Fellowship - How to apply

Through an international competition, the Black Metropolis Research Consortium offers one-month residential fellowships in the City of Chicago for its Summer Short-term Fellowship Program. Since 2009, the Program has engaged scholars, artists, writers, and public historians to formulate new historical narratives of the Black experience. The new, original research, music, and art developed through this program are significant as they illuminate the national and international importance of Chicago's African American community to the broader history of Black America.

The purpose of the Summer Short-term Research Fellowship is:

• To create research opportunities for scholars and artists to conduct primary research in Chicago/Illinois-based BMRC archival repositories;
• To generate new knowledge in the field of African American history;
• To engage the local Chicago community in the history of the city.

Each Fellowship consists of one month of summer support. Your selected four weeks must be consecutive and fall between June and August 2025. The program manager must approve the selected dates. A required online orientation will be held in late April or early May 2025.

NOTE: Fellowships may not be deferred.

The Black Metropolis Research Consortium (BMRC) invites applications for the 2025 Summer Short-term Fellowship Program. Scholars, researchers, and artists are eligible for the Fellowship based on their research interests and need for access to Black collections within BMRC Member Institutions.

• While submissions from applicants outside of metropolitan Chicago will be given priority, all eligible applicants are encouraged to apply.
  
• Citizens or permanent residents from any country
  Note: Applicants from countries outside the United States must hold a valid passport and be able to obtain a J-1 visa even if they are currently in the United States. The J-1 visa is for educational and cultural exchange programs designated by the Department of State.
  
• English language proficiency.

The following rules apply regarding the timeframe for a fellows' residency in Chicago.

• The timeframe for the one month residency must be June - August of 2025
• Proposed dates and alternative dates must be provided within the application.
• Final dates will be reviewed by the program manager, and discussed with selected fellows before approval is granted. If there are any complications or disagreement regarding the fellows; selected dates, the BMRC reserves the right to rescind the offer.

The following funding policy will apply to selected Summer Short-term fellows beginning in the summer of 2025.

• Awardees whose primary residence is in the Chicago-Metro area will receive a $2,500 stipend to fund a one-month fellowship
  
• Awardees whose primary residence is outside of the Chicago-Metro area will receive a $4,000 stipend to fund a one-month fellowship.
  
• Awardees whose primary residence is outside of the USA, will receive a $5,000 stipend to fund a one-month fellowship.

NOTE: Selected applicants will submit a W-9 form (or the W8ben) as proof of their primary residency and to secure funding from the BMRC/University of Chicago.

BMRC Summer Short-Term Fellows must adhere to the following to receive their full stipend:

1. Diligently pursue active research on the topic outlined in their application project description/proposal.
   
2. Participate in opening events (e.g., a Welcome Breakfast/Luncheon and one online Orientation). Depending on the overlap of Fellows' research dates, other optional events may allow Fellows to meet each other, BMRC member archivists, and other BMRC stakeholders.
   
3. Present a final public presentation (approximately 20-25 minutes) of their research activities by the close of the summer program or another date designated by the Program Manager in the early fall. BMRC Staff will work with fellows to schedule their presentations and confirm dates once their selection as a Fellow is confirmed
   
4. Upon completion of the Fellowship, respond to the BMRC Fellows Survey. The Program Manager/Archivist will provide information and links. Fellows are expected to respond during or immediately after finishing their residential month in Chicago.
   
5. Deposit an “artifact” from their summer research with the BMRC to preserve and share their research progress and outcomes.**
   
6. Provide the BMRC with an “end of fellowship” summary report (no more than 1000 words) that details the archives visited, research findings, and plans regarding the research topic. Incorporating some of your responses to the BMRC Fellowship survey is encouraged but not required.

**An artifact may be a copy of your final slide presentation/discussion, a YouTube video of an original vocal, instrumental, or choreographed dance/movement recording, or an original art piece or collection of pieces. A deposited slide presentation, performance recording, or exhibition must be organized and coordinated with the program manager as a BMRC fellow event.

The BMRC does NOT provide housing but will provide a few recommendations for those selected for the fellowship.

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS:

General Information: Must be filled in within the online Submittable application form

1. CV:

• Please include your name, contact information, and institutional affiliation, if applicable.
• CVs must be uploaded within submittable.com system in the designated section of the application

1. RESEARCH PROJECT PROPOSAL
   
   

FORMAT of DOCUMENT - Your proposal must follow the following format

• 1500-1800 words, single spaced
• Font: Arial
• Font Size: 12 pt
• Paper Type: 8.5 x 11 (Letter)
• Preferred formats: MSWord and PDF
• Margins in MSWord must be set to NORMAL (1 inch for top, bottom, left and right)
  If converted from MSWord to PDF, no changes are needed.

STRUCTURE of PROPOSAL:

• section 1 - BACKGROUND/INTRODUCTION
• section 2 - RESEARCH PROJECT PROPOSAL
• section 3 - SIGNIFICANCE OF PROJECT
• section 4 - RESEARCH PLAN A brief narrative along with an outline your research plan and dates of proposed research. Including a table can be helpful but is not required.
• NOTE: All sections of the research project proposal must be submitted as one document within the submittable.com system in the designated section of the application

CONTENT of PROPOSAL: The following recommendations provide guidance regarding the
expectations of our jurors when reviewing applicant proposals.

• Provide a compelling narrative of your interest in African American history as well as the title and description of your proposed research topic
• Detail how the proposed research topic will generate new perspectives or contribute to knowledge of the black experience in Chicagoland
• Discuss the significance/impact of the project to the current and prior published scholarly research
• Share how your research project fits within the purpose of the Summer Short-Term Fellowship program
• Please share which specific collections from your list are most vital to your project.
• NOTE: The jurors will read your list of BMRC institutions and the collections you intend to review.
• To become familiar with the BMRC collections, please visit the BMRC ARCHIVAL PORTAL and also review the BMRC MEMBER INSTITUTIONS LIST

REFERENCES:

• Two references are REQUIRED.
• A third reference is optional, but encouraged in the event that one person is not timely or fails to respond.
• All reference letters must be submitted by the reference deadline, January 31 at 11:59 PM, using the designated section of the fellowship application form within submittable.com.
  
  
• Those providing a reference should be familiar with your qualifications for the proposed project and speak to your research skills, experience, knowledge of African American history, and capacity to carry out the proposed project. The applicant must ensure their references submit letters via the Submittable online system by the reference deadline.
• In providing their email address, your designated references will receive a link to upload their reference letter to the Submittable system.
• Notify everyone you name as a reference so they will look for the email notification.

SUPPORTING MATERIALS:

• ACCEPTABLE FILE TYPES: Please refer to the SUPPORTING MATERIALS section of the online application.
  
• SAMPLES of YOUR WORK (a scholarly paper, book chapter, video, photography, or other artistic work).
  Please review our Sample Work Guidelines in the SUPPORT MATERIALS section of the online application before accessing the Submittable online application to become familiar with size limits and other specifics regarding uploaded items.
  
• All submitted work samples (media and files) should have been completed within the past four (4) years. A note of explanation should accompany any work sample completed outside of this time frame.
  
• Any work done with a collaborator must be noted. Please describe your role with respect to the work. Please submit samples of critical reviews of your work, if available.
  
• Please review the description of varied acceptable supporting materials in the "SUPPORT MATERIALS" section of the application.
  
• NOTE: All supporting materials (media and files) must be uploaded within the submittable.com application system in accordance with the directions provided in the SUPPORT MATERIALS section of the application.

Please submit your complete application by 11:59 PM on Monday, January 27, 2025.

• Referees are encouraged to provide a reference letter as soon as possible for earliest review of your application package. However, the reference deadline January 31, 2025.
  
• Applications and reference letters must use submitable.com and will not otherwise be accepted. (Please refer to the reference section of the online application form for more information.)

If you have any questions please review the FELLOWSHIP OVERVIEW & HOW TO APPLY page on our website. If you need further clarification, you may email the BMRC program manager, Allison Sutton at amsutton@uchicago.edu.