Opportunity | Conference and Research Support Grants Now Available for 2021!

The ITP would like to share our new and up-dated conference and research grants offer with you – If you have a place at a conference or a research proposal that needs additional financial support, we might be able to help you. In response to fellows seeking support to attend conferences and carry out research, the ITP will be offering financial assistance to attend and participate in conferences and to conduct research which develop professional skills in the museum and heritage sector.

This opportunity follows the recent increase in fellows requesting financial support to attend conferences or carry out research that they have successfully applied for but have not received fully funded positions. In the past, the ITP has supported fellows from Egypt, India, Uganda and Armenia to attend or speak at conferences in the UK and we would like to extend this offer to the entire network through open application, for international conferences and professional research.

Each fellow can apply for up to 60% of the costs incurred by attending the conference or carrying out their research – up to a maximum of £1000. A minimum of 40% of costs must come from another source. Costs may include conference fees, research related expenses and travel, visa application process costs, travel and accommodation related to the research or conference.

Background

The British Museum’s International Training Programme (ITP) has, since 2006, sought to provide opportunities for shared learning, discussion and collaboration between museum and heritage professionals from across the globe. To date, our growing global network totals 299 fellows from 48 countries and offering opportunities for professional and personal development are a key aspect of the ITP.   

Fellows have previously received support from the International Training Programme in order to attend and participate in or deliver conferences and workshops. Marwa A. Bdr El Din, Head of the Registration, Collection Management and Documentation Department at the Egyptian Museum, Cairo (Egypt, ITP Fellow 2012) was able to attend the 20th Current Research in Egyptology (CRE) symposium 2019 at Alcala University, Spain. While Hayk Mkrtchyan, Assistant to the Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport and Director of the Association of Museum Workers and Friends (Armenia, ITP Fellow 2014 and Senior Fellow 2017), organised a workshop in Yerevan focussing on all aspects of leadership and management in museums.  ITP grants supported Janet Vitmayer, former Chief Executive, Horniman Museum and Gardens and Iain Watson, Director, Tyne & Wear Archives and Museums to travel to Armenia to lead sessions.

Your Application

Successful fellows will be able to demonstrate the relevance of attending a conference or carrying out research, to their professional needs and development. The ITP team would also like to see how an applicant’s conference attendance or proposed research draws on experiences from the ITP summer programme and legacy work.

This opportunity will be granted to fellows who have a proven track record (with the ITP, in their personal or professional lives) of good time management and to those who are organised and understand the importance of regular communication and report writing to the ITP team and ITP funders. In terms of a research grant application, experience of writing and research related interest and experience is also desirable.

Please only apply if you are comfortable arranging and booking your own accommodation and travel, researching the type of visa needed for your travel and filling in the application independently. This is a grant to support successful applicants financially, and while we always offer support and advice, on this occasion we cannot offer to manage your logistical arrangements.

Expectations

Conference/research Grants
Pre conference or research related activity/travel, successful fellows will:

• Email, at agreed stages, to update the ITP team on visa application deadlines and accommodation and travel bookings
• Find out if the conference is in an ITP country and whether other ITP fellows are attending the conference and for research related trips, find out if this is in an ITP country. If yes, organise to meet with available members of the network.

At conference/during research related activity/travel, successful fellows will:

• provide the ITP team with regular updates on days of travel and departure
• meet with other ITP fellows.
• consider how you will share the information from the conference or research period with the ITP network.

Post conference/following initial research stages:

Within 2 weeks of return from conference or after initial research stage, fellows will have emailed the ITP team with:

• a blog and images to share with the ITP network featuring the conference or early research findings and progress.

Within 4 weeks of return from conference or completion of research fellows will have emailed the ITP team with:

Within 4 weeks of return from conference or completion of research fellows will have emailed the ITP team with

• A breakdown of expenditure and receipts for spent ITP funds (using an ITP template).
• Reimbursement for any unexpected leftover ITP funds.
• A report (using an ITP template) to demonstrate what you learnt and how you benefitted from the conference or research, to be shared with the rest of the network through the ITP blog.
• Resources from the conference or research to share with the network.

*templates will be provided to support the expected modes of communication and reporting.

Please ensure you have the permission of your institution/employer to attend the conference or carry out the research you are requesting financial support for.

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 global pandemic, the grant recipient and the ITP team will need to ensure that any local or international travel is signed off by the appropriate health and safety and management bodies, in line with current government guidelines and changing travel and workplace restrictions.

If you would like to apply, please complete the relevant form, attached in the link below and return it to itp@britishmuseum.org. The offer for 2021 will stay open until the end of the year as long as our funds are available.

Conference support grant: application form

Research support grant: application form