The Preservation Society of Newport County's Fellows Program offers scholars, emerging, and mid-career professionals the opportunity to conduct focused research and undertake projects inspired by and relevant to the Preservation Society’s mission, strategic plan and annual goals.
The Program supports scholars and emerging professionals as annual fellows-in-residence in addition to shorter-term, regional non-residential fellowships for mid-career professionals. As defined by the Preservation Society, Fellows undertake comprehensive projects, conduct scholarly research, deliver lectures, and generate publications and other deliverables within specified areas including, but not limited to curatorial practice, exhibition design, material culture, public history, collections management, education and public practice, interpretation, landscape design history, public horticulture, and preservation policy.
The Program’s goals are to:
• Advance both scholarship and specialized training/experience needed for future and emerging professionals seeking to pursue careers in academia, art museums, historic houses and landscapes, or historic preservation.
• Integrate Fellows into the Preservation Society through project-based research and initiatives.
• Further independent research by providing Fellows with the opportunity to undertake an independent project in consultation with his or her supervisor.
• Cultivate a community for intellectual discourse and engagement while expanding the Fellow’s experience within his/her area of specialization.
• Refine and promote professional growth and leadership skills through seminars with senior Preservation Society staff spanning all areas of operations.
• Foster public speaking and presentation skills through public lectures.
• Promote regional and national networking and scholarly contributions to the field with funding to support annual membership and attendance and/or presentation at one national or regional conference.
• Publish final project report/article in annual Fellows program anthology.
• Cultivate an alumni network of Preservation Society Fellows to foster collegiality and encourage Fellows to keep in touch with one another and support each other professionally.
Fellowship Requirements
For both the residential and non-residential fellowships, a M.A./M.S. or Ph.D. in a relevant academic field such as the history of art, architecture, the decorative arts, museum education and interpretation, landscape design history, public horticulture, historic preservation, material culture, public history, and preservation policy as it relates to cultural heritage is required.
Residential and non-residential Fellows must have the ability to complete core projects and research in a clearly defined area of study based on a timeline that will result in expected deliverables within the timeframe of the residency. Additionally, all Fellows must present a public lecture and write a 2,500-3,000 word essay based on their area of research/project, and contribute to overall dynamics of the Fellowship Program through a high level of engagement in interaction with fellow scholars and Preservation Society staff. Proven ability to work independently, organize and manage multiple projects and meet rigorous deadlines is necessary, as are strong research, writing, and public speaking skills.
RESIDENTIAL FELLOWS
A degree should have been conferred within five years from the start date of the fellowship to qualify as an emerging professional. Doctoral candidates conducting dissertation research will also be considered for residential Fellowships. Throughout the period of the residency (September through mid-August), residential Fellows are expected to live full-time in the recently renovated Berwind-Stautberg Scholars Center located in the historic Horace Trumbauer-designed Carriage House of the Elms and are provided with individual office space.
Up to three residential Fellows are selected for the annual residency program (September 1 – August 15) and receive a monthly stipend of $2,000 ($24,000 annually), a travel and research stipend totaling $2,500 and housing at no cost in the Berwind-Stautberg Scholars Center. A call for proposals is posted annually in December.
2018-2019 CALL FOR APPLICATIONS FOR RESIDENTIAL FELLOWS
NON-RESIDENTIAL SCHOLARS
Local or regional non-residential fellows are defined as mid-career scholars/professionals with a minimum 10 years, maximum of 20 years of experience in their field living within a 50 mile radius of Newport, RI . A minimum of 24 hours per month (6-8 hours per week including monthly meeting) must be committed to advancing research and non-residential Fellows must attend one monthly weekday meeting with the Director of Museum Affairs and/or Residential Scholars as well as regular meetings with his or her staff advisor.
Up to two regional non-residential Fellows are selected annually with fellowship lasting 6 months (February 1 – July 31) and receive a monthly stipend of $1,250 ($7,500), a travel and research stipend of $1,500 and shared office space in the Berwind-Stautberg Scholars Center. Call for proposals posted annually in September.
Call for non-residential Fellows for 2019 will be posted in September 2018.