SARTS is now accepting applicatons for 2012-13 Fellowships. Please contact Kayla Larson at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 651.255.6170 with any questions.
PURPOSE
SARTS Faculty and Student Fellowships seek to advance knowledge at the intersections between theology and the arts by supporting the research of graduate degree students and faculty, particularly newer faculty whose career and future contributions to the study of the intersection of the arts and religious and theological studies may be influenced by this support. The fellowship program also seeks to enhance and expand the conversation by building a network of those working in this area and recognizing their contributions to the wider academic community. It is the intention of the fellowship program that the projects supported will contribute to a wider discussion, national in scope.
Awards
Fellowships will be awarded annually through a competitive selection process to as many as three graduate students and three faculty members. Awards are up to $3,000 each.
Eligibility
Faculty Fellowships: Anyone teaching as a faculty member at an accredited post-secondary educational institution is eligible to apply. Preference will be given to newer faculty and to those whose teaching is likely to incorporate the work pursued in the research project. Faculty applicants need not be members of the Society, but upon receipt of the Fellowship, recipients will be invited to join the Society for the Arts in Religious and Theological Studies if they are not already members.
Student Fellowships: Post-baccalaureate students enrolled in a graduate degree program in an accredited institution are eligible to apply. Graduate student applicants need not be members of the Society, but upon receipt of the Fellowship, recipients will be invited to join the Society for the Arts in Religious and Theological Studies if they are not already members.
Expectations
Awardees are expected to complete in a twelve-month period a defined research project on a topic related to the intersection of the arts and religious and theological studies.
- A mid-term written report of no more than three pages must be submitted to the Society by January 15 of the year of the award, and a final report of three to five single-spaced pages on the project is to be submitted to the Society within three months of the completion of the fellowship period.
- Recipients are expected to present the results of their research to the Society, typically in person at its annual meeting. A portion of the grant may be used as needed to attend the SARTS meeting.
- Upon receipt of the award, recipients' abstracts will be published on the SARTS website; recipients are also expected to submit a brief description of their work, along with images (if applicable), for use on the website by August 1st (the conclusion of the funding period).
Application Process and Deadline
Applicants are to submit (preferably electronically and as PDFs) an information sheet, curriculum vitae, project abstract, formal proposal, budget, and two letters of recommendation as described more fully below. Completed application materials must be received by the Society on or before May 15, 2012.
Please submit all application materials by mail or email (preferably and as PDFs) to:
SARTS Fellowships
United Theological Seminary
3000 5th St NW
New Brighton, MN 55112
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Notification
Applicants will be notified of the Society's decision by June 15, 2012. Grants will be awarded in two payments: August 1, 2012 and February 1, 2013.
Review Process
Faculty and Student Fellowship Grants are awarded on a competitive basis. They will be peer reviewed by members of the SARTS board. Applications will be evaluated based on the following:
- Overall merits of the project
- Clarity, focus and coherence of the project
- How the proposed project advances the goals of the fellowship program and the Society
- Likelihood of success in the time available
- How the project would contribute to the recipient's continued work in and contributions to the intersection of the arts and religious and theological studies.
2012-2013 Application instructions
All applicants must complete the official application forms and supply the supporting documents by mail or email (as PDFs). If you require additional pages, please place the section heading at the top of each sheet. To assist the processing of your application and the selection panels deliberations:
- Type or print the application.
- Submit one (1) copy of all materials, preferably electronically as PDFs
- Do not submit application materials via fax.
- Do not send additional materials other than those required by the application.
- Retain a copy for your files.
- Information sheet. For faculty applicants, this requires applicants to acquire the signature of department chair, dean, or an appropriate institutional director. For student applicants, this requires the signature of the academic dean or equivalent of your institution.
Click here for a Faculty Information Sheet
Click here for a Student Information Sheet - Current curriculum vitae of no more than five pages and including but not limited to: educational background; academic, professional, and/or church related positions; published works, lectures and other public and/or professional addresses; and grants received.
- An abstract of no more than 300 words of the research proposal.
- A formal project proposal of three-five single-spaced pages indicating the title, focus of your research, what specifically will be done, over what period of time and how it will fit in with other professional responsibilities, the resources needed, significance, method, and anticipated outcomes (presentations, publications, art work, courses, etc.) of the research project. Proposals should also explicitly address how the project fulfills the goals of the SARTS Luce Fellowship program (see ³Purpose,² above).
- A budget and line-item descriptions totaling no more than $3,000. The review committee will consider budget requests that exceed this amount in extraordinary cases. The budget should describe how the Fellowship will be used to support the research project. NB: Funding will not be awarded for salary replacements or the purchase of technological or digital equipment.
- Two letters of reference should discuss the applicant's scholarly credentials, the significance of the proposed project, and the ability of the applicant to complete the project in the time available and along with other duties. In the case of students, one letter must be from a faculty member in the program in which you are currently enrolled. In order to ensure a secure process, please include the names and emails of references on the information sheet (see 1 above). NB: Recommenders should either MAIL their letters directly to SARTS at the address below or send them electronically as a PDF.
Click here for a Reference Form
Completed applications must be received on or before May 15, 2012. Announcements will be made by June 15, 2012. Please submit applications and direct questions to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
Email PDFs to:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Mail to:
SARTS Fellowships
United Theological Seminary
3000 5th St NW
New Brighton, MN 55112
If you would like to spread the word about SARTS Luce Fellowships, please click here to download a flier.