publishing grant for collections, exhibitions & conferences

The Decorative Arts Trust established a new publishing grant program in December 2023, the latest expansion of the organization’s efforts to invigorate scholarship and broaden appreciation of material culture. The endeavor is structured to support publications tackling the broad context of the Americas and to encourage projects that advance diversity in the study of American decorative arts and material culture.

The program awards grants to support book-length publications tied to collections, exhibitions, and conferences that increase the awareness and appreciation of important areas of research in the decorative arts including catalogues, and compilations of conference papers.

Guidelines:

• We use the terms decorative arts and material culture in relation to three-dimensional objects but will also consider proposals that focus on decorative painting, prints, maps, and wallpaper as well as those that analyze the interiors for which objects were designed or in which they were placed.
• Proposed topics should focus on objects made or used in an American context, defined as North, Central, and South America and the Caribbean.
• Publications are expected to contain original research which yields information of high scholarly value.
• The Trust encourages projects that advance diversity in the study of American decorative arts and material culture.
• We support in-print as well as digital publications, with an expectation that in-print books will have some level of digital accessibility.
• Publication teams that include early career professionals will receive preference.
• We will provide up to $50,000 per year in funding, and proposals can request funding from $5,000 up to $50,000, depending on the level of need.
• Independent scholars and nonprofit organizations are welcome to apply.
• All funding will be directed to the publisher upon receipt of invoices for incurred expenses.
• Acceptable costs for printed publications are: printing, binding, design, layout, editing, indexing, and production. Funding cannot be used for authors fees, overhead, photography, or licensing, reproduction, copyright, and marketing costs.
• Publications do not need to be under contract at the time of application.