In March 2009, Carleton College received a $770,000 grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation for a new initiative called Visualizing the Liberal Arts (Viz).

The Viz initiative enables Carleton to be a leader in developing innovative ways to address the challenges that faculty, students, and staff encounter as they work to create, interpret, and employ visual images, media, and models.

The Visualizing the Liberal Arts grant runs for three years, culminating in a national conference. The grant funds three major areas of activity: an ambitious exhibits program, a staff development program, and a faculty development program. The Viz initiative is developing a digital resource of visual materials and assignments across the curriculum.

The grant funds a program of winter break workshops offering the opportunity to explore visual approaches to teaching and learning. Closely tied to these workshops are curricular grants that support course and assignment design using visual strategies and materials. The grant sponsors a series of presentations, including lectures on visual pedagogies and the Rare Looks series. The grant also brings speakers to campus, including a yearly Headley House visitor to offer public lectures, workshops, and discussions with staff and faculty as we explore and encourage the spread of the visual across the curriculum.