2019 Conference
Scholarship and Fellowship Opportunities
NEMA is pleased to offer scholarship and fellowship opportunities to make the annual conference more financially accessible. The deadline for all scholarship programs is September 20, 2019.
Scholarship awards support travel, lodging, and full conference registration for individual members of NEMA and employees of NEMA institutional members unless otherwise noted. Not sure of your membership status? Call the office: 781-641-0013.
Only one application is necessary to apply for all scholarships and fellowships. All applicants will be considered for all scholarships for which they are eligible.
Note: Individual opportunities have slightly differing requirements in the essay portion of the application.
You will be notified of the final award decisions in late September or early October. In the event that your application is unsuccessful, you may still register at the early-bird rate at any time before conference.
Click here to download the scholarship application form.
Click here to download the conference registration form.
NEMA Fellowship Award
Given to a museum professional or student in the field to encourage professional development and thought leadership. The NEMA Fellow is awarded a stipend ($750) toward conference attendance. The NEMA Fellow will contribute thought leadership by writing at least three articles on museum-related themes for NEMA publications during the year. The NEMA Fellow is expected to produce these materials based on their exploration of museum issues and conference experience. The Fellow will be introduced to the NEMA Board and PAG Chairs at a leadership breakfast and honored publicly at the NEMA Annual Meeting on November 8.
In addition to the scholarship and registration forms the applicant will need to, on not more than one page, tell the selection committee how receiving the NEMA Fellowship Award (including participation at the conference) would enhance your academic or professional development. Also include possible topics of interest to you that would contribute to NEMA's thought leadership in the field.
Delia Isabel Griffin Award
Named after NEMA's founder, and in celebration of the NEMA Centennial, the Delia Isabel Griffin Award is for an individual who exemplifies collaboration, innovation, and progress in the field. Eligible recipient will have 10 or more years of service in the New England museum field. This award includes conference registration and a one-year individual NEMA membership. These funds are made possible by the generosity of Centennial Appeal donors.
NEMA Professional Development Award
A limited number of conference registrations are available to individual members of NEMA and employees of NEMA institutional members who need financial assistance. It is expected that recipients and/or their employer will provide some of the costs of attending the conference. These funds are made possible by the generosity of Centennial Appeal donors.
AASLH Member Small Museum Scholarship
To encourage an AASLH member of a small museum (budget of $250,000 or less) to attend the conference. This scholarship will cover the cost of full-conference registration.
University Products Curatorial Scholarship
The Curators Professional Affinity Group, with support from University Products, provides a three-day conference registration for an individual member of NEMA and/or an employee of NEMA institutional members. Any curator who has worked in the field five years or less, and works for an institution with an annual budget of $250,000 or less, is eligible for the award.
Vermont Humanities Scholarship
A stipend is awarded to support full-conference registration for 8 museum professionals that are residents of Vermont. The stipend may be used to fund registration, travel, lodging, and food. Scholarships are supported in part by the Vermont Humanities Council.
Inclusion Scholarships
Vermont Humanities Diversity Scholarship
A stipend is awarded to support full-conference registration for museum professionals that are residents of Vermont and from historically underrepresented communities. Two scholarships will be awarded: One designated for a racial or ethnic minority candidate and one for an Indigenous candidate. This scholarship is supported in part by the Vermont Humanities Council.
NEMA Diversity Scholarship
Established to make the conference financially accessible for students and museum professionals whose racial, ethnic, and/ or gender identity has been historically marginalized so that they can attend the conference. Scholarship includes a full-conference registration and up to $100 depending on the fund availability. These funds are made possible by the generosity of Centennial Appeal donors.
NEMA Board Diversity Scholarship
A NEMA board funded scholarship to make the conference financially accessible for students and museum professionals whose racial, ethnic, and/or gender identity has been historically marginalized. Scholarship includes a full-conference registration and three-night stay in the conference hotel.
Diversity Fellowship
Sponsored by the John Nicholas Brown Center for Public Humanities and Cultural Heritage at Brown University
This $500 fellowship is awarded to a culturally diverse museum professional to attend the NEMA annual conference. NEMA members from diverse social, economic, racial, or ethnic backgrounds whose attendance at the conference will benefit their museum and whose commitment to museum work will be reinforced by their participation are encouraged to apply. Applicants must register for the entire conference. The stipend may be used to fund registration, travel, lodging, and/or food
Educational Program Based Scholarships
The Cynthia Robinson Scholarship
Priority for this scholarship will be given to current students or recent graduates (within five years) of the Tufts Museum Studies Program. This $500 stipend is awarded to support travel, lodging and registration. Support provided by Cynthia Robinson.
The Katherine Burton Jones Scholarship
Priority for this scholarship will be given to current students or alumni of the Harvard University Extension School, Museum Studies. This $500 stipend is awarded to support travel, lodging, and registration. Support provided by The International Tennis Hall of Fame.
The Laura B. Roberts Scholarship
This $500 stipend is awarded to support travel, lodging and registration. Priority for this scholarship will be given to graduates of the Harvard Museum Studies, Tufts Certificate, Bank Street Museum Leadership, and Cooperstown programs. This scholarship has been provided with support from Laura B. Roberts.
The University of Vermont Scholarships
A limited number of conference scholarships are available for current UVM students to cover the registration cost of attending. Priority for this scholarship will be given to students who have shown a demonstrated interest in a museum career, through selection of classes and extracurricular opportunities. Support provided by UVM's Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR), the UVM History Department, the UVM Religion Department, and UVM's Fleming Museum of Art.
Directions
Applications for all awards must be submitted by midnight on September 20, 2019.
You will receive confirmation of your application via email. All applicants will be considered for all scholarships for which they are eligible. In the event that your application is unsuccessful, you may still register at the early-bird rate at any time before conference.
Applications must include:
- Completed conference scholarship application form.
- Completed conference registration form which will be available late August.
Do not send any payment. Do not register online. - One-page response on how you will have an impact on the museum community of the future and how NEMA plays a role in your career trajectory. N.B. NEMA Fellowship applicants must include an additional page discussing possible topics of interest that would contribute to thought leadership in the field.
- Copy of curriculum vitae or resume. Educational Based scholarship applicants should highlight relevant college qualifications.
Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Submission Process
Combine all four documents (listed above) into a single document, if possible. If your current Adobe does not support completing forms, you may also print and scan this form to submit it electronically.
You can submit your application using these three easy methods:
- Email documents, saved as lastname_firstname.pdf, to conference@nemanet.org
- Fax (781-641-0053)
- Mail (NEMA, 22 Mill Street, Suite 409, Arlington, MA 02476).