Terra Foundation Research Travel Grants to the United States

Terra Foundation Research Travel Grants provide support for research on topics concerning American art and visual culture prior to 1980. It is dedicated to fostering exploration, understanding, and enjoyment of the visual arts of the United States for national and international audiences. These grants enable scholars outside the United States to consult resources and visit collections within the United States.

Eligibility

The foundation only accepts proposals from doctoral students, postdoctoral scholars, and senior scholars outside the United States.

Grant requirements:

• Travel should be undertaken within one calendar year (June through May) after the announcement of the selection results in April.
• Final report must be submitted within three months of completion of travel. It should include a description of the travel undertaken as a result of the grant, an assessment of the research accomplished, and a financial report detailing grant expenditures.
• Recipients must acknowledge the support of the Terra Foundation in any publication that results from research conducted during the grant.
• Travel may not take place prior to notification of the grant award.
• This program does not require a letter of inquiry.

The proposal should include the following components:

• Applicant information
• Two letters of recommendation
• Project proposal that demonstrates the need for travel to the United States
• Curriculum vitae
• Detailed description of the proposed itinerary with destinations and travel dates
• Itemized travel budget
• A copy or scan of a government issued picture ID (driver’s license, passport, etc.)

Completed proposal forms and all attachments should be written in English.

Benefits

Up to 20 grants are awarded annually (up to five of them are specifically dedicated to scholars from Asia, Africa, and Latin America) as follows:

• Up to $6,000 per grant for doctoral students from Europe, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand;
• Up to $7,000 per grant for doctoral students from Asia, Africa, and Latin America;
• Up to $9,000 per grant for all postdoctoral and senior scholars.

Grant funding is available for short-term travel that gives scholars:

• An opportunity to discover new source material;
• Experience works of art first-hand in museums and private collections;
• Make contact with artists, art dealers, archivists, curators, university scholars, etc.;
• Consult local archives and library collections;
• Establish professional networks for future research.

Application Process

The Terra Foundation for American Art accepts grant applications submitted through an online system.

To access the online application click here.