BFE Fieldwork Grants
The British Forum for Ethnomusicology (BFE) is pleased to announce the opening of the 2021 Fieldwork Grants scheme.
Purpose of the Grants
The BFE Fieldwork Grants are intended to support doctoral candidates conducting ethnomusicological field research in the UK and abroad through making a contribution towards the costs of travel and subsistence. Up to a maximum of 3 grants collectively totalling up to £1500 will be awarded for the 2021 scheme.
Eligibility
The BFE Fieldwork Grants scheme is open to all students enrolled on a PhD programme at a university in the UK who are conducting ethnomusicological research. Please note that applicants must have renewed their student membership for 2020 in order to be eligible to apply. If you have not renewed your membership yet then please do so on the BFE website. Only one application per person is permitted and fieldwork must start during 2021.
Criteria
The criteria of evaluation are: the quality, originality and significance of the research and its potential contribution to ethnomusicological knowledge, theory and debate; the feasibility and importance of the fieldwork for achieving the stated research aims and outcomes; the need of the applicant, i.e. the likelihood of the applicant being unable to obtain fieldwork funding from other sources. There is no preference for particular geographical areas or topics.
Application Procedure
Applications must be made online through the BFE website. To make an application, go to BFE Fieldwork Grants Scheme page on the BFE website. There you will find a link to the BFE Fieldwork Grant Application Form where you will need to upload the following materials:
1) A letter addressing the grant criteria. The letter should also provide a clear indication of: the fieldwork schedule; the expected costs; the amount of funding requested from the BFE scheme; and other sources of research funding received and/or applied for. The letter must not exceed 2 pages in length.
2) A short CV, not exceeding 1 page in length.
3) A short reference letter, not exceeding 1 page in length, in support of the application from the applicant’s PhD supervisor. Supervisors may wish to send their reference letter by email directly to the Chair at chair@bfe.org.uk before the deadline (i.e. by midnight on Monday 14th December 2020).
Please note that in order to access the online BFE Fieldwork Grant Application Form you must have renewed your membership for 2020 and be logged-in to your account on the BFE website. If you have any difficulties with the online submission process, please email Morgan Davies at admin@bfe.org.uk.
Application Deadline and Decision Notification
Applications must be submitted by midnight on Monday 14th December 2020. Applications will be evaluated by a BFE panel and applicants will be informed of the outcome of the awards by Monday 11th January 2021. The decision of the panel is final, and the BFE regrets that it is unable to provide feedback on applications and decisions made by the panel.
Payment of Grants for Successful Applications
Successful applicants must liaise with the BFE Treasurer (treasurer@bfe.org.uk) before grants are disbursed. Payment will be made via bank transfer.
Post-Award Reports
Successful applicants are requested to submit a short fieldwork report – up to 500 words in length, accompanied by other media materials if appropriate – within 3 months after the completion of the fieldwork. Fieldwork reports are likely to be made public on the BFE website, social media etc. Grant awardees may also be requested to do a short presentation about their fieldwork at BFE meetings such as the AGM. Any publications resulting from the fieldwork should acknowledge receipt of a BFE Fieldwork Grant.
Simon McKerrell
Chair, BFE
Simon McKerrell 