2009-2010 VRA Foundation Professional Development Grant Program

The VRA Foundation is pleased to announce the availability of a Professional Development Grant. Its purpose is to support professional enrichment activities, including attendance or enrollment at an educational conference or research activities in the field of visual resources and image management.

The grant award for 2009-2010, in the amount of $850, is being offered to support attendance at the Visual Resources Association Annual Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, March 17-20. In subsequent years the grant will be open to support attendance at a variety of professional venues, such as association conferences, symposia, and workshops as well as research projects.

Eligibility

• Applicants should be in the field of visual resources and image management, including retirees and those currently unemployed, or students seeking educational and training opportunities in support of broad access to cultural information.
• Membership in the Visual Resources Association is not required.
• The applicant’s stated financial need will be considered.
• Other applications for funding for the same event must be disclosed.
• Recipient of the award will submit a report on how the award contributed to his or her professional development no later than one month following the event.

Award monies may be used for:
• Transportation
• Conference registration and workshop fees
• Lodging accommodations
• Meals

Application Process

Applicants must submit a complete and accurate Application Form. The Application Form is available as a downloadable .doc file from the VRA Foundation web site. For the 2009-2010 grant, applicants should describe the educational and professional development benefits expected from attendance at the 2010 VRA Annual Conference. The application form also requires a projected expenses disclosure and a statement of financial need.

Submission Guidelines and Application Deadline

The application must be received no later than Friday, December 4, 2009, 11:59 pm Pacific Time. Completed applications should be sent by mail, fax, or e-mail (preferred) to:

Trudy Jacoby
Director, Visual Resources Collection
Department of Art and Archaeology
Princeton University
207 McCormick Hall
Princeton, NJ 08544-1018
Email: tjacoby@princeton.edu

The recipient of the 2009-2010 VRA Foundation Professional Development Grant will be announced on December 18, 2009.

Tips for Completing the Application:
• Provide a thorough breakdown of your proposed travel expenses. Where costs are estimated, please explain (e.g., roundtrip airfare on United as determined through Expedia search).
• If your institution requires you to use a specific airline, or has set a corporate airfare rate, please note this in the comments section.
• Be as clear and complete as possible about other funding support you will receive or are applying for, such as funding from your home institution, VRA Travel awards, or other grants and awards.
• In your Conference Goals statement, please be specific and thorough in describing how certain conference workshops, sessions, and roundtables will directly benefit your work and your professional development.
• If you expect to share a hotel room at the conference, enter your share of the room cost when budgeting for lodging not the full cost of the room.
• When budgeting for meals, check the conference program first for hosted breakfasts or evening meals.

Contact Trudy Jacoby with any questions you may have.

Application Form