The Decorative Arts Trust established a new publishing grant program in December 2023, the latest expansion of the organization’s efforts to invigorate scholarship and broaden appreciation of material culture. The endeavor is structured to support publications tackling the broad context of the Americas and to encourage projects that advance diversity in the study of American decorative arts and material culture. The program will also respond to the changing needs of the field and will consider publishing efforts in both the print and digital sectors. The Trust receives dozens of requests for funding for publishing related projects each year and recognizes the strong demand for and limited supply of resources focused on publishing in the art community. This new venture establishes a commitment to sharing important art historical research as broadly as possible. An advisory committee consisting of museum professionals and academics with broad experience in publishing stewards the program and oversees the selection of grant recipients.The Trust will allocate funding to two separate grant lines within the publishing program, described below. The deadline to submit proposals is March 31, 2025.Learn more in this interview with Brock Jobe and Margaret Pritchard from Antiques and The Arts Weekly
Publishing Grants for First-Time Authors of Book-Length Publications
This program is focused specifically to support an author’s first book-length publication (based on a completed dissertation, thesis, or other scholarly research) that increases the awareness and appreciation of important areas of material culture.
Guidelines:
We use the terms decorative arts and material culture in relation to three-dimensional objects but will also consider proposals that focus on decorative painting, prints, maps, and wallpaper as well as those that analyze the interiors for which objects were designed or in which they were placed. check out more details on guidelines here
The online application form will ask for:
- University, department, and date degree conferred
- Title of the publication
- Amount requested
- Description of the digital access points to the publication or whether the publication will be fully digital
- Description of the book specs (if applicable) including size, cover type, word, image, and page count
- Publication timetable with estimated publication date; Estimated print run (if applicable)
- Publisher (if known)
- Name, email, phone number, and mailing address of the primary contact at the publisher
- Description of any allied programming planned in conjunction with the publication (e.g. lectures, conferences)
- List other sources of funding either committed or applied for
- Name, email, and phone number for the two academic advisors or colleagues who will each provide a separate confidential letter of reference for the publication’s importance by the March 31 application deadline
After completing the online application form, we request that you email the following items as a combined PDF attachment to grants@decorativeartstrust.org:
- Description of the publication and its significance to decorative arts and material culture studies (1,000 words)
- Brief CV highlighting professional and academic achievements (e.g. publications, awards, conference papers)
- Table of contents, Introduction, and one or two sample chapters
- Detailed budget for the publication
- Proposed list of illustrations as well as images of 3-4 key objects to be included in the publication
Grant applications must be submitted no later than March 31 each year. Successful applicants will be notified prior to June 30. If selected, we will require written reports at the conclusion of the publication project as well as additional deliverables as stipulated in the grant agreement approved by the author