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ARNOVA / Rockefeller Archive Center Workshops
on the
History and Practice of Philanthropy
May 16-20, 2010
Invitation for Proposals
The Rockefeller Archive Center (RAC) and the Association for Research on Nonprofit Organizations and Voluntary Action (ARNOVA) invite proposals for the first of what we envision as a multi-year series of research workshops. We will bring a select group of scholars to the Archive Center in Sleepy Hollow, New York, who will have an opportunity to explore the Center's rich philanthropic collections, to discuss research projects with scholars from diverse disciplines, and to engage in conversation with practitioners working in foundations and nonprofit organizations.
The first of the workshops will meet from May 16-20, 2010. It will be on "Philanthropy's Role in Arts and Culture." In future years, we will examine other fields where philanthropy has made a difference. Each year we will assemble scholars from a variety of disciplines and at various stages of their career. The workshops will be led by one or two senior scholars who have done leading work in the particular issue area and who are knowledgeable about the Archive Center's collections. Members of the archival staff will work with participants prior to and during the workshop to help identify relevant materials in the archives.
Transportation to and from the Archive Center will be reimbursed. All meals and lodging will be covered during the course of the workshop.
The Opportunities for 2010
This year's workshop, "Philanthropy's Role in Arts and Culture," will be of interest to scholars working on a wide range of topics: international cultural exchange, arts education, the media (especially public television and children's programs), cultural preservation, the arts and community development, support for individual artists, cultural policy, art collecting, and the work of specific cultural organizations, among other subjects.
The Rockefeller Archive Center's holdings include the records of foundations that have played important roles in supporting arts and cultural initiatives as well as documents from major cultural organizations. The cultural programs of the Rockefeller Foundation and Rockefeller Brothers Fund are particularly rich. The Foundation's arts and humanities program began after World War I (taking on even older projects begun by the General Education Board). Its work touches on the history of theater, orchestral music, literature, and preservation, among many other subjects. The Rockefeller Brothers Fund records offer insights into cultural policy, international exchanges, and many New York-based cultural organizations. The Rockefeller Family materials include a "cultural interests" series with materials on Colonial Williamsburg, The Cloisters, Lincoln
Center, the Museum of Modern Art, National Parks, libraries, radio, film and television. The Archive Center's holdings go well beyond Rockefeller-related philanthropy. The Markle Foundation program in communications has important materials on public television, including Children's Television Workshop. The Commonwealth Fund collection ranges across major institutions involved with libraries and scholarship in the humanities. Among other institutions, the Center also holds the records of the Asia Society and Asian Cultural Council.
Application and Selection Process
The application and instructions are available from the link below.
The core of the application is the description of the research project, a description that should not exceed 1000 words. We strongly encourage applicants to consult the Archive Center website and its guide to collections in order to make preliminary identification of relevant collections in the archives. The application should address the significance of the topic, how a period of research in the archives will be helpful, and how participation in the workshop will be of value.
While some applicants might be familiar with the Archive Center and have research already underway, those who do not should make arrangements to confer by email with members of the archival staff about particular collections, the materials that might be relevant to their project, and whether those materials are processed and available for research. The initial query to the archival staff should be sent to ResearchEd@rockarch.org.
The deadline for submitting proposals is March 12, 2010. The proposals will be reviewed by the workshop leaders and members of the Archive Center staff, with decisions expected by early April.
Researchers and scholars from all fields and backgrounds are welcome to apply. While all the participants will be working on some aspect of the broadly defined topic of philanthropy and its role in arts and culture, we envision a workshop that will be enriched by the diverse disciplinary perspectives, insights and experiences of the participants.
Application and instructions: http://rockarch.org/workshops/arnova-rac2010/2010app.doc
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