- What are the selection criteria?
- What are the objectives of the grant?
- What types of projects have been funded?
- Who may apply?
- How can the grants be used?
- What funding is available?
- What is the period of the grant?
- How and when should I apply?
- Who reviews the proposals?
1. What are the selection criteria?
2. What are the objectives of the grants?
The American Studies Association’s Regional Chapter Grant Program seeks to acknowledge the vital contribution ofregional chapters to the ongoing development of American Studies by making awards to conference/project proposals that enhance innovative American Studies research, teaching and scholarship through their involvement atthe regional and local levels, and that encourage broader participation at those regional and local levels. As thegrants forge new relationships between regional chapters and the various constituencies they serve, they should simultaneously strengthen the relationship between the ASA and regional chapters. The ASA will give priority to proposals that meet at least one of the following objectives:
- Innovative conferences/projects that develop/expand American Studies participation into the communities and/or countryside of a specific region, or that invite the communities and/or countryside of that region into the conferences/projects themselves as something other than the disembodied topics of papers. We are interested in funding proposals that see the individual region as a fertile ground for intellectual exploration that is, while desired, not practically possible at the national level.
- Conferences/projects that seek to create links between regional American Studies programs and regional public sector organizations and institutions. Regional chapters have a wealth of such organizations and institutions, ranging from libraries to local and state museums and historical societies to state humanities councils to NEH regional centers, that share an interest in the study of American culture(s). We are interested in funding proposals that develop that shared interest into a more formal association that mutually benefits all participants.
- Regional conferences/projects that further the goals of the ASA K-16 initiative. Regional chapters are uniquelysituated to provide opportunities for the participation of educators and pupils not linked to major universities or their graduate programs. We are interested in funding proposals that create possibilities for the involvement in regional activities of both teachers and students not at a graduate level, whether in regional public schools or private academies, community colleges, or four-year baccalaureate institutions.
- Regional conferences/projects that further the goals of the ongoing ASA international initiative. In specific, regionalchapters offer a particularly fruitful means of facilitating an ongoing conversation between international scholars of American Studies and Americanists here, as the multiple cultures that have shaped U.S. culture have done so first and foremost at the local and regional level. We are interested in funding proposals that offer unique waysof creating interactions between national and international scholars at a regional level.
Recipients of regional chapter grants must state in publicity and dissemination materials that the conference/project awarded a grant is funded in part by the ASA.
3. What types of projects have been funded?
Below is a list of types of conferences/projects that might be funded. This list is not exhaustive. The ASA is interestedin creative approaches to regional American Studies activities and welcomes proposals outlining projects both similar to and different from those listed.
- Conferences/projects that make their sites themselves a significant part of conference activity, through special sessions or panels involving regional/local citizens and officials, and exploration of the local area.
- Conferences/projects that provide a forum for regional cultural production/performance: music, art, poetry, photography, etc.
- Conferences/projects that make significant links, via co-sponsorship, a hosting arrangement, and/or special conference sessions, with regional and local public-sector groups. Such arrangements might include anything from a jointly sponsored conference with a state historical society to using a museum or library as a conference site tosessions involving local or state governmental officials.
- Conferences/projects that provide opportunities for the involvement of teachers and students from regional orlocalpublic schools, private academies, community colleges, or four-year baccalaureate programs.
- Conferences/projects that explore in depth the contribution a specific culture or multiple cultures have madeto agiven region. Such conferences would also include the meaningful participation of representatives of that culture orcultures in both planning and programming.
- Conferences/projects that develop that connection, or other possible themes or sessions, to include a visitinginternational scholar of American Studies.
Please consult the Previously funded Regional Chapter Grants for examples of past applications.
Proposals should come from regional chapters of the American Studies Association. This request for proposals is not intended for use by other ASA committees, boards, or task forces.
5. How can the grants be used?
These grants are for special projects; they are not intended to serve as an ongoing source of funding. While recipients may apply for future grants, preference will be given to new intiatives.
Total funding, which is drawn initially from a pool of unclaimed ASA rebates to regional chapters, is currently $10,000. The ASA intends to award a limited number of grants ranging from $500 to $3,000.
7. What is the period of the grant?
The grants will fund projects and events held between July 1 of the application year and June 30 of the following year.
8. How and when should I apply?
See the Regional Chapter Grant application instructions.
Proposals will be reviewed by the executive committee of the ASA Council, which will make final funding decisions based on the following criteria:
- Demonstrated need of the worth of the proposal, including beneficiaries within the given region;
- Clear response to one or more of the objectives defined in Section 1;
- Clear demonstration, when warranted, that the conference/project will work closely with individuals, organizations and institutions defined as partners in the proposal;
- Innovation in concept, organization, and/or participation;
- Clear demonstration of efficient conference/project management;
- Use of proposal as model for future proposals from other regions (replicability).
Please be sure to follow the instructions. If you have any questions, please contact the ASA Office of Executive Director by e-mail asastaff@theasa.net. We look forward to hearing from you.