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.
- Proposed topics should focus on objects made or used in an American context, defined as North, Central, and South America and the Caribbean.
- Proposals from authors located outside of the United States will be accepted.
- The Trust encourages projects that advance diversity in the study of American decorative arts and material culture.
- Publications are expected to contain original research which yields information of high scholarly value.
- Preference will be given to early career professionals.
- We will accept applications from authors seeking to publish their first book-length project based upon a dissertation or other significant scholarly work. We will also accept applications from academic presses on behalf of authors currently under contract.
- We intend to support in-print as well as digital publications, with an expectation that some portion of the content of in-print books will have some level of digital accessibility.
- Proposals can request funding up to $5,000. Publication costs tied to the quantity and size of images to be included, the number of color versus black-and-white illustrations, as well as obtaining permission and reproduction rights are permitted. Monies also can be used toward the digitization of an in-print publication.
- All funding will be directed to the publisher or the author upon receipt of invoices for incurred expenses.
- Publications do not need to be under contract at the time of application, but preference will be given to authors who have a contract in hand or a manuscript under review.
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.
Excited about thus opportunity? Apply here