Fellowships for diverse museum professionals are available to AAM members. For the purpose of these fellowships, diversity includes but is not limited to ethnicity, gender, national origin, disability, age, religion, and/or sexual orientation.
Applicants must be paid, full-time employees of a museum or full-time students engaged in a museum-related course of study in the United States or Puerto Rico. Fellowships include complimentary registration and a partial travel stipend. All qualified members are encouraged to apply.
Preference in allocating funds will be given to applicants who have not received a Diversity Fellowship to an AAM seminar or Annual Meeting in the previous year and/or who are residents of Cleveland, Ohio, the County of Los Angeles, California, or the state of Maryland.
Funds for Diversity Fellowships have been generously provided in part by the Robert P. Bergman Memorial Fellowship fund, the County of Los Angeles Fellowship Fund, and the State of Maryland Fellowship Fund.
The application for 2007 is now available for download in pdf format.
Diversity Fellowship Requirements
Applicants must meet each of the following requirements in order to be considered:
- Be a current AAM individual member at the time of the application and through the duration of the program. You may submit a membership application and required dues with your fellowship application.
- Be a paid, full-time employee of a museum or full-time student engaged in a museum-related course of study in the United States or Puerto Rico. (Students should include a copy of their valid ID with their application.)
- Complete and submit an application form, two letters of reference, an essay, biography, and an estimated budget.
Award recipients will be expected to:
- Attend the entire program. For the Annual Meeting, fellowship recipients are required to attend several specific diversity functions, which will be outlined in the award letter.
- Write an essay describing how you will apply what you learned in your own institution. This essay may be used in future AAM publications.
- Follow appropriate guidelines to submit a reimbursement voucher, including collecting receipts detailing your use of fellowship funds.
Selection Criteria
The selection committee encourages applicants from diverse backgrounds and from all types of museums to apply. Applications will be reviewed and recipients selected based on the following criteria:
- Eligibility
- Comprehensiveness and relevance of essay answers
- Demonstrated interest in issues related to diversity
- Demonstrated financial need
- Reference letters that support the candidate’s achievements and competencies
Preference will be given to residents of Cleveland, Ohio, the County of Los Angeles, California, and the state of Maryland
Application Process
For the Professional Education Seminars
Applications and supporting documentation must be received six weeks prior to the seminar date. A selection committee will review applications and select recipients. Notification will be sent to all applicants four weeks prior to the seminar, and will include a reimbursement voucher and specific details about AAM expectations of fellowship recipients.
For the AAM Annual Meeting
Applications and supporting documentation must be received by February 2, 2007. A selection committee will review applications and select recipients. Notification will be sent to all applicants by March 16, 2007 and will include a reimbursement voucher, and specific details about AAM expectations of fellowship recipients.
Award Disbursement
Fellowships will be awarded to the recipient in two installments:
- The first installment (the full award amount less $50.00) will be mailed with the award letter
- The remaining $50.00 will be paid out upon receipt of the written report, reimbursement voucher, and receipts.
Fellowship recipients must individually register for the Professional Education Seminar or the AAM Annual Meeting and must include a copy of their award letter with their registration form.
Application
The application for 2007 is now available for download in pdf format.
