US Embassy (London) / British Association for American Studies Small Grants Programme
The British Association for American Studies, supported by the United States Embassy, London, offers small grants for cultural, educational and outreach activities that will foster American Studies and lead to a more accurate and constructive understanding of the United States in the United Kingdom.
We are recruiting!
We are currently recruiting for TWO Academic Directors and THREE Review Panel Members to work on the Small Grants Programme.
The Academic Director roles are leadership roles in the UK American Studies community. They will take overall responsibility for the smooth running of the BAAS/US Embassy Small Grants Programme in accordance with BAAS’s principles of inclusion, accessibility, and sustainability. They will ensure that the programme runs smoothly and that BAAS’s reputation is maintained to a high standard.
Please see the full Job Description for further information and how to apply.
The Review Panel Members will play a crucial role in ensuring that applications for the BAAS/US Embassy Small Grants Programme are judged fairly and in accordance with BAAS’s principles of inclusion, accessibility, and sustainability.
Please see the full Call for Expressions of Interest for further information.
The closing date for both the Academic Director and Review Panel Member roles is 23 October 2024.
About the Small Grants Programme
We are keen to support projects that engage students of all ages (particularly those in schools with fewer resources to provide exposure to American Studies), teachers, academics, scholars, and researchers of American Studies, as well as the interested public. We are particularly looking to support projects that:
- Inspire and enable young people to learn more about the government, culture, history, and people of the United States;
- Identify, connect with, and encourage programs focused on the United States’ culture and history in communities that may not otherwise have the resources to sustain such programming;
- Introduce and enhance participants’ knowledge of and interest in American Studies as a specialized field of study;
- Inspire more members of underrepresented communities to explore American Studies as a specialized field of study;
- Provide participants with an improved understanding of the United States and its government, society, history, and culture;
- Give British participants cultural insights into the United States.
Grants may be requested for a range of activities, including (but not limited to):
- Faculty development and exchange;
- Curriculum development at all education levels, especially primary and secondary levels;
- Student exchanges;
- Speaker programs;
- Film and other arts programming;
- Conferences.
BAAS encourages applications which seek to strengthen the field of American Studies in the UK, creating a resilient scholarly community who will continue to be able to promote the understanding of the US in the UK in the long term. Therefore applications for activities that engage with our strategic objectives will be prioritised:
- To encourage more demand for the pursuit of American studies as a specialized field of study;
- To seek to promote American studies as a field of study among underserved communities and schools;
- to recruit for and spread awareness of American studies as a field of study for primary and secondary school students, with a focus on diversity and equity;
- to encourage work in the field of American Studies across academic societies and within universities;
- to support activities throughout the United Kingdom, particularly outside of London.
BAAS is committed to promoting best practice in matters of diversity and inclusion and applicants are expected to demonstrate similar consideration when submitting applications to this Fund.
Application Process and Deadlines
There will be several funding rounds which will be advertised on this page.
The first deadline is 11 November 2024 for activities commencing on or after 1 January 2025.
Please complete all sections of the BAAS / US Embassy Small Grants Programme Application form and submit it to embassygrants@baas.ac.uk by the relevant deadline.
PLEASE NOTE: ALL ACTIVITY MUST BE COMPLETED BY 30 JUNE 2026
Applications will be assessed by a panel with representation from BAAS, the US Embassy, and the American Studies community. Applicants will normally be notified of a decision within 6 weeks of the deadline.
Applicants are expected to review the BAAS Funding Guide when developing their budgets.
BAAS have developed guidance on running an inclusive conference. This guide contains detailed guidance for Chairs, Speakers, and Audiences at such events.
BAAS’s commitment to environmental sustainability is outlined in our Climate Action Plan.
Successful applicants will be required to submit financial information to BAAS for the processing of payments within three weeks of notification, and to provide quarterly updates and a final narrative and financial report within three weeks of the completion of their project. As per instructions that will be provided with the grant letter, the British Association for American Studies and the US Embassy must be acknowledged in all publicity relating to the grant and in any future publications arising from it.
Restrictions
These grants cannot be used for the supply of food or drink, or for prizes. Where flights to/from the United States are included, these must (under the Fly America Act) be provided by a US carrier. Awards cannot be made retrospectively.
PLEASE NOTE: MAXIMUM REQUEST PER APPLICATION = £10,000 GBP.
Publicity and Dissemination
It is a requirement of this award that BAAS and the US Embassy should be credited in all publicity relating to any successfully funded project. The BAAS and US Embassy logos will be sent to successful applicants, along with further guidance on the use of the Logo.
All successful applicants should also take all possible opportunities to disseminate information about the project in order to reach out to as wide an audience as possible. Applicants will be expected to share information about their projects with the American Studies community via the BAAS News and Events page and Weekly Digest.
Successful applicants should also contact the Embassy’s representatives prior to their event to ensure that they have an opportunity to alert their publicity team and / or to send a representative if appropriate.