Take a Chance Scholarship

Scholarships support innovative conservation research or projects that may not otherwise be funded. An important component of this scholarship is dissemination of the project results, regardless of the project outcome. Not all risks will be successful, however, even negative results may be helpful for future projects and research

These scholarships honor Carolyn Rose, Chairman of the Department of Anthropology at the National Museum of Natural History and internationally recognized leader and educator in conservation, who died August 29, 2002, at the age of 53. Throughout her career, Carolyn often remarked that she was able to investigate ideas and pursue unconventional lines of research because she had the backing and support of a major research institution. As a teacher and mentor for many conservators working today, she encouraged creativity and broad thinking in her students. She also recognized that few people have the opportunity she had to follow an idea either to a successful outcome or perhaps a dead end and wanted to be able to give others the opportunity to “take a chance” (her words) on an idea, even if it came to nothing. In honor of Carolyn’s spirit of encouragement and of her career, the Take a Chance scholarship has been established to support unorthodox projects.

All individual AIC members may apply.

Imaginative or innovative project with clearly articulated goals and timeline.
Usefulness of project to the applicant and/or the field of conservation.
Plan to disseminate project results.
Appropriateness of budget and lack of other funding sources.
Completeness of application.
Preference may be given to applicants who have not received recent support from FAIC.

Applications are submitted through an online application portal. When you enter the portal, you will be prompted to login to the system using a login ID and password. This system is not currently synced with F/AIC’s main database, so your login information may be different. If you do not have an account in the system, you can quickly set one up before you begin your application.

The online form will take you through four sections of the application:

Applicant (name and contact information, anonymous resume/CV)
Project (description of the project, how it will help you advance professionally, how you will share information gained with others)
Reference (name and email of references)
Budget (project costs and funding request)

Two references must be submitted electronically. Once an applicant submits their reference information, the references will receive an email with a link directly to the application portal where they will complete a brief form regarding their support for the application. Recommendations submitted will not be visible to the applicant.

In an effort to remove bias from the application review, we ask that you submit a version of your CV/resume that does not include your name, address, email, or phone number. Please remove that information and save the document as a PDF with a file name such as Anonymous CV.

You can save and return to your application later to complete it. When you are satisfied with your responses, “save and finalize” to submit your application. Once the application has been submitted, you cannot return to edit the form.

Applications are reviewed by members of the AIC Education and Training Committee and a recommendation is made to the FAIC board for approval. Reviewers will follow the Reviewer Guidelines and an established evaluation rubric based on the criteria for review to evaluate all applications. Notification of awards are made six to eight weeks after the application deadline.

All applicants will receive a notification letter via email to notify them of the status of their application following the review. Awardees will also receive their letter via DocuSign and must sign and return their letter in order for the funding to be sent. Awards of $600 or more require a W9 form from awardees who are US residents, as these funds are subject to taxes (awardees will receive a 1099 tax form at the beginning of the calendar year for taxable funding received the previous year). Awardees within the US will receive a check in the mail shortly after the documents are submitted to FAIC. Awardees outside the US must complete a wire transfer form and the funding will be sent via wire transfer shortly after the documents are submitted to FAIC.

A final report consisting of a 500 - 1,000 word narrative, at least two images, and a final financial report summarizing the expenses and sources of revenue is due within 13 months of the application deadline (March 15). Final reports should be sent to funding@culturalheritage.org and are required to be eligible for future funding. Reports may be published in part or in full by FAIC, including posting on our website.

Conservators creating tempera paints