the VBC will entertain a variety of possible project structures, designed in consultation with the Ball State Honors College and the Candidate’s home department. Projects should extend throughout the 2027-2028 academic year.
How much support is available?
Each project may receive up to $50,000 funding, along with project management support from the VBC and Honors College. These funds can be used for any aspect of the project and project development, but cannot be used for faculty stipends, student wages, or scholarships.
Who is eligible to apply?
The following individuals are eligible to apply:
- Full-time faculty (tenure-line and non-tenure-line); faculty may submit an individual application or a joint application with other full-time faculty
- Undergraduate students; student-initiated projects must be submitted by a group of at least 4 students who are committed to the project for the entire 2027-2028 academic year. It is highly recommended that students have already identified a faculty member who lead the project, but this is not required.
I’m interested! How do I learn more and how do I apply?
More information on past VBC projects may be found
here.
Faculty and students interested in applying are
strongly encouraged to schedule a consultation with the VBC Director and Assistant Director to disucss their project idea beore applying. Consultations can be scheduled by emailing us at
vbc@bsu.edu or calling us at 765-285-0117.
Faculty are strongly encouraged to inform their department chair prior to submitting a VBC application or agreeing to oversee a student-initiated project. Initial proposals do not require letters of support. For proposals accepted to move forward, final acceptance and funding are contingent on receiving letters of support from department chairs and deans to confirm the capacity to teach VBC seminars in-load.
Applications are due January 15, 2027.