ARSC Extends 2021 Conference Grant Deadline

The Association for Recorded Sound Collections is now accepting applications for ARSC Conference Grants for the 2021 Annual Conference, to be held virtually, May 13–15.

The grants are designed to:

• encourage ARSC members and non-members to attend their first ARSC conference
• reach out to college students and professionals in the early stages of their careers
• promote mentoring and professional development opportunities
• advance scholarly research and publication, and
• support ARSC members who desire to participate more actively in the association.

The ARSC Conference Grants Committee will use a portion of the grant funds to specifically enable BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) and LGBTQIA (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning, Intersex, Asexual) people to attend their first ARSC conference. Persons who do not identify as BIPOC or LGBTQIA are encouraged to apply for the Conference Grants, as well.

Grant recipients are awarded:

• complimentary registration for the entire ARSC Annual Conference, to be held online in 2021, and
• gratis registration for the Pre-Conference Workshops, also to be held online in 2021.

At the time of application, the applicant must be planning to attend his or her first ARSC conference. Exception: Those whose first conference was the 2020 ARSC Virtual Conference may apply for a 2021 Conference Grant. The applicant must also be one of the following:

• a college or university student aspiring to work with sound recordings
• a recent graduate seeking a professional position involving sound recordings
• a professional within the first five years of his or her career, who has demonstrated a dedication to sound recordings
• a discographer, collector, or other researcher showing compelling prospects for the publication or dissemination of his or her scholarly work.

Applicants who demonstrate an interest in serving on an ARSC committee, publishing their work in the ARSC Journal, or presenting at an ARSC conference will be given particular consideration. Preference will be given to applicants who plan to attend the entire conference, including the pre-conference workshops.

Each applicant must submit:

• a Letter of Application describing the applicant’s background and current activities, clearly indicating why the applicant merits consideration for an ARSC Conference Grant
• if applying for the BIPOC/LGBTQIA grants, the applicant must include this information in the Letter of Application
• a brief Resume or Curriculum Vitae.

Additionally, the applicant shall arrange for one Letter of Support, to be directly submitted by the writer of the letter—not the applicant.

Applications lacking any of the above items will be deemed incomplete and may not be viewed favorably by the Conference Grants Committee.

Submit all items to David R. Lewis, ARSC Conference Grants Committee Chair, at [email protected]. If you anticipate any problem with e-submission, please contact the chair at the above address.

All applications and supporting materials must be received by February 15, 2021. Applicants will be notified about the award decisions by March 15, 2021.

For more information, visit: http://www.arsc-audio.org/conference.html or e-mail: [email protected].

The Association for Recorded Sound Collections is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation and study of sound recordings—in all genres of music and speech, in all formats, and from all periods. ARSC is unique in bringing together private individuals and institutional professionals—everyone with a serious interest in recorded sound.