https://www.bl.uk/eccles-centre/fellowships-and-awards/fellowships
Deadline: 16 December 2022
These awards are offered to help support individuals wishing to visit London to use the British Library’s collections relating to the Americas (North America, the Caribbean, Central America, South America).
Who are the Eccles Centre Visiting Fellowships for?
We are keen to hear from all kinds of serious researchers who have the potential to produce something new, exciting, challenging and different as a result of their research into the British Library’s Americas collections. As well as applicants from academic backgrounds working on scholarly research, we also welcome independent researchers, creative practitioners working on artistic and cultural projects, and journalists, educators and scientists working on public policy problems. This means that research towards a doctoral degree, an academic article, a poetry collection, a policy paper, a classroom resource, a theatre production, a body of painting or sculpture, a new fashion collection…all these kinds of projects and more will be considered.
Applicants must be over 18 years of age but can be based anywhere in the world.
What can I research as part of the Eccles Centre Visiting Fellowship programme?
There are four research themes that we are particularly excited for researchers to explore through our collections.
- Sounds and music of the Americas
- Americans beyond the Americas
- American environments
- Religion and spiritualty in the Americas
Researchers are strongly encouraged to apply with projects that align with one of these themes. If you need to use the British Library’s Americas collections for an exciting and original project that falls outside the scope of these themes you may apply as a ‘wildcard’.
You can find out more about the research themes in this blog.
How much are the Fellowships, and how long do they last?
Applicants may apply for up to the following amounts, depending on where they are based:
- The UK (within the M25) – £1,000
- The UK (outside the M25) – £2,000
- Europe (excluding the UK) – £2,500
- Rest of World – £3,000
It is expected that this award will support around a month’s work in the Library, either taken continuously, or as a number of smaller trips. The 2023 awards will last for 18 months, for those in receipt of a 2023 Fellowship, the research trip(s) will need to take place between 1 April 2023 and must be completed by 30 September 2024.How do I apply?
Applications for the 2023 competition can be submitted from Friday 8 October. We strongly encourage all potential applicants to read our Notes for Applicants document before submitting an application. All submissions must be made via our digital form. The deadline for receipt of applications is 5pm GMT on Friday 16 December 2022.
All applicants are invited to submit a separate Equality, Diversity and Inclusion form that will be stored separately from your main application form, and which will be completely anonymous with no identifying information about you.
If you have any questions, please contact us at eccles-centre@bl.uk.
Further information
The British Library’s main catalogue, Explore, as well as smaller, specialist catalogues for archives and manuscripts, sound recording and photographs, can be found at the Library’s homepage, www.bl.uk. The Eccles Centre does not house a collection separate to that of the British Library, and the bibliographies on the Eccles Centre webpages provide a snapshot of some of the items in the British Library collection.
Enquiries regarding the British Library’s North American holdings can be directed in the first instance to the Eccles Centre or the Library’s Reference Enquiry Team.
Contact Info:
Dr Philip Abraham, Visiting Fellowship Manager
The Eccles Centre for American Studies at the British Library
Contact Email: eccles-centre@bl.uk