1. Office of the Dean
  2. Faculty and Staff Resources
  3. SFA Research Funding
  4. Anti-racism Research Grant

Anti-racism Research Grant

Anti-racism Research Grant 

In response to the continuing crisis and international debate surrounding the legacy and persistence of systemic racism across the globe, in Fall 2020 the School of Fine Arts introduced a new initiative to support research/creative activity that contributes to this debate and to efforts to combat racism in all its forms. We are pleased to be able to offer this program again in the current academic year. The Anti-racism Research Grant program, made possible with funds provided by the OVPR, will provide a total of $25,000 of support in this year’s competition.

Purpose and Scope

The purpose of the program is to raise awareness and foster understanding of systemic racism, and to support efforts to create a just, diverse, and fully inclusive society at all levels, from the local to the global. We do not wish to define in narrow terms the kinds of research and creative activity that may advance these goals. Nevertheless, the emphasis should be on the present situation and moving forward from this: while recognizing the importance of understanding racism across history, projects with a substantial historical element must demonstrate the relevance of this to current concerns and future developments.

Projects funded by this grant may result in exhibitions, performances, publications, symposia, films, video games, or other research outcomes as appropriate (virtual dissemination is acceptable and will likely be necessary in many instances given the current circumstances.) Proposals may involve the performing and exhibiting venues of the SFA, but in all instances a faculty member must oversee the project as PI (or several faculty as Co-PIs). More broadly, we welcome collaborations between different departments in SFA, with units in other UConn schools, and with external institutions. (In the case of potential external partners please consult first with the Associate Dean to ascertain that any proposed arrangements are compliant with university policies.) We also encourage proposals that identify specific external grant opportunities that may arise from this initial project. While this grant is not intended primarily to fund course development or other instructional innovations, exceptions may be considered where there is also a well-defined research or creative outcome that can be disseminated to the wider profession and is subject to some level of peer review (e.g. a conference presentation, exhibition, etc.)

Proposals may be submitted for awards of between $10,000 and $25,000. The grant period may begin as early as January 1, 2023; it should not normally extend beyond December 31, 2023, although exceptions will be considered.

Eligibility & Budget Exclusions*

All tenured/tenure-track and in-residence faculty of the School of Fine Arts are eligible to apply. (We are unfortunately unable to accept proposals from Emeritus faculty.)

Eligible faculty may only participate as PI or Co-PI in one proposal per year submitted to this competition.  Investigators may serve as collaborator on multiple projects.

Course buyouts and summer stipends may not be included as part of applications for this grant.

Please note that we are not able to fund projects that include the commissioning of musical compositions, art work, or other creative products the rights to which are retained by an external individual or entity.

Application Deadline

5.00 p.m., Monday, November 14, 2022.

Submission & Review Process:

Completed application package should be submitted as a PDF attachment via e-mail to Arielle Hill-Moses (arielle.hill-moses@uconn.edu), Executive Assistant to the Dean, with the subject line ‘SFA Anti-racism Research Grant 2022-2023 application’.

Proposals will be reviewed by the Dean and Department Heads of the School of Fine Arts. We hope to be able to notify award recipients by Friday, December 9.

General Instructions and Proposal Format:

Proposals should use a 12-pt font, 1” margins, and double spacing. Please complete all sections below; form may be adapted as necessary if multiple PIs are involved. Budget preparation, including determination of allowable items except as excluded above, should follow the OVPR REP guidelines: https://ovpr.uconn.edu/services/research-development/rep-storrs/ Click on ‘Budget Preparation’ (use of the Excel budget spreadsheet is optional for this grant).

Proposal format: please use proposal template on this page.