Humanities Cultural Programme - Visiting Fellowships
The current submission deadline is 29 October 2021. Please note: departmental approval is required by the deadline - submissions should be made in time for departments to review and approve applications in advance of the deadline. Calls open termly. Details of future deadlines are:
Michaelmas Term 2021 deadline: 29 October 2021
Further deadlines will be announced in due course.
Further Particulars:
Indicative Costs Guidance Documents:
The Humanities Cultural Progamme
Launched in 2019, the Humanities Cultural Programme (HCP) includes cultural events and public engagement activities over the years prior to the opening of the new Stephen A. Schwarzman Centre and is part of the public cultural and community programme in Oxford Humanities.
In consultation with researchers, students, and staff, and in partnership with external cultural organisations, experts, and consultants, the aims of the cultural programme are:
- to create an exciting, thought-provoking, and enjoyable series of events featuring outstanding artists, writers, and thinkers, all powered by University of Oxford’s world-leading research and unique collections;
- to increase our social impact and reaffirm the value of the humanities to our common future;
- and to share and foster the insights and richness of the humanities and engage new audiences and participants of all ages.
The Humanities Cultural Programme is created through collaboration across all the Humanities Faculties and with local, national and international partners, including organisations as part of GLAM (Gardens Libraries and Museums).
What does Visiting Fellowship Funding cover and who can apply?
The Humanities Cultural Programme Visiting Fellowship scheme is set up to support Oxford Researchers in hosting Visiting Fellows in Oxford. Building on TORCH’s existing schemes of visiting fellowship schemes, this new stream is specifically for Visiting Fellows who are artists, writers, arts practitioners, and performers of any kind. Fellows are hosted by a University of Oxford postholder who must hold a contract for the whole period covered by their application.
How long do Visiting Fellowships last, when can they take place, and what activities should they include?
Visiting Fellows can hold the association for up to 1 calendar year, and fellows must be in Oxford for part of that year to help curate and deliver the associated activities. Fellowships can be proposed to take place between 2020 and 2024.
Each Fellowship must include three (or more) events/activities planned with and delivered by the fellow – these can be a mix of public events and activities tailored to more specific audiences (including workshops or masterclasses with students, local theatres, other practitioners, etc.). Applications must include at least one public event.
What level of funding and support is available?
Each HCP Visiting Fellowship includes funding of £5k for a travel bursary for the Fellow, and up to £5k to cover events and related activities, and accommodation, and other associated costs.
How are applications reviewed?
The University of Oxford host must make the Visiting Fellowship application and fellows are selected from the gathered field. Applications are reviewed by the Humanities Cultural Programme Steering Group, in accordance with the Humanities and University funding regulations and procedures. The group reviews applications against the four key areas given below:
- Context and rationale for the proposed fellow. Applications should clearly explain how the fellowship furthers one or all of the aims of the cultural programme as given above. Applications should discuss how the proposed fellowship fits within, extends, or disrupts, the existing research landscape in Oxford Humanities or the University more broadly.
- Proposed events and activities. Activities should aim to reach broad targeted audiences/participants and applications should include clear audience engagement strategies. Applicants should consider who specifically the proposed activity is for and how to reach and engage those specific audiences. A general public audience is too broad. Applications should highlight where new creative outputs are proposed and give details, alongside information about the social, cultural, community, and academic benefits of fellowships for the fellow, audiences, participants, and the University.
- Lasting legacy and fit with the Humanities Cultural Programme, TORCH, GLAM, and cultural partners. Applicants are advised to describe the proposed output of any project as well as details of any possible future legacies and opportunities for further collaboration and development. Applicants should consider how proposed Visiting Fellowship complements or challenges existing projects within the Humanities Cultural Programme or TORCH. Applciations should also consider the connections elsewhere in the University, including GLAM (Gardens Libraries and Museums), outside of the University, and be open to co-hosting with an external cultural partner where relevant.
- Deliverability and budgeting. Applications should include detailed and realistic timelines for activity. Any substantial risks to activity/timelines should be considered and mitigations supplied where possible. Budgets should be well considered and achievable within the University’s financial guidelines. The HCP team (hcp@torch.ox.ac.uk), can review budgets and provide indications of costs to include and estimations of costs in advance of the submission of applications. The payment of professional fees and equipment costs are particularly complex – applicants whose budgets include professional fees/equipment are required to contact the HCP team for advice before submitting an application. Applications should note whether any other related internal/external funding exists and give details of the source and proposed use of that funding.
Applicants are strongly advised to read the Further Particulars and Indicative Costs Guidance Documents for this funding call which are available above.
How are applications submitted?
Applications are submitted via IRAMS. Applications must be submitted by the University of Oxford host.
In the Case for Support form, the Oxford Humanities academic should outline why they have selected the proposed fellow and present the mutual benefits of the proposed fellowship for Visiting Fellow and the Oxford community inside of and outside of the University. Applications should include the Visiting Fellow’s C.V. and an outline of their plans during the Visiting Fellowship.
Applications are accepted termly. The deadlines for each call are given above – the deadline for applications is 5pm. Only complete applications that are received by the deadline will be reviewed.
When should I expect details of the outcome of my application?
Notifications of awards will be given within 4 weeks of deadline closing.
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