BMI Foundation, Inc.

BMI Foundation, Inc.
320 W. 57th Street
New York, NY 10019
info@bmifoundation.org

Woody Guthrie Fellowship Program

The BMI Foundation, Inc. in cooperation with the Woody Guthrie Foundation offers short-term fellowships to support scholarly use of the Woody Guthrie Archives Research Collection.

A limited number of fellowships will be selected in early 2010 with a value of up to $2,500 (US dollars) per recipient to help defray travel to New York City and residence expenses for the duration of the fellowship. The length of the fellowship will depend on the applicant's research proposal, but is normally limited from one to six months.

The next fellowship deadline is January 2, 2010 for projects beginning in 2010.

For more information about the Woody Guthrie Archives mission, purposes, or holdings and recent acquisitions, please visit: woodyguthrie.org

The Woody Guthrie Fellowship program invites applicants who are pursuing research topics or themes related to Woody Guthrie which explore his creative work and contribution to American music and culture. Disciplines may include, but are not limited to:

• American Musicology
• Historical Musicology
• Ethnomusicology
• Cultural Studies, Social Sciences, Humanities
• American History

Funding Priorities

1. Research proposals should indicate the work’s contribution to Guthrie scholarship.
2. Research proposals should give promise of deliverable and publishable results.

Evaluation Process

After applications have been reviewed, additional supporting materials (including recordings, recommendations or letters of support, and samples of previous work) may be requested for further consideration and evaluation.

Prior to final selection, an advisory panel composed of prominent Guthrie Foundation advisory board members from musical and scholarly communities will convene for a review of selected applications.

Selection criteria will include:

1. Relevance and value of the project to the Foundation's mission and purposes;
2. Quality of the project;
3. Evidence of the applicant's potential, motivation, and ability to carry out the project successfully;
4. Evidence of the applicant's prior record of achievement in the field covered by the project.

The Curator of the Woody Guthrie Archives will make the final selection recommendations to the Guthrie Foundation Board of Directors. Fellowships will be awarded on an objective and non-discriminatory basis.

Application Process

To apply for a Fellowship, please submit the following:

1. An application cover sheet
2. A curriculum vitae of no more than three pages.
3. A concise description (no more than two double-spaced pages) of your proposed research project and its significance for scholarship. In this narrative, clearly indicate the specific research materials at the Woody Guthrie Archives you intend to consult; note the current status of the project; and, outline your plans and schedule for completing the project and submitting the work for publication or submission as a dissertation.
4. A list of sources, with amounts and dates, of any other funding (past, present, or future) awarded for your present project. Also, please list any other grants for which you may presently be applying.

Applicants are encouraged to direct questions about their proposal prior to submitting application materials to: fellowship@woodyguthrie.org

Applications should be postmarked no later the January 2, 2010 and mailed to:

BMI Foundation, Inc.
Woody Guthrie Fellowship
320 W. 57th Street
New York, NY 10019

Past Recipients