BMRC Short-Term Fellowships in African-American Studies

This fellowship program is made possible by the generous support of the
Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

Attention: BMRC Announces 2009 Short-Term Fellowships in African-American Studies Recipients. Click here to read the press release.

Eligibility

Applicants must demonstrate a need for the collections of at least one BMRC institution, with preference given to applicants whose research will take them to at least one other member institution as well. These BMRC collections should be vital to the applicant's research. Click here to download a spreadsheet of the archival holdings of each of the member institutions. (Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet). Applicants who live outside of the state of Illinois will receive preference.

Scholars - Scholars in any field with a doctorate in the area of the proposed project at the time of appointment are eligible to apply.

Artists - Neither artists nor writers need have a PhD or other terminal degree to apply. They must meet the discipline specific eligibility requirements listed below. Click on a discipline for specific eligibility requirements:

• Media Artists
  Applicants in the areas of film, video, and new media must have screened or exhibited at least one independent film or video at a film or video festival, gallery or museum. Work must have been produced outside an academic or school setting. Web-based portfolios are not acceptable as the only form of production and exhibition.
• Musicians/Composers
  Applicants must have a significant body of work characterized by originality and mastery of technique. Applicants must have presented /performed work in at least one professional theater or venue in the last three years.
• Theater
  Applicants must have a significant body of independent work, including, at least one produced play or one under option by a professional theater.
• Visual Artists
  Visual arts applicants must show strong evidence of achievement, with a record of at least three years of work as a professional artist, including participation in several curated group shows or at least one professional solo exhibition.
• Writers
  Fiction and Nonfiction: Fiction and nonfiction applicants must have any of the following: one published short story or essay, or contract for the publication of a book-length manuscript. Only work published in a journal with known and rigorous review criteria will be accepted. No self-published works (whether in print or on-line) will be accepted as evidence of a record of publication. Journalism applicants must be currently working full-time as journalists: employees of newspapers, wire services, web sites, magazines covering news, commentary, or public affairs, and full-time freelancers. Eligible journalists include those who write news, commentary, editorials, and reviews. Web site publications are not acceptable as the only form of previously published work.

Application Requirements

The following application materials must be submitted to info@blackmetropolisresearch.org as a PDF file or MS Word documents and received by 5:00PM, CST, on Monday January 11, 2010.

1. Download and complete the application cover sheet
2. A curriculum vitae
3. A project description with a maximum of 1500 words. Please describe your project, and explain its significance. The project description must demonstrate a need for the collections of at least one BMRC institution. (Please note: preference will be given to applicants whose research will take them to at least one other member institution.) These BMRC collections should be vital to the applicant’s research. Outline your plan of work, and the status of any project already begun and any data already collected. Short-term applicants should take special care to be as specific as possible about materials to be consulted during the proposed fellowship period. When appropriate, applicants should also make specific reference to previous published scholarship that will be revised or supplanted by the proposed project.
4. Three letters of recommendation. It is your responsibility to have three letters of recommendation sent to the BMRC by the application deadline.
5. Written support materials. (For submission of letters of recommendation, and support materials such as DVDs, and CDs, see below).

1. A copy of one scholarly paper no more than 15 pages in length.

1. Samples of reviews, if available.

1. Ten-minute sample of previously produced work on DVD.

1. CD sample of produced work.

1. DVD of a performance.

1. Submit a section of a produced play, up to 15 pages total.

1. DVD containing up to 15 images. Include close-up and long shots of work.

1. Submit a recent book chapter, manuscript, short story, or article, up to 15 pages total.

1. Submit up to 5 poems

1. Submit 2 substantive published articles, up to 15 pages total.

Support Materials

Support materials and letters of support must be postmarked by January 11, 2010. Applicants who wish to have their support materials returned should enclose a stamped, self-addressed envelope. Send support materials and letters of support to:

Black Metropolis Research Consortium
5720 S. Woodlawn Avenue
Chicago, Illinois
60637

Application Submission

All application materials listed must be submitted to info@blackmetropolisresearch.org as a PDF file or MS Word documents and received by 5:00PM, CST, on Monday January 11, 2010.

Selection Process

Applications to the Black Metropolis Research Consortium Fellowships in African American Studies will be evaluated by a peer review panel consisting of local scholars and artists.

Terms

Stipends for short-term Fellowships will be $3000 per month. Fellows will be provided with the following:

• Office or carrel space at the Host institution
• Reserve shelves in library/archive
• Seminars for presentation and discussion of work