Annual Meeting Fellowships
AAM Annual Meeting & MuseumExpo™ is one of most important professional development opportunities for museum professionals, AAM, in cooperation with other non-profits, industry partners and generous donors, provides a wide range of fellowship opportunities.
Diversity Fellowships
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The AAM Diversity Fellowship Program offers support to those individuals who are committed to actively helping museums and their communities better understand the benefits of a diverse audience through professional education programs, workshops, sessions, mentoring and leadership training. Additional support is also provided to assist with travel, meals, lodging and registration to attend AAM's Annual Meeting.
Contact: diversityinfo@aam-us.org
Emerging Museum Professionals (EMP) Fellowships
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EMP Fellowships include a complimentary registration for the 2009 AAM Annual Meeting and a partial stipend for travel, hotel and meals. Applications for submission will be accepted starting January 15, 2009 and must be received by February 12, 2009. Click on the following link for more information: http://www.aam-us.org/getinvolved/emp/emp-resource.cfm
Pennsylvania Council on the Arts Fellowships
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In partnership with the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, the American Association of Museums (AAM) is pleased to award one hundred (100) individual fellowships of $100 off of full meeting registration to the AAM 2009 Annual Meeting & MuseumExpo™ in Philadelphia. Applicants must be Pennsylvania residents who are employed (paid or unpaid, part- or full-time) by a museum or museum-related organization within the state of Pennsylvania. Preference will be given to those individuals from Pennsylvania museums and museum organizations who have not attended the AAM Annual Meeting recently. All applicants must submit a current resume and brief essay with application. Application deadline is May 4, 2009.
Visitor Services Professional Interest Committee (VSPIC) Fellowships
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Use: To assist currently active, full or part time, paid or volunteer Visitor Services workers, the VSPIC is offering two fellowships up to $1500 to attend the 2009 AAM Annual Meeting in Philadelphia, April 30-May 4, 2009. The purpose of the Fellowship is to provide an opportunity to a museum worker in the area of Visitor Services, who, due to financial constraints, would otherwise not be able to attend the AAM Annual Meeting. The award begins with covering the cost of AAM and VSPIC membership dues and then Early Bird level registration for the 2009 Annual Meeting with the balance for travel and expenses.
Amount: Up to $1500
Due Date: January 9, 2009
Eligibility: Applicants should be a currently active Visitor Services worker, full or part time, paid or volunteer in a not-for-profit museum, botanic garden, zoo, historic house, etc. To apply, please submit the following materials:
1. A letter (no morethan 1 page) describing your current responsibilities and explaining how you would use your experience at the Annual Meeting to strengthen your museum’s visitor services program and to further your career goals in the visitor services field.
2. Current resume.We recommend a brief, 1-2 page summary of your contact information, education, work history, and any special awards or commendations.
3. A letter of endorsement from your direct or immediate supervisor.
4. Include a draft budget outlining the expenses the award will cover for you, beginning with the AAM dues, the VSPIC dues, the Annual Meeting Early Bird registration fees, and estimated travel expenses. Please visit the AAM website at www.aam-us.org for information about membership/dues and about Annual Meeting registration.*
Procedure: Applications must be received by January 9, 2009 . The VSPIC Fellowship committee will review them. Announcement of the recipients will be made by January 15, 2009.
*Awards will be made in the form of a check from AAM, which will be requested by VSPIC at the time award announcements are made. Awardees are responsible for registering for the Annual Meeting and joining/renewing their AAM and VSPIC memberships. Deadline for Early Bird registration for the Annual Meeting is February 1, 2009. Awardees will be expected to document their actual expenses after the Annual Meeting.
Contact: VSPIC ChairGinny FitzgeraldDirector of VisitorServices Chicago History Museum 312-799-2270fitzgerald@chicagohistory.org
AAM Standing Professional Committee Fellowships
Committee on Audience Research and Evaluation (CARE) Fellowships
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Use: The monies must be used to attend the 2009 AAM Annual Meeting in Philadelphia.
Eligibility: Fellowship applicants must: 1) Be a current, paid member of CARE at the time of application; 2) Be relatively new to the museum field (in their first five years); 3) Have never previously attended the AAM Annual Meeting. Fellowship recipients must: 1) Attend the CARE Business Meeting at the Annual Meeting; 2) Attend the CARE Evening Event at the Annual Meeting; 3) Attend the CARE Issues Luncheon at the Annual Meeting; 4) Visit the CARE marketplace/poster session. Preference will be given to those who are presenting at the Annual Meeting, either in a panel session or presenting a poster (one type of presentation will not be weighed more heavily than the other).
Amount: Two $1,000 fellowships. One will be awarded to a currently enrolled student at a recognized university/college; The second will be awarded to a museum professional who is not enrolled as a student.
Application: Submit a Word document with the following information: Contact information, including name, address, email address and phone; Institutional affiliation and current title (if applicable); Whether you are applying for the Student or Professional Fellowship; Whether or not you plan on presenting at this year’s Annual Meeting; What experience you have in audience research/evaluation; Why you would like to attend the Annual Meeting.
Contact: Jessica Luke at luke@ilinet.org
Applications due: Friday, February 6, 2009.
Curators Committee (CurCom) Fellowships
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Use: The Curators’ Committee is pleased to announce the availability of two fellowships for curators who have never attended an AAM Annual Meeting before and whose major job responsibilities are the care and interpretation of their museums’ collections. These two $1,000 fellowships are intended to help defray the cost of attending the Annual Meeting in Philadelphia, PA April 20 – May 4, 2009. Please note that fellowship winners will be expected to attend the CurCom business luncheon at the Annual Meeting, where they will be recognized.
Application Eligibility:
To qualify the applicant must never have attended an AAM Annual meeting.
To qualify the applicant’s major (75%) job responsibility must be the care and interpretation of their institution’s collection.
To apply, please send:
A) cover letter expressing 1) how participation in the AAM annual meeting would benefit the applicant and their institution 2) how professional development is important to the applicant’s career and 3) to furthering the mission of their institution 4) a brief description of how collections are significant to their work and 5) an explanation of the museum’s financial need for him/her to receive this fellowship; B) a letter of recommendation from the immediate supervisor, emphasizing his/her contribution to the profession; and C) resume.
All materials must be submitted together. Send originals, plus two sets of photocopies to: James Burns, Curator of History, Tempe Historical Museum, 809 E. Southern Ave. Tempe, AZ 85282.
Due Date: postmarked on or before DECEMBER 24, 2008.
For further information contact James Burns at (480) 350-5110 or via email at James_burns@tempe.gov. Results will be announced during the week of January 26th so recipients can register for the conference before the (early) early bird deadline on January 30th.
Development and Membership Committee (DAM) Fellowships
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Use: The purpose of the DAM Fellowship Program is to provide comprehensive professional development opportunities for three museum professionals working in the areas of development and/or membership, who, due to financial constraints, would otherwise not be able to attend the AAM annual meeting. Each fellowship award covers the cost of registration with the balance available to support travel and other expenses. Fellowship recipients also receive: admission to the DAM Committee welcome reception, admission to the DAM Committee annual meeting business luncheon and a one-year membership to the DAM Committee.
Eligibility: Two fellowships are awarded to people with less than three years experience as a paid development or membership professional. A third fellowship is for a more senior professional who has more than 3 years experience as a paid development or membership professional.
Amount: Three $1,500 fellowships.
Application: To apply, please submit the following materials: A letter explaining how you would use your experience at the AAM annual meeting to strengthen your museum’s development and/or membership program, outlining your career goals in the museum development and/or membership field, and detailing reasons why your museum is unable to send you to the Annual Meeting; Current resume; and a letter of endorsement from your museum’s director or your immediate supervisor.
Preference will be given to applicants who express interest in remaining in the museum field for the foreseeable future. Announcement of the recipients will be made by February 25, 2009.
Following the Annual Meeting, fellowship recipients are asked to submit a short letter to the Executive Board of DAM summarizing key learning points and how they will be applied in your work.
Contact: Please submit e-mail application (and post-conference letter) to: Ona Wigginton at owigginton@denverartmuseum.org or mail to: Ona J. Wigginton, Director of Development, Membership & Guest Services, Denver Art Museum, 100 W 14th Ave Pkwy,Denver, CO, 80204, Phone: 720-913-0132 direct and fax: 720-913-0001.
Applications due: January 15, 2009.
Education (EdCom) Fellowships
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Use: EdCom, along with AAM, is committed to making museums more responsive to diversity in every aspect of their work. One way that EdCom encourages museums to represent diversity among their staff is by awarding fellowship assistance to new museum education professionals of diverse cultural/ethnic backgrounds to attend the AAM annual meeting. The fellowship covers the annual meeting early registration fee, attendance at EdCom events with an EdCom mentor, and one year’s membership in EdCom.
Nomination and application forms are appendices to this newsletter, and are also available on the web site at www.edcom.org. If you have questions, please contact Cheryl Palmer at cheryl.palmer@mintmuseum.org. Nominations and applications must be postmarked Friday, January 16, 2009.
LaPlaca Cohen Public Relations and Marketing Committee (PRAM) Fellowships
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Use: To encourage professional development in our field, the Public Relations and Marketing Committee (PRAM) of AAM is offering a fellowship to defray costs of attending the 2009 annual meeting in Philadelphia, April 30 - May 4, 2009. The winning recipient will be asked to submit a brief summary of his or her experiences for the PRAM web site and newsletter, and will be required to work a shift at the PRAM information booth at the annual meeting Museum Expo.
Eligibility: The fellowship is for a newcomer to the museum field (fewer than 5 years), and applicants must work primarily in the area of marketing, public relations or (non-scholarly) publications. A complimentary PRAM membership will be provided if the recipient is not currently a committee member, and PRAM will assign an experienced member to act as a mentor to the recipient during the conference.
Amount: $1,000. This fellowship has been generously underwritten by La Placa Cohen.
Application: To apply, please submit the following materials by January 14: A letter (no more than 2 pages) discussing your current responsibilities, the value to you and your museum of your attending the annual meeting, and how critical the financial award would be to your ability to attend the conference. Include also a paragraph (100 - 150 words) on the most pressing work-related issue you are currently facing, so that an appropriate PRAM mentor can be identified; current resume; and a letter of endorsement from your director or immediate supervisor.
Contact: Send e-mail applications to PRAM Fellowship Co-Chairs Ann Wilson and Suzanne Hall:
annwilson@mail.utexas.edu AND suzanne.hall@vmfa.museum or mail to: Ann Wilson, Interim Director, Blanton Museum of Art, 1 University Station D1303, Austin, TX 78712, phone: 512-471-9191, fax: 512-471-7023 (Parcel delivery address: 23rd & San Jacinto).
Applications due: Applications must be received by January 14, 2009. Announcement of the winner will be made by January 25, in time for the early bird registration (due January 30).
Media and Technology Committee (MAT) Fellowships
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Use: The monies must be used for the 2009 AAM Annual Meeting in Philadelphia registration, hotel, associated travel and meals. It is a reimbursable stipend and receipts will be required.
Eligibility: Applicants must be a Media and Technology member of good standing and otherwise unable to secure funds for the annual meeting.
Amount: One complimentary early bird registration and travel stipend ($400).
Application: Submit a cover letter (maximum two pages) indicating how attendance to the AAM Annual Meeting will benefit you and your institution; a letter of recommendation/support from a supervisor and your resume. The application should be emailed to chair@mediaandtechnology.org.
Applications due: postmarked January 9, 2009.
2009 National Association for Museum Exhibition (NAME) Fellowships
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Use: The monies must be used for the 2009 AAM Annual Meeting in Philadelphia registration, hotel, associated travel and meals. It is a reimbursable stipend and receipts will be required.
Eligibility: NAME will fund three fellowships: two students and one New Museum Professional. The student applicants must be full-time graduate students engaged in an exhibition-related course of study in the United States. The New Museum Professional must be working in the museum field with less than five years museum work experience.
Amount: One complimentary registration, partial travel stipend ($500), and attendance at NAME events with a NAME mentor.
Application: Submit a cover letter (maximum two pages) discussing your current course of study or work experience and career goals, indicating how attendance to the AAM Annual Meeting will benefit you and your course of study or work; a letter of recommendation/support from an intern-ship supervisor or academic advisor; and a resume. The application should be mailed electronically to dsimpson@c7a.com
Contact: Douglas Simpson at dsimpson@c7a.com
Applications due: January 5, 2009.
Registrars Committee (RC-AAM) Fellowships:
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2009 Barthco International Young Professional Travel FellowshipUse: The fellowship provides financial assistance towards the cost of the AAM Annual Meeting registration fees, travel expenses, and, if not already, membership in the Registrars Committee. The recipient will be required to provide a report on one or two sessions for publication by the RC-AAM.Eligibility: Applicant must be a Museum Studies student focusing on registration or a collections management or an entry-level professional employed for a minimum of one and maximum of three years in a non-profit or for-profit setting in the United States, including museum or corporate office or as an independent professional. Selection will be based on the applicant's present abilities, potential for development, commitment to the profession, demonstrated merit, and financial need.Amount: $1,000Application: Submit a completed application form (available at www.rcaam.org); cover letter; resume; and two letters of recommendation, including one from applicant’s immediate supervisor.Contact: www.rcaam.org or Viva Fisher at gfisher@fas.harvard.eduApplications due: January 26, 2009. 2009 Margaret A. Willard Memorial - Zamprelli Fine Arts Fellowship
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Use: The fellowship must be used to attend a museum-related professional meeting or workshop, such as the American Association of Museums Annual Meeting, any regional or state museum association annual meeting, and workshops sponsored by these groups. The recipient will be required to submit a summary report of the meeting or workshop to the RC-AAM for publication.
Eligibility: Applicant must be a Museum Studies student who is focusing on registration or collections management, or recent graduate with no museum job. Applicant must never have attended the type of professional meeting or workshop for which he or she is requesting support.
Amount: $500
Application: Submit a completed application form (available at www.rcaam.org); cover letter, indicating meeting or workshop applicant plans to attend and how it will be of value; resume; and two letters of recommendation, including one from applicant’s faculty advisor or internship supervisor.
Contact: www.rcaam.org or Rose Wood at rwood@desmoinesartcenter.org
Applications due: January 26, 2009.
2009 Rock-It Cargo Mid-Level Professional Travel Fellowships
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Use: The fellowship provides financial assistance towards the cost of the AAM Annual Meeting registration fees, travel expenses, and, if not already, membership in the Registrars Committee. The recipient will be required to provide a report on one or two sessions for publication by the RC-AAM.
Eligibility: Applicant must be a collections professional who has worked for between three and ten years in a United States non-profit or for-profit setting, including a museum or corporate office, or as an independent professional. Selection will be based on the applicant’s experience with international loans and exhibitions, demonstrated merit, and financial need.
Amount: $1,500
Application: Submit a completed application form (available at www.rcaam.org); cover letter; resume; and two letters of recommendation, including one from applicant’s immediate supervisor.
Contact: www.rcaam.org or Zinnia Willits at zwillits@gibbesmuseum.org
Applications due: January 26, 2009.
2009 DeWitt Stern Group Travel Fellowships
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Use: The fellowship provides financial assistance towards the cost of the AAM Annual Meeting registration fees, travel expenses, and, if not already, membership in the Registrars Committee. Each recipient will be required to provide a report on one or two sessions for publication by the RC-AAM.
Eligibility: Applicant must be a collections professional who has worked for a minimum of ten years in a United States non-profit or for-profit setting, including a museum or corporate office, or as an independent professional. Selection will be based on the applicant’s professional goals and contributions to the field of registration, such as serving on professional committees on the local, regional, or national level; mentoring interns; organizing workshops; writing articles; teaching classes; and otherwise supporting and promoting the field of registration.
Amount: Three recipients each are awarded $1,500
Application: Submit a completed application form (available at www.rcaam.org); cover letter; resume; and two letters of recommendation, including one from applicant’s immediate supervisor.
Contact: www.rcaam.org or Zinnia Willits at zwillits@gibbesmuseum.org
Applications due: January 26, 2009.
2009 Masterpiece International Travel Fellowships
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Use: The fellowship provides financial assistance towards the cost of the AAM Annual Meeting registration fees, travel expenses, and, if not already, membership in the Registrars Committee. Recipient is required to provide a report on one or two sessions for publication by the RC-AAM.
Eligibility: Applicant must reside and be employed in a country other than the United States. Collections professionals who work in non-profit or for-profit settings, including museums, corporate offices, and as independent professionals and who have worked on at least one exhibition involving international loans are eligible to apply. Selection will be made on the basis of demonstrated merit and financial need.
Amount: $2,000
Application: Submit a completed application form (available at www.rcaam.org); cover letter; resume; and two letters of recommendation, including one from applicant’s immediate supervisor (all in English).
Contact: www.rcaam.org or Andrea Wood at AndreaWoodArtManagement@gmail.com
Applications due: January 26, 2009.
2009 Willis Travel Fellowships
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Use: The fellowship provides financial assistance towards the cost of attending a professional meeting or workshop, such as the AAM Annual Meeting, any regional or state museum association annual meeting, or workshops sponsored by these groups, and membership in the AAM, RC-AAM, and regional registrars committees or associations. The recipients will each be required to submit a summary report of the meeting or workshop to the RC-AAM for publication and must become a member, if not already, of the RC-AAM.
Eligibility: Applicant must be an entry-level professional in a United States institution employed for a minimum of one and maximum of three years. Selection will be based on applicant’s present abilities, potential for development, commitment to the profession, demonstrated merit, and financial need.
Amount: Two recipients each are awarded $1,000
Application: Submit a completed application form (available at www.rcaam.org); cover letter indicating meeting or workshop applicant plans to attend and how it will be of value; resume; and two letters of recommendation, including one from applicant’s immediate supervisor.
Contact: www.rcaam.org or Genevieve Fisher at gfisher@fas.harvard.edu.
Applications due: January 26, 2009.
Small Museum Administrators Committee (SMAC-AAM) Fellowships:
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Use: To assist in underwriting the costs (registration, travel, hotel) of attending the 2009 American Association of Museums Annual Meeting
Eligibility: Applicants must be current SMAC-AAM members and be a full-time paid or unpaid employee of a museum with a budget of $350,000 or less
Amount: Four $500 Fellowships. Only one applicant per museum per year is eligible.
Application: Submit a letter (no more than 2 pages) discussing your current responsibilities, activities (previous workshops, conferences, and professional service) and career goals. Indicate how attendance at the AAM Annual will benefit both you and your museum. Include a resume, brochure from your museum, proof of museum’s budget size and a letter of support from your institution (e.g., board president or executive director).
Contact: Janice Klein at jkhm@mindspring.com; mail applications to 1103 East Redondo Circle, Tempe AZ 85282
Applications due: postmarked January 20, 2009.
